800 Days until World Cup South Africa
Today marks 800 days until the World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2010, and i am a little excited. 4 years ago i did not know how many days but I was just as excited about planning my trip. I eventually added a countdown timer to my desktop both at home and work so i knew exactly how many days.
Obsessive??
Is that obsessive?? perhaps. Veronica and my kids certainly thought so as did my co workers, but hey, i really did not care. I was planning the biggest trip of my life and i wanted to be excited. After all the FIFA World Cup of Football is the single biggest sporting event on the Planet and i wanted to watch the Socceroos there.
Next Step - Qualification
I already knew Australia’s path through Oceania and then a showdown with the fifth placed South American team. All I could do was follow this on TV and wait for the final showdown against New Zealand in September 2005. That is the way it has always been, Australia V New Zealand to decide the Oceania champion and representative to the next stage. Our only hiccup had been in 1981 when the All Whites beat us and went on to the 82 World Cup in Spain.
The final stage of qualifications were held in Adelaide in June 2004. The Aussies beat all comers, but our Kiwi Cuz’s also dropped more points, losing to Vanuatu in a big upset. In the final match of the tournament The Solomon Islands needed a point against Australia to make the playoff against Australia and keep the Kiwis out. Beyond all expectations that draw happened, and our friends across the ditch were not happy chappies.
September 2005
A full strength Australian side showed up in Sydney to play the Solomon’s and we won 7-0. I think some of them flew back to Europe before the return leg in Honiara 5 days later where we won 2-1. This is when i began to get really excited. We were 2 games away from a berth at the 2006 World Cup of Football.
My next Post will describe one of the best nights of my life.
Cheers
Terry
April 01 2008 10:39 pm | World Cup
