Twenty years ago in Australia, I began to play what we called soccer, and so a child weaned on rugby league started to learn about "the other football". Back then, the Australian national team was still dining out on the glories of its one appearance in the World Cup finals, in 1974, and hoping — seemingly against hope — to repeat the feat.
But the Oceania qualifying group didn't have a spot in the finals in its own right, having to finally qualify against a stream of oddly scattered nations, from South America to the Middle East. That led to a depressing, predictable parade of raised hopes, as Australia beat such footballing giants as Fiji and New Zealand, before faltering when the serious opposition appeared.
You occasionally saw "highlights" of Australian league and even national games on the television news; the play was slow, and laughably unskilled - nothing to compare to Match of the Day, shown on ABC television each week. English players hoofing the ball hopefully into a crowded penalty box from the halfway line — pretty much what the League consisted of then — looked sophisticated in comparison with the Australian game.
The Australian league was plagued too by ethnic violence; I used to play for Sydney University against Sydney Olympic, the "Greeks' club". Reports suggested that spectators banned from the men's team had taken to coming along to the women's matches. Certainly they were a passionate lot — it was the only time on a sporting field I've ever been spat on by a spectator. (Okay, I had just taken down their small, super-fast centre-forward, but that was how Australians played the game.) Such things did little to convince the Australian public to take the sport to its heart.
When visiting teams, such as the English, came along, the Socceroos' only tactic was to try to muscle, and kick, them off the park, and so, unsurprisingly, not many teams made the long trip Down Under to strut their stuff. When they did, it tended to be only the second-string risked to the untender boots of the Aussies.
Fast-forward two decades; I've moved continents a couple of times since then, no longer play regularly, and gave up following the Socceroos, only noting in passing that a few Australian players had started to crop up around the serious leagues, even if, as with Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, they were often in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
If you're gonna go by one name, I don't care how good you are it shouldn't be Fred.
2 - Mark Bellinghaus
Australia did an outstanding job! Brazil looked pretty old and again just goaled through much luck. The Australians should have gotten some goals but possibly were nervous to be that good against winner of the last world cup. Australia was one of the biggest surprises to me.
3 - Natalie Bennett
Indeed Matt - but then again he will be providing comedians around the world with thousands of cheap laughs. Thanks for publishing!
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
While we're at it Kaká isn't such a great name either.
5 - Steve
Australia were quite impressive in their first game and were unlucky not to score in their second. I do hope they can make it thru to the next round. Being English Canadian myself and not having our team in it, I'm rooting for the Commonwealth countries, England and Australia.
6 - Q Bit
Natalie: I think it was 1974 world cup finals, not 1972.
The aussies are playing well, and hopefully will advance.
The Brazilians might not be setting fire on the field, but they are doing exactly what they are supposed to - picking up wins.
I don't think we will see much playing time for Ronaldo in the future.
Suss: kaka is Kool !
7 - RJ Elliott
Natalie, you're quite striking. I hope you won't get defensive at my rather forward remarks. I'm just showing some balls. My goal is merely to place myself into a position where our match doesn't become a win or lose propostion, but instead draws some interest from the hooligan in us all... ;-P
8 - Natalie Bennett
You're absolutely right, Q Bit; I was having a small brain fade. Now corrected.
9 - bruce holden
Well what a day! Australia getting to the second round and the States are out. How sweet it is. Although I hope I never see that Aussie goalie again. Calling him second rate is a compliment. I agree with you Natalie - as I keep telling my wife the Aussies have come a long way from the kick and chase days. They are world class and deserve to be where they are. Go lads go!