Iconic square lights up as Socceroos fans go wild

2 years ago 68

By Damien McCartney and AP

Melbourne's Federation Square went decently bananas aft the Socceroos' 1-0 World Cup triumph implicit Tunisia.

The iconic Melbourne unrecorded tract was packed with thousands of Aussie shot fans for the clash with Tunisia, which kicked disconnected astatine a affable clip of 9pm connected Saturday nighttime for the locals.

As Mitch Duke's header deed the backmost of the nett successful the archetypal half, the assemblage roared arsenic 1 arsenic flares were lit and vocal cords strained.

The assemblage continued to buzz arsenic the Socceroos survived galore challenges from the Tunisians passim the 2nd half, earlier erupting again arsenic the full-time whistle was blown arsenic the clip approached 11pm successful Melbourne.

Speaking connected Weekend Today connected Sunday morning, Socceroos large Mark Bosnich said the Socceroos' destiny laic successful their hands.

Assuming France bushed Tunisia, Australia lone needs to gully against Denmark to marque it through. A triumph would warrant them a spot.

"It's the archetypal clip since qualification erstwhile it went retired of our hands ... that it's up to america what we do," Bosnich said.

He said Denmark would inactive commencement the lucifer arsenic favourites, but believed the Socceroos play amended arsenic the underdog.

"Denmark volition beryllium reasoning 'if we can't bushed Australia we don't merit to beryllium successful the knockout stages'," helium said.

"Hopefully they underestimate us, due to the fact that Australia's amended successful a an underdog situation.

Socceroos 'not intimidated' says Bosnich

"But either mode ... they've done america proud.

"Graham Arnold performed a insignificant occurrence by qualifying america for this tournament. I said astatine the commencement of the tournament, they person thing to lose.

"As agelong arsenic they don't get embarrassed ... they are connected the precipice of making history.

"It's going to beryllium a pugnacious crippled but I judge that they tin bash it."

After the match, Arnold said helium believed galore Australians would beryllium nursing Sunday greeting hangovers, but his players would not beryllium among them.

"When the Socceroos play astatine World Cups, AFL fans, rugby league fans, cricket fans; they each go shot fans. And I tin ideate the celebrations that are going connected astatine home. … I deliberation they'll beryllium a fewer hangovers successful the morning," Arnold said.

"(To the Socceroos) I conscionable said, 'No uncertainty the federation is highly proud, but we've done nothing. You've achieved thing we tin speech astir erstwhile we get home'," helium said.

"I don't privation immoderate celebration. Just bask these mates of minutes connected the transportation with the fans. Then crystal baths, retrieve and get acceptable for the adjacent one."

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