was there with the young fellows this arvo - every kick, pass, and header - every save, and every shot.

They managed to hold their own against their more fancied opponents, as the scoreline after ninety and 120 minutes shows.

Everyone knows penalties are a bit of a lottery, and with a tiny bit more luck, the Championship'd be the Joeys'. But there's no disgrace in ending up second in the world when the game is so close, the opponents so well-credentialled, and the efforts were so valiant.

I reckon we'll see a lot of these players as they come on through the various national representative sides, and Australia will be the better-placed for it. I agree that Frank Farina must have been very happy at the prospect, and that we must also pay tribute to Les Scheinflug - he's done so much for Oz football over the years, and his retention by SocOz in an off-field possie is an excellent move.

Van Stratten. What a bloody champion. I do believe that was a record number of touches for a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout. 5 touches, 1 post. Bloody Brazil.

Di Orio's last minute shot...

All the Australian team were bloody champions. Everyone one of them with their hands on their heart, singing their lungs out during the national anthem. I am sure that would have had Frank Farina gulping for air. I was. Who needs McMaster?

I simply can not believe the level at which the game was played. An under 17 game for crying out loud, had all the ingredients of one of the most memorable moments in Australian Football.

There is a conspiracy against us. When I was playing at the Joeys age-level, I played with some goal posts shaped rectangular, not round. I protest that leading 5-4 in the shootout, Brazil's kick would not have gone in if the goal posts where rectangular, and hence Australia would be world champions.

Look at the positives of this game? Very hard to after the match with the immortal and infinite honorable World President Joao Havelange (nice that job/title he gave himself) and Charles Dempsey who came out of the old-folks home for this game! Did anyone else notice him put 2 medals on the same player? Honestly, that bumbling bloody idiot of an OFC president never ceases to amaze me with his level of competence. Or should I say brightness and spark and quick-wit, Not! David Arnold suggested someone be there to wipe the drool off his chin.

I think Nick and Eddie on the ABC were acting out everyone's split personality at this point in time. Totally pissed at losing like that, and totally wrapped and proud at playing as good as that.

This really has knocked the Iran match back into the memory bank of my brain.