Lending a supporting hand

The stands are all migrating following the end of the regular football season. The colours we wear on our shirts is changing as our patriotic passions unite for the World Cup. Australia is rolling out the green and gold as the final four weeks to kick off descend upon us.  The provisional squads are selected, the cringe worthy team slogans are being slapped on the buses and the final warm up games remain ahead of the all-important final squad announcements.

There are thousands of Aussies getting excited to be leaving our shores Brazil bound.  This time around, I will be with the rest of us here at home who’ll be altering our circadian rhythms to watch all the early morning games.

There are few easy draws in the group stages of the World Cup, but what more can we expect with the best of the best in the world playing.  For the Socceroos, we have the toughest group of all; it won’t stop us from barracking loud.  This time it’ll be without fighting against the drone of vuvuzelas as we hope for something akin to a fairy-tale ending.

 

With so many hours of glorious football available and much cheer in me; I can’t pass up the opportunity to seek out another underdog to lend my support. All the little guys can always do with an extra hand to become giant slayers!

I followed South Africa in 2010 as the locals swept me up welcomingly, dancing and drinking like we were all the best friends on the sands of Durban on the opening night.  This time around I’ve decided to follow Côte d’Ivoire. I won’t deny the orange team kit is hard to miss, but they seem to have the underdog tag that keeps my interest.

The Elephants have never made it through a group stage and their draw always seems to end up with an unfavourable grouping. In 2006, they drew Argentina, Netherlands & Serbia Montenegro. In 2010 it was Brazil, Portugal and Korea DPR.  The Socceroos have lent them a hand this time, in true Australian spirit by taking the worst hit.  Still, the Elephants have it pretty tough in Group C with Colombia, Greece and Japan.  Luckily they have a wealth of individual experience and explosive talent. With the likes of Didier Drogba, Wilfried Bony, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Serge Aurier; I think this might be the Elephants best chance to make history!

 

I’m looking forward to the tournament getting underway and bringing you something extra to the Socceroos perspective.  I hope more than anything, we continue to believe in all the little guys, that all the underdogs of this footballing world should never be dismissed.

Editors Note – Do you have a second team you are following in Brazil? Lets us know.  If you want to write for us during the World Cup get in touch with us at fromthestansdal@gmail.com

 

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