IT’S the 56th minute in Porto Alegre and Socceroo skipper Mile Jedinak has just fired the Socceroos 2-1 ahead over the Netherlands, my friend and I are in the stands, and we’re going crazy, as we scream to each other, ‘‘How good is this!’’.
In that moment I think back to 1997, where I was left in my lounge room in tears from a second half capitulation at the hands of Iran, which robbed us of a World Cup berth at the final hurdle.
Even to this day it still hurts, and I often ask myself, what might have been.
Revenge may just arrive on home soil in this Asian Cup, but I doubt it will heal the wound.
The point of all this, is the fact for so long just making the World Cup was a pipedream, yet back in June, we stood within half an hour of taking down the 2010 World Cup runners-up, and the side who would eventually finish third.
For so long we just wanted to be a part of it, and for many nations the Asian Cup is simply a chance to belong.
Tournaments like the Asian Cup are magical, because more often than not, the unexpected happens.
Take Iraq in 2007, then and still a country in turmoil, their squad had been weakened, with players taking political asylum in foreign lands whilst on tour. Families of the players were tortured as a result to get them home, and perhaps as a deterrent to those who remained.
Yet somehow this nation, who no one gave a hope to, not only downed the highly rated Socceroos, but went on to lift the trophy.
Palestine, who we watched here in Newcastle on Monday against Japan, is the feel good story of this edition. Their struggles are well known, and it’s a triumph that their football side is even here at the Asian Cup. They were only recognised as an independent state by FIFA back in 1998. It’s their first top-tier tournament and they booked their place by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in May.
Football is somewhat insignificant, when you look at the wider context involving Palestine, but it offers so many hope of a brighter future.
It offers hope to a child on the West Bank, that when he looks down at the crest of his jersey, he knows it means something. Those players are playing for him, and if he practices hard, and has a bit of luck, one day he could be one of them.
Just like the dreams I had in 1997. Sadly, I never became a Socceroo, but I got to the World Cup and I wore my colours with pride.
There’s simply nothing like travelling overseas in support of your country. The long walk to the stadium, is full of colour.
You sing like you never have before. We will for that excitement from the fans of other nations over the next few weeks.
And as a fan for the next 90 or so minutes, there’s no place you’d rather be. You ride every pass, tackle and cover your eyes with every shot on goal, and for that 90 minutes, you belong.
You boo, scream and battle the opposition in the stands, just as fiercely as the players are on the pitch. But at full-time, you shake hands, take photos and head to the nearest watering hole, to either drown your sorrows or celebrate victory.
Who cares about the Asian Cup?
Four hundred and eighty four million people in 80 countries watched the final between Japan and Australia in 2011, and the 2015 final is expected to be viewed by over 900 million. Asia routinely provides the biggest viewing audience for the World Cup and top European leagues, such as the Premier League.
The cup is here on our doorstep. After Monday night’s match, Newcastle still has three more games.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of it.
My most treasured memories of the World Cup in Brazil was the interaction with opposition fans, learning their chants, hearing their stories and being inspired at what it took for each of them to be there.
That’s the magic of football.
In that moment I think back to 1997, where I was left in my lounge room in tears from a second half capitulation at the hands of Iran, which robbed us of a World Cup berth at the final hurdle.
Even to this day it still hurts, and I often ask myself, what might have been.
Revenge may just arrive on home soil in this Asian Cup, but I doubt it will heal the wound.
The point of all this, is the fact for so long just making the World Cup was a pipedream, yet back in June, we stood within half an hour of taking down the 2010 World Cup runners-up, and the side who would eventually finish third.
For so long we just wanted to be a part of it, and for many nations the Asian Cup is simply a chance to belong.
Tournaments like the Asian Cup are magical, because more often than not, the unexpected happens.
Take Iraq in 2007, then and still a country in turmoil, their squad had been weakened, with players taking political asylum in foreign lands whilst on tour. Families of the players were tortured as a result to get them home, and perhaps as a deterrent to those who remained.
Yet somehow this nation, who no one gave a hope to, not only downed the highly rated Socceroos, but went on to lift the trophy.
Palestine, who we watched here in Newcastle on Monday against Japan, is the feel good story of this edition. Their struggles are well known, and it’s a triumph that their football side is even here at the Asian Cup. They were only recognised as an independent state by FIFA back in 1998. It’s their first top-tier tournament and they booked their place by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in May.
Football is somewhat insignificant, when you look at the wider context involving Palestine, but it offers so many hope of a brighter future.
It offers hope to a child on the West Bank, that when he looks down at the crest of his jersey, he knows it means something. Those players are playing for him, and if he practices hard, and has a bit of luck, one day he could be one of them.
Just like the dreams I had in 1997. Sadly, I never became a Socceroo, but I got to the World Cup and I wore my colours with pride.
There’s simply nothing like travelling overseas in support of your country. The long walk to the stadium, is full of colour.
You sing like you never have before. We will for that excitement from the fans of other nations over the next few weeks.
And as a fan for the next 90 or so minutes, there’s no place you’d rather be. You ride every pass, tackle and cover your eyes with every shot on goal, and for that 90 minutes, you belong.
You boo, scream and battle the opposition in the stands, just as fiercely as the players are on the pitch. But at full-time, you shake hands, take photos and head to the nearest watering hole, to either drown your sorrows or celebrate victory.
Who cares about the Asian Cup?
Four hundred and eighty four million people in 80 countries watched the final between Japan and Australia in 2011, and the 2015 final is expected to be viewed by over 900 million. Asia routinely provides the biggest viewing audience for the World Cup and top European leagues, such as the Premier League.
The cup is here on our doorstep. After Monday night’s match, Newcastle still has three more games.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of it.
My most treasured memories of the World Cup in Brazil was the interaction with opposition fans, learning their chants, hearing their stories and being inspired at what it took for each of them to be there.
That’s the magic of football.
No comments:
Post a Comment