Following the Matildas advancement to the Round of 16 at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Australian football has reached a high water mark, after the Socceroos did the same in Qatar late in 2022.
Despite a decent flock of naysayers continually citing problems in the Australian domestic game in terms of cost, development and opportunity for the best young talent in the land, the results on the international scene suggest Australia is doing a lot more right than wrong in terms of arming young men and women to take on the world.
The Socceroos achieved more than many expected in Qatar, losing to the eventual champions and earning a heck of a lot of respect along the way, as Graham Arnold presented a spirited group to a tournament in which the Australians have never done as well as they did in 2022.
The fact a majority of the playing group had A-League blood in their veins proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the domestic competition is capable of producing the talent required to challenge the world’s stars.
(Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Nathaniel Atkinson, Kye Rowles, Awer Mabil, Andrew Redmayne, Aaron Mooy, Riley McGree, Cam Devlin and Craig Goodwin all cut their teeth in the A-League, along with many others in Graham Arnold’s squad.
Despite the painful lamenting of those still emotionally attached to the days of the supposed ‘Golden Generation’ the current Socceroos squad performed more statistically impressively at the World Cup than any before them.
The future looks even brighter and potentially ground breaking, with another wave of youngsters set to receive their caps and continue the Socceroos story in the near future.
In much the same way, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Cortnee Vine, Claire Hunt and Clare Wheeler have recently graduated from the local competition and joined the players now based abroad who were snapped up by European clubs cognisant of the talent being produced in Australia’s domestic league.
It is simply a stunning time to celebrate Australian football and one that has come off the back of a generation’s worth of time and money invested into our young players. Many of the current crop are part of the first group to have come through the national curriculum that was first published in 2009 and updated in 2013.
Many still scoff at the curriculum and it is far from perfect, yet the structure Australian football longed for was partly met with a document that provided some sense of universality and consistency, following decades of ad hoc methods that had fluked a few stars in the international game yet done little to provide the solid and sustainable base upon which future success could be built with confidence.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Socceroos and Matildas in the knockout stages of their respective World Cups is that base and just as fans were disappointed at the men’s team’s departure from Qatar, feeling that more was possible, so too will the sentiment be if the women do not advance beyond the Round of 16 this coming Monday.
The national curriculum has served its purpose, despite its obvious limitations and bias, with another document now required to redefine what football looks like in Australia over the next 20 years. Only that type of vision will see our players continue to improve and the trajectory towards greater international success remain on target.
Right now, the major concern is seeing Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson find a way to settle his heart rate, trust his bench, and navigate a path into the quarter finals against what will likely be a frightfully scary opponent.
However, there should be no fear that the team will be overwhelmed in the knockout phase of the event. Despite the mediocrity we saw against Nigeria, the demolition of Canada suggests the women’s team is up for the fight and whilst not favourites for the title, is certainly well respected amongst international opposition.
The Socceroos are the same and we should all be proud of what our national teams are producing on the world stage, despite the fact government funding at grass roots level in no way matches that success.
Good luck Tillies and as one of only seventeen countries to have appeared at both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2022 Men’s World Cup, Australian football supporters as a collective should feel proud.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
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Oh something else: “Step back off the ledge, Para.” Nick – Now you are accusing me of having mental illness, just because you can’t find any quote I might have made, based on your lie?
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
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Nick - All your points of what I said were in discussion not on someone's character, bearing false testimony behind their back. What you did is liable, and you know it! I made a few points to be proven to be wrong, some were mere typos ("$70B" should've been $7B) No apologies for point 5, it was to your face after you posted your falsehood to the author on his article behind my back, with no evidence or "quote". You don't know what quotation marks are for, do you? Italics are not quotation marks of what a person or spokesperson of an org. has stated or claimed, that's why I use "quotation marks" not grammatically incorrect italics for quotes like you do. On Sam Kerr, it was taken at face value in the discussion of what she felt about herself. So what? Now you can't find any quote I made on the lie you put forward about me. Because there is none. Nick Roar Rookie August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart. LIAR!!!
