Grumpy Old Woman

We needed a draw. This would put us, for the first time EVER, into the final 16 of the Football World Cup.

It was 4:30am in Sydney, it’s the middle of winter, millions are bleary-eyed in front of their TVs, tens of thousands are in the streets of their cities watching the big screen via satellite. The scene was set.

2 minutes into the game, this:

Followed by this:

Distress sets in.

Then this:

The players go wild:

The crowd goes wild:

oh God, not another one:

Do you have to be so damn happy?

It’s 10 minutes from the end of the game, we’re 1 goal down. If we don’t score it’s over.

We pray:

This is the time.

Harry, save us now!

And he does:

The stadium erupts with joy!

It might be 6:30am in the middle of a Sydney winter, but that doesn’t stop pandemonium breaking out by the harbour either:

Thousands of people dance in the city streets, gosh, it was like we’d actually WON the world cup! Traffic is stopped dead all over Australia.

It was bloody wonderful.

My father, a soccer tragic from before I was born rings me in a state of delirium. I’m so happy for him.

You know, Australians will watch two flies walking up a wall, call it a sporting event and cheer one of them on, but I have NEVER seen anything like this. Seriously, it’s insane, and I love it!

The Italian community in Leichhardt are collectively peeing their pants right now. They’re so used to only having Italy to barrack for in the World Cup, that they are in a state of distressed confusion now, bereft at what to do on Tuesday morning when Italy plays Australia. Many have thrown their hands in the air and dressed up their businesses in both colours. From what I saw on the news tonight, wild times will be had by all.

We certainly don’t expect to win THAT game, but oh. my. gosh. if we do, I just can’t imagine what’s going to go on down here!

Nice work guys, you did us SO proud

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