World Cup 2006……….oh what a sad end!
Well I went to the Socceroo/Italy game in Lygon Street, Carlton on Monday night. For those of you who dont know………this is the centre of the Italian population in Melbourne.
The vibe was great……………Aussies chanting, Italians chanting……….another great funfilled night of frivolity. I was again surrounded my two of my kids and numbers of their friends. As we headed toward “kick-off” we found a spot amont the 20K plus crowd right up in front of the big screen.
We all sang the national anthem with verve, waving our flags and screaming Ole, Ole, Ole, ole, Aussie, Aussie……..and the game started.
And what a game! I really thouight we were going to win………….and then the decision that was like a kick in the stomach……..and it was all over for another four years.
We walked home disheartened and I must say, a little bitter!
Rather than winge about a terrible umpiring decision that cost us a place in the last eight, I want to remind you all of the importance of coming together and sharing a peaceful event.
If I’ve learned nothing from the Socceroos, I have learned this…………no matter the odds, if you keep putting in all you’ve got and more, even when things seem hopeless, luck may not be on your side, but you earn the respect and admiration of those who have watched you contribute.So what does all this mean to how we live everyday? I think the fact that passionate people from different backgrounds, with different ideas can come together and share something in a respectful and peaceful way is a lesson that many politicians should take on board.
The fact that there is always a winner and a loser, but that a huge impact is made by HOW you win and how you celebrate that win as well as HOW you lose and how you accommodate that loss……….. are things that politicians should learn. Sometimes the loser can actually have more influence in the long term than the winner…………then we should ask what does winning actually mean?
So, for me the past two weeks of soccer (or football as it is called elsewhere) have been exciting, challenging and comforting………….I feel great about my community, a community made up of people from all over the world who have made Australia home, who can support their country of origin in a sporting event without being abused or having to tolerate violent behaviour from their adopted country’s population……………a community that celebrates together and commiserates together…………..we are really lucky.
When I was walking home, a young guy clad head to foot in Italian colours, waving an Italian flag rushed up to me and said “Bad luck love, we deserved to win”. I said “You did win” and as he pulled off his Italian flag to reveal a Socceroos jumper he said, “No we lost, but from now on I’m barricking for Italy” and disappeared into the frenzied croud shouting “Italia, Italia, Italia”