Cultures unite under one flag

[talentedbutslow]

Cultures unite under one flag

Andy Paschalidis shares his thoughts on the culture and meaning of football in Australia

Australia's first game in the World Cup has come and gone. Yes it's great to be part of football's biggest stage. It's great to praise Australia's presence as one of the finalists. We all know it's been 32 long and hard years since our first and only participation in football’s Holy Grail.
But this event has another significance which has been lost on most Australians.
The Socceroos, more than any of our other national teams, represent where we have come as a multicultural nation. They underline our true identity.
Don't get me wrong; participating in such an event is very significant for the game in this country. However the Socceroos also symbolise the changing face of Australia.
The bulk of the 23-man squad are sons of immigrants who came out to this great country after WWII, fleeing hostile environments in Europe to give their families a better chance in life.
They came here with literally the shirts on their backs (in my family's case, dad had one big suitcase full of cash!)
Names like Bresciano, Grella, Viduka, Schwarzer, Lazaridis, Skoko, Culina, Sterjovski, Popovic, Aloisi and Kalac all have similar stories to tell. And they are all unrelenting in their passion for the green and gold.
You sometimes wonder how names like Kewell and Neill got onto the team sheet! Then again, Harry has ties to England while Lucas' dad is Irish.
This is what makes Australians so special. We come from all different backgrounds but when our national football team is on the world stage, we are united as one.
I will never forget looking around the MCG when the national anthem was sung before the 1997 World Cup qualifier against Iran. People of Croatian, Greek, Arabic, Asian, Turkish, Italian, German and other backgrounds were united in singing the anthem. Then, after conceding those two late goals to miss out on qualifying, they grieved together like widows at a funeral.
And what about post-match events on November 16, 2005, at Telstra Stadium in Sydney!
You only have to look at the media attention the Socceroos have attracted in recent times to see what sort of impact these fine young men are having.
Media organisations which normally wouldn't give a toss about our game are suddenly experts. I hope they keep following the game beyond the World Cup!
Did you see as much coverage when the Australian cricketers fought for the Ashes? Did any of our two rugby union World Cup victories generate so much publicity? Can you imagine what it would be like if the Socceroos actually won the World Cup?
Yes I am a proud wog. In case you didn't know, 'wog' really stands for 'well organised Greek'! However, I am an Australian through and through but one who is proud of his heritage. It would be un-Australian not to be.
I was lucky early on. Born in Balmain in 1962, my father gave me a choice at just nine years of age. Greek school and soccer training fell on the same day and Dad let me decide which I wanted to do.
I didn't need any prompting and opted for soccer, oops, I mean football. That's when I fell in love with the game. It became my passion. My love. My work.
I've always wondered what would have happened if I hadn't started playing for Hurlstone Park Wanderers in 1971. The journey has been breathtaking and the experiences timeless.
I've been fortunate to grow with the game on a professional level since 1983. There have been numerous highlights, including hosting and reporting the 1990 and 1994 World Cups on SBS and 2000 Euro Championship on Fox Sports.
The best moments have been when I have had the privilege of socialising with a number of Socceroos and watching them grow into fine young men.
Now the football odyssey has taken me all the way to the World Cup in Germany. I'm still pinching myself and that's not because of the price of the souvlakia at the Salonika Taverna in Stuttgart.
Go the Socceroos! Andy Paschalidis is a football commentator who runs a sports tour group that specialise in major sporting events both here and abroad.
For more information visit: Elite Sports Travel