Socceroos continued part 3

So without any idea as to why there were two copies of each photo I am bouyed by the fact that they were posted in the correct order!!
So.......after finding the highs and lows of the Aussie dress sense it was time to sing away the time waiting for the 2100 hour game. Songs like "you've got a one tonne Ronaldo"; "you are red, you are white, you are going home tonight"; "au.....stra.....li....ya....clap clap clap..."; "stand up for the socceroos, stand up" and so forth soon got everyone in the green and gold up to their feet, with beers raised in pride, as someone else played someone else on the big screen.
As I looked around, it was good to see some of the native wild-life had made the journey from Oz to lend their support although where the infamous Wombat was, I do not know.....
Included in the photo album was a very rude Skippy doing some "not postable" things to a blow up Croatian but send us word and I'll send that one through!!
Amongst the throngs of Aussies, I also managed to find some people who'd escaped from wonderland......deeply schizophrenic and showing their bipolar nature on the outside. Normally we look these people in the "other wing" just left of Siberia but at least half of them had the right idea.
After the first game finished, it was left up to those of us without tickets to keep the spirit going. Needless to say, with tunes like "Land Down Under", "Throw your arms around me" and other classic hits blaring over the speakers, it wasn't a hard task.
Amongst all that was going on, we did manage to find some Croatian supporters shorter than us which was not really comforting since she was only about 6 years old!!
As the time approached, the chorus of "change the channel.........change the channel" was quickly replaced by cheers and one of the most heart-felt "Advance Australia Fair"s I've ever heard in my life.
As the game went on, Australia 0:1 down, all that happened was a rise in volume of the chants and cheers. When we finally equalised, it was like a bolt of electricity hit the "flux capacitor" and stopped time....only to followed by an explosion of celebration. It was like the Mastercard ad........at that point everyone was turning around and hugging anyone wearing the green and gold. Thankfully the beer comes in big glasses so none was spilt during the cheers that preceeded the hugs otherwise we would have been swimming our way back to the bar to fill up during the half time break.
The second half was equally emotional and the climax was awesome. Tables broke as Aussies got up jumping around to.....something. At point it didn't matter!! We had gone further than any Socceroo had gone before. (Mind you we were only the second team to make it and the first never scorred a goal!!)

Given the numbers of Croatians around town, we all quickly departed in an internally ecstatic way. Sly smiles and nods to other Aussies was all that was required to share the joy. Surrounded by an armada of disappointed Croatians was enough to keep the Aussie joy in check.....there aren't that many cultures that appretiate "taking the piss" as a sense of humour.
Anyway, will post the return home with photos later, Go the Socceroos.....it was worth missing Fete to be part of this evening!

Of note, reindeer don't do well when subjected to large bunches of Aussies!!