Australia 1-Denmark 1

Australia faced Denmark tonight knowing that another plucky defeat would spell the end of their World Cup campaign. The AussieProst team reported from the Sports Bar at Crown Casino, Burswood, Perth expecting to chronicle their inevitable demise against the fancied Danes, tipped by many pundits as dark horses to win the tournament. A spirited rendition of “Advance Australia Fair” failed to prevent a sub-standard opening period from Australia allowing the Danes to pounce with ruthless precision in the 7th minute. 1-0. The Aussies looked like a sorry bunch about to be dumped out of this tourney on their derrieres.

The Sports Bar was featuring local favorites the West Coast Eagles against Essendon. AFL being more popular here, even during the World Cup. The Eagles were laboring under a 40pt deficit they never overcame, and the two giant adjacent screens were depicting an unmistakable impression of men against boys. Vikings or Victorians (the East Australian state not the prudish morals), the men carried an air of invincibility and Victory about them that the Socceroos and Eagles boys were unable to vanquish.

 

The Danes had their tails up after their goal and dominated the first half hour. Aussie fans feared a humiliating exit. Perth has one of the highest rates of ADHD in the Western world and as our gaze alternated on the giant screens from one set of local losers to the other, we began to understand why. But bit by bit the Socceroos, with Rogic, Mooy and Jedinak to the forefront somehow found a way back. As against France a few days earlier, Australia discovered reserves of resilience, that had little to do with technical prowess, but hard graft turned the tide, encouraging the belief that the “from Russia with love” postcards could remain on ice for now.

As the first half wore on the Eagles fans started drifting in. Both screens finally showed the Socceroos game simultaneously and the venue seemed to have a united sense of purpose that translated to foreign fields. The green and gold scarves, with their blue and yellow reinforcements willed the Socceroos on. Tangible results were soon evident as the Socceroos steeled themselves to assault the Danish defenses with renewed vigour. Skeptics please appreciate that this is commentary not evangelism, but the transformation was apparent to all present.

This pressure paid off after karma struck in the 35th minute, in the shape of VAR redemption, after the French game. Half-hearted penalty claims by Australia for handball in the box were initially ignored by the referee. But a bit later he was seen apparently talking to himself or other officials. Either way, it was brave of him to award a penalty to Australia. Schmeichel deployed two generations of goalkeeping dirty tricks in the lead up to Mile Jedinak’s quest to emulate his converted penalty against the French. Well, Schmeichel Schschmeichel as they say, while the steely Jedi wasted no energy in coolly slotting it home.

1-1 at half time the Australians had the better of the second half, which was characterised by a lack of clear-cut chances for either side. As in the French game the Aussies were frustrated by an ability to convert pressure to goals, lacking precision and composure in the final 20 metres from Schmeichel’s line. Where is Cahill?!?!

Denmark with 4 points in the bag are favourites to proceed with France unless Australia can conjure up goals from open play against Peru, AND the French oblige with a convincing victory against tonight’s opponents.