I’ll never forget the noise the ball made when it hit the post.<\/p>\n
Our captain, Kevin Muscat, stepped up in the 2010 A-League grand final by scoring 19 penalties in a row.<\/p>\n
But then, he hit the post with a loud ping and there was no way back from there.<\/p>\n
I’ve never watched that shootout again. I couldn’t even tell you who else missed, but there were others.<\/p>\n
I didn’t take a penalty that night and losing such a big match on penalties is something that’s hard to let go.<\/p>\n
You work so hard to be in those positions but in sport, your ‘goal’ is always to be in the big dance with the opportunity to have a crack. And there’s no bigger dance than the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
Penalty kicks are such a cruel way to lose and people only remember who missed.<\/p>\n
Last week I spoke about my first World Cup memory when Roberto Baggio skied a penalty over the bar as Brazil went on to claim the 1994 final in the US.<\/p>\n
I have nothing but admiration for the Socceroos who stepped up for Australia last Saturday morning. It doesn’t get any bigger and the pressure is extraordinary.<\/p>\n
We shouldn’t sit here and blame the coach. We shouldn’t sit here and blame the players for letting an 18-year-old step up.<\/p>\n
We should sit here and celebrate what they achieved and admire an 18-year-old for having such courage.<\/p>\n
We are allowed to be devastated. But trust me, as a player, you feel it a million times more than as a fan.<\/p>\n
Football isn’t easy, sport isn’t easy. But Lucas Herrington won’t be a name that’s remembered for missing a penalty at a World Cup as an 18-year-old.<\/p>\n
Lucas Herrington will be the next Socceroo captain and a mainstay in our national team for the next 15 years.<\/p>\n
You don’t have courage like that and not succeed over time. He should be proud and so should we.<\/p>\n
Closer to home, my under-12 Surf Coast FC girls lost a state final on Sunday afternoon on penalties.<\/p>\n
There were tears and heartbreak but there was an immense amount of pride, especially for those that had the courage to step up.<\/p>\n
No matter the level, they all hurt.<\/p>\n
The World Cup knockout rounds are just starting to heat up and there will be more heartbreak for players and fans. There will be more penalty loses and painful defeats.<\/p>\n
But without the lows there can’t be the highs and that’s why we love this game so much.<\/p>\n
See you on thI’ll never forget the noise the ball made when it hit the post.<\/p>\n
Our captain, Kevin Muscat, stepped up in the 2010 A-League grand final by scoring 19 penalties in a row.<\/p>\n
But then, he hit the post with a loud ping and there was no way back from there.<\/p>\n
I’ve never watched that shootout again. I couldn’t even tell you who else missed, but there were others.<\/p>\n
I didn’t take a penalty that night and losing such a big match on penalties is something that’s hard to let go.<\/p>\n
You work so hard to be in those positions but in sport, your ‘goal’ is always to be in the big dance with the opportunity to have a crack. And there’s no bigger dance than the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
Penalty kicks are such a cruel way to lose and people only remember who missed.<\/p>\n
Last week I spoke about my first World Cup memory when Roberto Baggio skied a penalty over the bar as Brazil went on to claim the 1994 final in the US.<\/p>\n
I have nothing but admiration for the Socceroos who stepped up for Australia last Saturday morning. It doesn’t get any bigger and the pressure is extraordinary.<\/p>\n
We shouldn’t sit here and blame the coach. We shouldn’t sit here and blame the players for letting an 18-year-old step up.<\/p>\n
We should sit here and celebrate what they achieved and admire an 18-year-old for having such courage.<\/p>\n
We are allowed to be devastated. But trust me, as a player, you feel it a million times more than as a fan.<\/p>\n
Football isn’t easy, sport isn’t easy. But Lucas Herrington won’t be a name that’s remembered for missing a penalty at a World Cup as an 18-year-old.<\/p>\n
Lucas Herrington will be the next Socceroo captain and a mainstay in our national team for the next 15 years.<\/p>\n
You don’t have courage like that and not succeed over time. He should be proud and so should we.<\/p>\n
Closer to home, my under-12 Surf Coast FC girls lost a state final on Sunday afternoon on penalties.<\/p>\n
There were tears and heartbreak but there was an immense amount of pride, especially for those that had the courage to step up.<\/p>\n
No matter the level, they all hurt.<\/p>\n
The World Cup knockout rounds are just starting to heat up and there will be more heartbreak for players and fans. There will be more penalty loses and painful defeats.<\/p>\n
But without the lows there can’t be the highs and that’s why we love this game so much.<\/p>\n
See you on the pitch,<\/p>\n
Coach Ado<\/p>\n