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PROVE YOUR ACCUSATION---PUT UP, OR SHUT UP NICK! :angry: Nick Roar Rookie August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Step back off the ledge, Para. There are far, far more important things for you to get worked over. You shouldn't accuse people of lying when you've in the recent past said: 1. Sam Kerr is indigenous. She's not 2. AFL control channel 7. They don't. 3. The Qld govt is spending $70B on the Gabba for the Olympics. That's absolutely wrong 4. The minimum capacity stadiums for FIFA are 50k. That's the only one you've walked back. 5. You repeatedly calling me an football hating AFL poser. I'm not I owe you nothing because of number 5. Grow up, calm down and enjoy your weekend and the football...as disappointed as I am that you won't try to launch a spurious defamation case.
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Just saw this post of yours, Nick. Where is the proof you accused me of saying? You are now travelling on very thin ice. It doesn't matter what I would like or not. Nick, you have lied and accused me of something I didn't say and posted it up on the ROAR website to the Author of the article and that is against the terms and conditions of the ROAR website. Cricket is the national sport. It has been all my life. I know that to be so. However, what is at issue here is your false testimony of a ROAR member. Nick Roar Rookie August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
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Stuart, just let you know, Nick, has accused me of something I did not say. Totally defamatory and inexcusable, an outright lie. I have asked him to show proof and as you would expect he can't. I'm sure this behaviour is against the ROAR's terms and conditions.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
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You do know that the Asian Club Champion League is played in different seasons in different countries don't you Nick? What's that Nick? You didn't know that. Wow, I can't believe you didn't. :laughing: Still waiting on your proof Nick. I think you are suffering from Trumpism! :shocked: August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
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Football is played all year around only a football person would know that I suppose, so there you have it folks, Nick the AFL football poser. Still waiting for the proof Nick. August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Vancouver to Mexico: same season. Tokyo to Melbourne: 20 degrees + about 35% humidity difference in June/July. Honestly, you've never travelled. Not even Mike Tuckerman would agree with you. And he's lived in Japan (as have I). No one would suggest an ANZ + Japan (excuse me, "Japan") bid would be suitable.
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Nick, seems you have overstated the travel. Vancouver average to Mexico = 5 hrs 24 min. Tokyo's average time to Australia = 9hrs and 11 min. Have you found that quote yet? :crying:
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"So do I. So do you. Doesn’t mean you are indigenous. And nor is she. So I’m not sure why you are doubling down on it….kind of like how you are doubling down on that stadium policy (notice you didn’t have the gumption to respond to that FIFA link). Defeated!" What defeat? What, you call that a monumental victory? :laughing: OK, you won, so the schoolyard bully wins by a mere 7k capacity. Now go and find me the quote. You do know what a quote is, don't you? Big defamation case looming here on the roar. My statement of 50K capacity is the same as Marvel's. Australian Football deserves it.
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I don’t believe you do you like football. You like football as much as I like AFL. :laughing: However, I do detest AFL trolls. Just concentrate on my request. Quote, please! August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
Nick
Roar Rookie
You're not answering the question, Para? Do you not think that football should be considered the national sport in Australia? You can't say yes, because then I'll be proven right. You can't say no, because you honestly don't believe no to be the right answer. Either way, I win.
Nick
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I'm not a football hater. I love the code. I just love other sports too.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
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I think my avatar is getting under your skin. :silly:
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
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She certainly has no time for football haters like you! Btw where is the “quote” from me on the other little matter you said I made? Still waiting for you to dig it up.
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
all for it .... then we can all sit back and enjoy the brouhaha that will inevitably emerge between the rectangular codes over pitch quality ...... just another battle front in australian soccers eternal quest for sporting martyrdom
Nick
Roar Rookie
Do you not believe that football should be adopted and recognized as the national sport in Australia then?
Nick
Roar Rookie
You don’t think Canada has a climatic difference from Mexico even if they are in the same northern hemisphere? You've never been to Canada in the summer I take it? But however, she has stated she identifies with her indigenous sisters and stands behind the indigenous flag. So do I. So do you. Doesn't mean you are indigenous. And nor is she. So I'm not sure why you are doubling down on it....kind of like how you are doubling down on that stadium policy (notice you didn't have the gumption to respond to that FIFA link). Defeated! And as I said. She has no time for AFL haters like you. She supports her family and their career choices.
Nick
Roar Rookie
I'll pay that, Grem. Still, he hasn't answered his obsession with using inverted commas at will for no apparent reason.