Cult hero 'burst into tears every hour' after call-up

2 years ago 69

Australia's World Cup qualifier leader Andrew Redmayne said helium was brought to tears aft helium learned he'd secured a spot successful Graham Arnold's squad for Qatar.

While Redmayne's inclusion was ever connected the cards after his punishment shootout heroics against Peru to unafraid Australia's spot astatine the main tournament, helium ne'er took it for granted - and was affectional erstwhile he learned that helium was successful the last 26-man squad.

"It's rather surreal - yesterday I spontaneously burst into tears every hour, benignant of reasoning astir it and what it means to myself and my household - it's a immense honour and thing I don't instrumentality lightly," helium said connected Nine's Today.

The Sydney FC keeper has been catapulted from comparative sporting obscurity to present arguably being the country's most-famous antheral footballer, specified was the enormity of that triumph implicit Peru.

But the 31-year-old is afloat alert that it wasn't ever this easy.

"My struggles and hard times are beauteous good documented," helium said.

"Growing up arsenic a kid connected the Central Coast and accessing grooming successful Sydney, my mum had to thrust down to Sydney to prime maine up six days a week aft enactment herself - and it's arsenic overmuch a reward for her arsenic it is for me."

Both his woman and girl volition articulation him successful Qatar arsenic Australia's run gets underway successful a fortnight.

"I'm truly gladsome that my household tin travel implicit and stock the acquisition with me, and it's going to beryllium rather a monumental celebration, enjoying a World Cup," helium said.

Arnold explains 'tough' WC calls

The Socceroos volition look France successful a re-match of their 2018 opener, earlier games against Tunisia and Denmark.

"I similar our chances," Redmayne said.

"We've got a truly energetic and breathtaking squad, and I deliberation our qualification process was rather pugnacious and troublesome - but astatine the aforesaid time I deliberation that truly brought the squad together.

"I deliberation those pugnacious times volition clasp america successful bully stead and I truly similar our chances successful Qatar."

But he's got 1 much nine work earlier helium heads disconnected to the Middle East - a mouthwatering Sydney Derby astatine the caller Allianz Stadium, which is apt to battalion the Moore Park venue connected Saturday night.

"I've got immoderate enactment to bash earlier I hop connected that level - and this stadium's going to beryllium beauteous overmuch sold retired connected Saturday nighttime for an breathtaking derby," helium said.

"It's our archetypal 1 present astatine Allianz for 5 years successful an amazing, beauteous stadium and I can't hold to acquisition that ambiance earlier hopping connected the plane."

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