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After more than 30 years, Australia was finally back on the biggest stage of all. For those who were lucky enough to be there it was something very special. So too for the rest of us who watched it live on SBS in the middle of the night.
Australia
was taking on Japan in our first World Cup finals match in 32 years.
Ironically, the Socceroos had returned to play on the biggest stage of all in
the same country where we had debuted some 32 years earlier; Germany.
Rale
Rasic, the coach of that original 1974 Socceroo team, was now an expert
commentator in the SBS Sydney studio for the 2006 World Cup. Guus Hiddink was in
charge and Australia was about to have an unforgettable tournament.
Four
names from that June day in Germany 2006 had a special place in Parramatta at
the now re-named Pirtek Stadium on Saturday evening. They were Harry Kewell,
Shinji Ono, John Aloisi and Tony Popovic.
For
the record of course Western Sydney Wanderers drew with Melbourne Heart in
front of nearly 15,000 fans on Saturday night. Once again the marvellous
Wanderers’ fans provided the colour and the atmosphere at the iconic Parramatta
venue. One simply has to wonder what 2013 would look like without them.
Some
seven and a half years after Kaiserslautern, Kewell, Ono, Popovic and Aloisi
all had a role to play in Saturday’s A-League clash.
Let’s
start with Shinji Ono. After a few weeks out with injury he returned to play a
part in Western Sydney’s team. As expected he wasn’t rushed backed into the
starting line-up.
In
Kaiserslautern in 2006 Ono came on the field as a replacement for Atsushi
Yanigasawa and on Saturday night he replaced Adam D’Apuzzo at approximately the
same minute of play.
A
few minutes later, on came Harry Kewell for Melbourne Heart. Ironically, one of
Sydney’s Western suburbs' most famous exports was taking on the very side that
represents the area of his youth.
Kewell
in Kaiserslautern played the full game for the Socceroos whereas on Saturday
night he was simply making his long awaited return
to the Heart, after an extended period out injured. Nevertheless it was
great to see ‘H’ back on the playing field again.
John
Aloisi came on in Kaiserslautern for Luke Wilkshire, received a yellow card a
few minutes later and scored Australia’s third goal in the 92nd
minute of play. Aloisi has sent Australia to the World Cup seven months earlier
with that penalty against Uruguay at Homebush.
On
Saturday night Aloisi, a one-time national hero, must have felt like the weight
of the footballing world was once again on his shoulders.
As
he sat on the bench for the Heart and agonisingly watched as the Heart held on
for grim death against a clearly superior Western Sydney Wanderers, he knew
that the draw would only temporarily keep the wolves at bay.
A
Melbourne Heart victory these days appears as likely as a sighting of the Loch
Ness monster and Aloisi is reminded of it at every press conference. He shouldn’t
be.
As
a young coach, a capable coach, an outstanding gentleman and a former great
player, he deserves time. Time to build the team and time to do it his way. At
the very least Aloisi deserves to finish the season – his second in charge of
the Heart – before an evaluation is made.
The
fourth person from that Kaiserslautern night is Tony Popovic. While he didn’t
play – Australia’s defence was comprised of Craig Moore, Lucas Neill and Scott
Chipperfield – ‘Poppa’ was very much part of that World Cup squad. He did go on
to play in the next match against Brazil.
Today
of course Popovic has arguably built the best A-League team from scratch and in
less than two seasons. His coaching is widely acknowledged as outstanding and he
is often mooted as a future Socceroos coach.
The A-League has truly came a long way.