Despite my earlier posting concerning the lack of the world's top stars, I set off for the game with an open mind. As briefly as can be ("er indoors, is trying to drag me out to spend") The stadium is absolutely magnificent, surpassed only by the most talented team Australia has assembled.
THE TRAVEL
Public transport could not have been better.
THE STADIUM STAFF
Plentiful and helpful
THE SEATING
Like any stadium, not everybody can sit opposite the half way line and halfway up the stand. I did seriously believe you get what you pay for. How wrong I was. At $130, a ticket I expected half decent seats - the only thing we got half of, was the view of the field. If you were in the front 5 or 6 rows, the advertising hoardings that they place close to the field of play blocked out anything below the players knee. Hence no sight of the ball. Luckily within 15 minutes of the kick off, all 8 people in our party managed to find vacant seats further up the stand. Great view.
FOOD
Who cares? I can manage to last a few hours without food.
THE QUEUES
Non existant. This was great because unlike food, there is another commodity that one cannot do without.
THE ATMOSPHERE
Adequate
THE CROWD
Poor in size. What could I expect, quite a few of my so-called football loving mates said that the tickets were too dear, and so, were beyond their budget. To the people who took this stance - Bollocks. Do you think that the football fans in Europe or South America would pass up a similar opportunity. They would just let the kids go without food for a few days, or perhaps sell a couple of them off.
THE BEST PLAYERS
Zelic and Okon are streets infront of the rest. Kewell is not up with these two "yet". In both this game and the game and against the Olympics team, he attempts to travel just that bit too far with the ball. He seems a much better player with Leeds - maybe he is trying too hard to show us his wares.
OUR TITLE
I cringed when Little Johnny Eyebrow said good luck to the SOCCEROOS. The world was watching for God's sake. An Australian X1 will do just fine. I think that anyperson who bothered to buy a ticket, or turn on their TV, knew what sport they were watching. Perhaps a supporterroo could tell this politicianaroo it sounds like poo.
WHAT I GOT FROM IT
Everything I wanted. I would pay double to do it again.