The Socceroos have earned our celebration

“AUSSIE, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi, Oi” echoed off the walls at Torquay College last week.

It was midday, the last day of term and the school hall was packed with a sea of green and gold. Students, parents and teachers were all there to celebrate the occasion, hopeful the Socceroos would progress to the next round of the FIFA World Cup.

Despite all the noise, it was a real point of reflection for me.

I remembered how I was the same age as these kids when I watched my first World Cup.

Coincidentally, my first World Cup was USA ’94. But back then, there was no sign of the green and gold.

I particularly remember the final and the $5 bet I had with my dad. I was on Brazil, he was on Italy.

When Roberto Baggio for Italy skied his penalty over the bar, the money was mine, but more importantly, I was fascinated by the sport and this event they called the World Cup.

The difference was, I didn’t even know if Australia could play in it.

From that day, I had to wait another 12 years before the Socceroos played at a FIFA World Cup. It was 32 years since we had been there as a nation.

I remember watching all of the World Cups in between: Zidane lifting the trophy on home soil and the Brazilian Ronaldo dominating most of the headlines over those years.

But I never had my own country to support.

Fast forward and there is now a sense of normality with the Socceroos not only appearing at the World Cup, but progressing through the group stage.

 

I can’t emphasise enough, just how difficult this is, and just how well this group of players have already done.

We always punch above our weight. We have one of the youngest starting XI’s of the entire tournament. We have players all home grown in the A-League, mixing it with the best in the world.

In our last match, our 22-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet alongside our 18-year-old centre back.

Those players weren’t even born the last time Australia missed out on a World Cup. They don’t know what it’s like not to be there.

For those of us that know what it’s like not to be there, we need to celebrate it and we need to make sure our kids appreciate it.

We need to celebrate this team and what they have already achieved.

You might not be too keen for a 4am alarm on Saturday morning, but just do it!

Grab your blankets and soak it all up.

I can’t even comprehend watching my national team at school at lunchtime as an eight-year-old.

We have come so far.

It’s the job of our national team to inspire a nation; to inspire a generation. They’ve already done that, but let’s all keep on dreaming.

See you on the pitch,

Coach Ado

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