World Cup Finals - 2006 - Australia v Croatia

WE'VE MADE HISTORY!!!! AGAIN!!!!

2006 heralds as one of our Nations greatest historical moments as Australia will proceed into round 2 of the world cup finals and personally one of my biggest highlights for my mid semester break.

A touch over 3 hours ago, in a match plauged by referee controversy, Croatia scored in the first 3 minutes of the game leaving the underdog Aussies fighting an uphill battle right from kick off.

I sat with my cup of hot soup, surrounded by my msn with many who are awake commentating through the game.

The penalty came around and Moore took it; GOAL!

The msn conversations errupted with mostly "OMG!! EJIFEWFJAEWIFJE~~~~~!!"
and left many of us who was awake to witness that speechless.

Half time and we were sitting our equilizer, relieved that Australia will make it through. I fired up my HR and raced to my local 7eleven for smokes... needless to say i was swamped with a large crowd how've put off snacking and cigarette essentials until half time... nevertheless i was emersed in green and gold including myself.

I raced home, and the second half just started.

If i had to sum the next 45 minutes up in a few words it would definately have to be "intense, breath-taking and completely at the edge of my seat".

And i wasn't the only one.

Why? Croatia scored leaving us to re-take our well deserved victory... penalty shots not called especially on a handball incident, red card for emerson and a red for a croat who was still allowed to play?!?!?!?!?

Bresciano, Aloisi and Kennedy were subbed in. Our attack force is complete and as soon as i thought "hmm, we could actually do something...."

a goal came in by no other than Harry Kewell putting us in fighting chance on 2-2. The rest of the match was purely tooth and claw as the Croats fought back and they indeed nearly succeeded with a few VERY close calls but it was defended.

10 minutes on the clock.... this is where i rememebered myself experiencing involuntary shaking... if i was 60 i'm sure my heart would've stopped. Yellow cards started flying, and so was the ball... the crowd on both sides in suspended animation.

... the longest 10 minutes of any footballer / patriot's life. Then... it was over. We did it. We didn't win the match but we won the war.

Next up, Italy. MY friend who was online at the time is a big fan of football but he's Italian... when i asked him who he went for in the next match he said "Austrlia man. All the way" and i was very proud :)

We're rounding the cheeering troops as we speak and i reflect back and it's funny that indeed we're all from different nationalities!
Palestinian, chinese, vietnamese, cambodian, filipino, italian.... I've never felt prouder to be who i'm. I'm Australian. :)

I'll also be there to see how we will develop over the years thanks to the Socceroos this morning. School kids might choose to play more football... and it might start a chain reaction where in 10 years time we will be a force to be reckoned with and i', keen to see us go through all the way with 30 odd years in the making.

This cup doesn't just represent a sporting event; it signifies unity, tolerance and respect for other nationalities and cultures and helps unify our world with peace and understanding. Something that could never be achieved with politicians and handshakes. If world war 3 would ever happen... it would take place in a football stadium.

Fuck i love my country.

GREEN AND GOAL! - AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!

Outstanding, unbelievable. Miracles do happen.

I rounded up Thao and Jarryd tonight to attend Australia's premier world cup against match favourite, Japan.

Jarryd and i was Aussie (this was Jarryd's first World Cup) and Thao went for Japan.
We arrived at the Glen Waverley TAB just a touch past 10pm, the match started at 11 yet it was already full.

All teh seats were taken so we settled to stand up and watch it on the big screen.

First half went with the ball having a lot of close calls, Japan attacked (and defended) fiercly with a controvertial goal rewarded to Japan; the footage in slow motion revealed that the attackers forcefully stopped the goalie from doing his job and this should've been a red card but Austrlia fought on.

The TAB's morale was dropping, half time past and Australia is on 0-1. Second half Austrlia picked up speed and make many shots at goal, with shootouts stopped by Japan's goalie.

Even i felt this was futile, i tohught to myself "well they made it into the World Cup at least..." as i ate my hotdog.
78 minutes in, Thao was smiling but was disappointed at Japan started getting sluggish.

Cahill was subbed in at 58 minutes, the tiny TAB swelled up with pride. It was good to see a lot of Asians that night wearing Green and Gold but our hopes felt dimished. 78 minutes gave Australia a shot at goal by Austrlian captain, Mark Viduka.

A save by the goalie and with less than 10 minutes on the clock, everyone was praying for an equilizer.

My thoughts were "well, we'd only lose by 1, that's okay..."

Then minutes later, GOAL!!!! The TAB cheered and Australians tasted their first World Cup goal after decades of disappointment. A tremendous effort by Tim Cahill. Cahill moments later scored the second goal minutes later from a shot in the outer box putting Austrlia to the lead by 2-1.

At this point there was magic in the air, for the last 5 minutes Australia has come from being the compelte underdog to the most likely winner of this match.

Half the audience chanted "DEFEND!!!" and i was one of them. Just keep it steady for a few more minutes!
Before we could even recover Aloisi brought it home at 93 minutes.

The TAB was in a complete uproar, all of us cheering and screaming as loud as we can, chanting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" "OI OI OI!" followed by our national anthem.

Everyone was awstruck, the impossible happend. The most exciting World Cup match i have watched in years. 3 goals in less than 13 minutes. That moment in the TAB, with the crowd all cheering with all of our pride and respect for our Nation, i felt at that moment we were whole. Greeks wearing their home scarves with the Socceroo intertwined, middle eastern people wearing their "Kewell" jerseys, Asians... for 10 minutes of cheer i felt that was as close to world peace i could ever feel in my lifetime.

Unbelievable... words cannot describe what took place tonight. I'm so proud to be Australian.

-Jay