So the Socceroos did it, they made it to the Round of 16!
Kick360 journalists and contributors today compiled their thoughts to describe what this moment means for themselves and Australian football.
Tom Williams:
Sha Nen:
Being a football fan in Australia has been a tough thing at times, I’ve watched every national team match no matter what for over a decade.I’ve seen some incredible moments, like an Asian Cup victory, but I’ve also seen some heart wrenching moments, like losing 6-0 two games in a row, and failures to qualify directly.
Through it all I have never lost faith in this team and have never lost faith in the boys no matter what.Qualifying for the round of 16 makes all those missed sleeps, long travels, long nights and moments of frustration and despair of being not quite good enough’ justified and worth it.No matter what happens in the round of 16, this tournament and these moments will forever live on in my memory, and it really amplifies that “Aussie DNA”.
Which for me, is that no matter the circumstances or the opposition, there’s the belief that we can get something from a game.
Ollie Walker-Peel:
As an Englishman, and a devout one at that, I must admit I wasn’t screaming the TV down like the rest of the Australian fans in the Phuket pub I was watching the game in.It goes without saying I wanted an Australian result, given the potential impact it would have on Australian football, and this result has the potential to change the game in this country as we know it.
The unbridled joy seen in Qatar, Federation Square, between and beyond gives me hope that football in the country will continue to grow, and that more fans can jump on board with our local leagues.
This World Cup has the potential to be a springboard for the game we all love; hopefully the momentum it has created continues well beyond its final whistle.
Amir Daou:
In a time where there has been a lot of uncertainty about the future of Australian football, it was great to see the Socceroos ignite a renewed excitement across the country.
Despite many experts writing them off, Graham Arnold and his men embraced their underdog label to shock the world with spirited performances in every group stage match.
To top off the amazing efforts against Tunisia and Denmark, the two scorers were players with plenty of A-League experience.
I hope the win can create a new buzz around the A-Leagues and inspire more Australians to begin actively following football in the years ahead.
Tom Pombart:
The victory over Denmark and Tunisia signified what we are as a footballing nation, and has once again turned the tables for the beautiful game in this country, regardless of what happens on Sunday morning.
This team has captured the hearts of broken footballing nation
Zac Colebrook:
This win was so momentous for Football in Australia to beat everyone’s World Cup dark horse in Denmark to get ourselves through to the Round of 16. To many who had doubts about the A-league Men, the standard of football we produce, and the direction of football in Australia it was pivotal.
This win came to fight back against a host of doubters, myself included, and I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong.
To know that despite constant naysayers of the A-league and crowd figures constantly deemed disappointing, it’s incredible to know we are a part of something capable of going toe to toe to the worlds best.
A moment that encapsulates what football is about, and one that truly gives hope to a generation of footballers and fans is beautiful to see.
As a coach I’ve spent the group stages hearing all the kids tell me about who they go for “besides Australia because we won’t be able to compete”.
To hear their joy today, to watch them try and replicate Mat Leckie’s winner and all be truly proud of our country and be given a drive to emulate it and achieve more on the pitch is beautiful to see.
Football is beautiful, messy, emotional and harsh, but it’s the best thing in the world.
Cameron Wyper:
Although I cannot claim to be Australian, having followed football in the country for several years now I’ve been caught up in the different narratives that surround the national team.
I’ve found myself every part looking forward to Socceroos matches and cheering them on as I have for England.
Many people, myself included, have scoffed at the ‘Aussie DNA’ philosophy of Graham Arnold, but those last two matches have epitomized how far unified determination can take a team.
Arguably, this is a greater achievement than 2006, because this team lacks the headline names but has accumulated a greater points tally whilst keeping two defensive shutouts.
It’s truly amazing to see a group of players battle the way they have done, continuing to prove people wrong with every euphoric moment of success. It’s a team that I can be proud to follow, even if that means copping a few odd looks from fellow Brits.
Neal Symons (Co-Founder and Operations Manager):
Venturing into the media industry at a time of never-ending pessimism surrounding the game, with a burgeoning crop of youngsters coming through, an achievement such as this wasn’t in my opinion meant to be achieved within at least the next 10-20 years.
The mere fact it has been achieved on this scale, with the players and profiles on the park it is truly remarkable, indescribable even.
It is imperative that Football Australia and the Australian Professional Leagues sustain the momentum gained from these events.
Football in Australia is at times a poisoned chalice, yet the past few days has given us hope. While hope is not a strategy, the Socceroos thoroughly deserved both wins in every way feasible.
There is an opportunity here, a golden one at that. Generations of young Australian football players and supporters may have their upbringing defined by the twirling Mat Leckie as he injected joy into the lives of millions of Australians at hoe.
Leckie himself admitted he could have been lost to AFL. The boy from State League One in Victoria put the Euro 2020 Semi-Finalists to the sword.
You cannot write a better script.
Michael Turner (Co-Founder and Head of Operations):
In 2006, the Socceroos triumph was the first real taste of the world of football on a global scale, and the first time I could feel a true sense of national pride and emotion for my team, and nation.
It kick started my love affair with the game, and lifelong affliction for the Wanderers and Socceroos.
There are kids who won’t have known the feeling we had against Croatia in 2006, and the heart stopping moment against Italy.
For those kids now, they have their moment, heroes they will never forget, goals that they will replay time and time again, and feeling that their beloved country, can make them proud on the world’s biggest stage.
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
