from Sydney Morning Herald:
SOCCEROOS saviour Harry Kewell dared to think the unthinkable - that Australia could win the World Cup. Kewell, Australia's very own human headline, delivered a man-of-the-match performance in the pulsating 2-2 draw with Croatia, topped with a gift-wrapped goal that sent Australia into the knockout stages of the World Cup for a high-profile clash with glamour team Italy on Monday (Tuesday 1am, Sydney time).
And afterwards he suggested that the Socceroos should not just be happy with getting this far. Every team goes into a competition hoping or expecting to win, so why not Australia, he said. "Italy are out to win the World Cup, so are we," Kewell said. "We are through to the last 16, so let's just go out there and enjoy it. You don't enter a competition without the thought of winning it."
Kewell said his fitness was improving with every game he played, and that on this showing the Socceroos should fear no team in the competition. "I feel great, but it was hard work - I won't lie," he said. "We showed tonight that we are capable of playing against the best teams in the world. We like to get the old heart pumping and I am pretty sure we did that tonight.
"So far in my career that is the most important goal that I have scored. We were on the back foot straight away [after Croatia took a stunning second-minute lead]. It goes to show our fighting spirit."
Kewell's right-footed volley was a volcano eruption after a high-pressure week that saw his participation in this World Cup - and possibly Australia's - hang in the balance. His injuries, his tirade against referee Markus Merk after the Brazil game, the subsequent disciplinary charge from FIFA, were swept away on a tide of emotion. Kewell scored. Kewell looked to the heavens. Kewell thanked God or whoever or whatever.
"I have gone through a couple of years now with injuries but nights like this put things like that far behind and you don't have to worry about it any more," he said. "I have had a lot of support over the past couple of months. A lot of people have had a go at me and criticised me over my injuries but I just went out there tonight and did it.
"The Champions League final a few years ago was the biggest game in my club career. I came off injured. It (Liverpool's win) then became one of the biggest comebacks in football history and I wasn't a part of that. But I got through it and I got over it and I always hoped there were better things to come around the corner. Tonight was that game. It all paid off."
Kewell paid tribute to an inspirational team spirit and the enormous support from Australia's travelling fans.
"The team spirit is phenomenal," he said. "If you could have seen us in the dressing room you would have seen how good we bond. The crowd was the 12th man. They always have been. You could probably have heard them back home in Australia cheering us on. It was fantastic to be out there enjoying it.
"Day by day, things get thrown at us left, right and centre but we seem to take it on the chin and accept what comes our way. We know what we have to do out there on the football park and we try and go out there and do it."
Roommate and friend Lucas Neill said Kewell's performance provided redemption after several seasons of setbacks.
"I can give him as many cuddles and kisses in the room that I want but it is out on the field that he is going to grow in stature," Neill said. "He has had a couple of knockbacks and a couple of dents of late but he has bounced back in the right way."
?¡ Kewell later dedicated his goal to Liverpool teammate Djibril Cisse, who missed the World Cup after breaking his leg in a friendly for France against China.
"It was fantastic to score and I would like to dedicate it to one of my friends who should have been at the World Cup but he broke his leg," Kewell said. "It was a heartache for me because he's a close friend of mine, so that goal was for him tonight".
Those Aussies do have a can do attitude that brings results so could they?
SOCCEROOS saviour Harry Kewell dared to think the unthinkable - that Australia could win the World Cup. Kewell, Australia's very own human headline, delivered a man-of-the-match performance in the pulsating 2-2 draw with Croatia, topped with a gift-wrapped goal that sent Australia into the knockout stages of the World Cup for a high-profile clash with glamour team Italy on Monday (Tuesday 1am, Sydney time).
And afterwards he suggested that the Socceroos should not just be happy with getting this far. Every team goes into a competition hoping or expecting to win, so why not Australia, he said. "Italy are out to win the World Cup, so are we," Kewell said. "We are through to the last 16, so let's just go out there and enjoy it. You don't enter a competition without the thought of winning it."
Kewell said his fitness was improving with every game he played, and that on this showing the Socceroos should fear no team in the competition. "I feel great, but it was hard work - I won't lie," he said. "We showed tonight that we are capable of playing against the best teams in the world. We like to get the old heart pumping and I am pretty sure we did that tonight.
"So far in my career that is the most important goal that I have scored. We were on the back foot straight away [after Croatia took a stunning second-minute lead]. It goes to show our fighting spirit."
Kewell's right-footed volley was a volcano eruption after a high-pressure week that saw his participation in this World Cup - and possibly Australia's - hang in the balance. His injuries, his tirade against referee Markus Merk after the Brazil game, the subsequent disciplinary charge from FIFA, were swept away on a tide of emotion. Kewell scored. Kewell looked to the heavens. Kewell thanked God or whoever or whatever.
"I have gone through a couple of years now with injuries but nights like this put things like that far behind and you don't have to worry about it any more," he said. "I have had a lot of support over the past couple of months. A lot of people have had a go at me and criticised me over my injuries but I just went out there tonight and did it.
"The Champions League final a few years ago was the biggest game in my club career. I came off injured. It (Liverpool's win) then became one of the biggest comebacks in football history and I wasn't a part of that. But I got through it and I got over it and I always hoped there were better things to come around the corner. Tonight was that game. It all paid off."
Kewell paid tribute to an inspirational team spirit and the enormous support from Australia's travelling fans.
"The team spirit is phenomenal," he said. "If you could have seen us in the dressing room you would have seen how good we bond. The crowd was the 12th man. They always have been. You could probably have heard them back home in Australia cheering us on. It was fantastic to be out there enjoying it.
"Day by day, things get thrown at us left, right and centre but we seem to take it on the chin and accept what comes our way. We know what we have to do out there on the football park and we try and go out there and do it."
Roommate and friend Lucas Neill said Kewell's performance provided redemption after several seasons of setbacks.
"I can give him as many cuddles and kisses in the room that I want but it is out on the field that he is going to grow in stature," Neill said. "He has had a couple of knockbacks and a couple of dents of late but he has bounced back in the right way."
?¡ Kewell later dedicated his goal to Liverpool teammate Djibril Cisse, who missed the World Cup after breaking his leg in a friendly for France against China.
"It was fantastic to score and I would like to dedicate it to one of my friends who should have been at the World Cup but he broke his leg," Kewell said. "It was a heartache for me because he's a close friend of mine, so that goal was for him tonight".
Those Aussies do have a can do attitude that brings results so could they?
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Never happen,tom simple.
