First stop is usually the Guardian Football site. This morning it was full of the final playoffs for the World Cup.
I quickly realised that, because of the time difference with Sydney, Australia's playoff against Uruguay was about to kick off. Why stay in bed when you can watch a match before starting work?
A quick phonecall to the local Australian pub in Shepherd's Bush confirmed they were, indeed, hooked up to an German satellite station that would show the match, so I pulled on a tracksuit and scurried off down there (considered wearing my Akubra in solidarity with my family in Oz, but was worried about looking out of place).
The dress code in the massive, massive queue of Aussie blokes standing in the cold outside the pub was all Bronx hats and Aussie rugby shirts. As the enormous Bouncer let us in, he observed, 'This is like a bloody gay bar. There's no chicks here!'
I texted two London-based Aussie blokes, inviting them to join me. The first stayed in bed, claiming flu.
The second informed me he was just entering the
stadium in Sydney having flown back for the game, and therefore this trounced the charms of Shepherd's Bush at dawn. Good man!Obviously, the tension during the game was massive. Australia were a goal down from the first leg, so had to score twice to win.
Equally obviously (cf. the rugby, not football, shirts), there isn't really a culture of supporting football in their country (they've done rather well until recently at cricket, rugby and Aussie Rules). So while they all really, really wanted their country to succeed, they weren't too sure about joining in with the football songs started by the sympathetic Brits in the room.
Anyway, the Aussies got their goal to draw level on aggregate, completely dominated the second half and extra time, and won on penalties thanks to their goalie. Those of you who know about footy will be astounded to learn that Harry Kewell (Harry Kewell!) was their most effective player!
Australia are going to the World Cup for only the second time in their history. The celebrations in the pub were mighty.
PS:
- Trinidad and Tobago have beaten Bahrain to make it.
- Spain are cruising into the World Cup against Slovakia.
- Turkey scrambled desperately, scored loads, and got close to coming back against Switzerland, but a late Swiss goal sealed it for Senderos's side.
- It was always ominous for Norway against the Czech Republic. Sorry Torbjorn mate!
6 comments:
The best teams would generally win in a homw and away fixture. Norway is oh, but a mere small nation with a population the size of North West London... Our time will come again, oh yes we will win the damn thing before I die!
Trinidad and Tobago made it - only 1.2million in population!
Trinidad and Tobago beat Bahrain (a country of some 600,000) to qualify for the tournament...
Rod and I were at lunch today, and part of our wide-ranging discussion of the World Cup and secondary allegiances (after England ...) was regret that Norway hadn't made it.
Hats off to the other "little" footballing nations of some repute: Croatia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Jamaica, Serbia and Montenegro, Israel, Finland, Slovakia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahrain, and Top of the Mornin' to Ireland.
With the World Cup draw this evening, Sven has said he wants to avoid the English-speaking countries in the group stage: The U.S., Australia, and Holland. Now, Sven, I know you're a footballer and native-languages in countries around the world might not be a strength, but I'd like to point out that they don't speak English very well in the U.S.
Just trying to help.
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