Que cera cera,
Whatever will be, will be.
We're going to Germany!
Que cera cera.
Wooooooooooo!!!
Wednesday 16th November 2005 will be forever etched into the collective memories of football fans as for the first time in a generation, some 32 years, Australia qualifies for the world cup. The leg which was 0-1 to Uruguay before the match required Australia to score 2 in regulation time for a guaranteed spot - this didn't happen. Marco Bresciano's goal in the 35th minute was the only goal in free play and this led to the dreaded penalty shootout. Mark Schwarzer held onto 2 penalties to give a 4-2 win to Australia in the shootout and all of this was done before 82,698 fans.
With the start of the A-League, admission to the AFC and now qualification to the World Cup, Australian Football's future has never looked brighter. 82,000 tickets were sold last night and this was an over-subscription. Easily 150,000 could have been sold. The noise coming from the "home" end could be heard some 4 miles away; whoever heard of that at a Rugby League match?
Celebrations spilled into the streets, police were utterly helpless to stop thousands of cars honking in triumphant celebration. People were hanging out of car windows, scarves twirled and every flag lofted like standards coming home from a battle. Not since 1983 has a city been so jubilant.Partying was still going on when I drove through the morning peak. People who hadn't gone home the night before were powered by caffiene, adrenaline, alcohol and of course success.
The work of course has only just begun. The tournament proper starts next June and there is still the groups to be decided. Until then, the knowledge that we've simply made it is more than enough to erase 32 years of hurt.
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