Korea Republic 2 v Iraq 0
Stadium Australia
Monday 26 January 2015
Twitter @ball_sup
My group game/Quarter Final shift in Canberra is over as the Asian Cup moves to Semi Finals. Declaring an interest, I've got friends in Canberra. As sports fans, it's a running joke between us that "nothing ever happens in Canberra". There are proper Canberra/ACT teams for Rugby League (The Raiders) & Union (The Brumbies). The Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL (Aussie Rules) team play occasional matches in Canberra. In cricket, The Australian Prime Ministers XI routinely play the touring team in a 50 over game in Canberra.
Indeed, in November 2014 Canberra hosted an ODI between Australia & South Africa. And in the coming days/months will have 3 ICC Cricket World Cup matches AND the T20 Big Bash Final - which is a very big deal.
But, the Holy Grail in my world would be a football/soccer A League franchise. There are currently "Derby" expansion teams in Western Sydney Wanderers & Melbourne City (nee Heart). And, previously, failed expansions in Gold Coast & North Queensland. Canberra has not featured in any A League expansion.
The word on the Terraces is that a successful Asian Cup set up in Canberra will help/prove/demonstrate the viability of a Canberra A League franchise.
Not having that.
It's chalk & cheese. Large & partisan ex-pat communities have been the thing. Sure, Canberrans have pitched up. But I'm not sure that gives any indication for A League. Good luck to them though.
I am going to comment on Australian spectating techniques. Canberra stadium does have a Concourse. A promenade/walkway between the lower tier & upper tier. You can bowl around that. You can queue for your beer/pies. You can chat to your mates. All in full view of the pitch.
But, one thing it makes you notice is the comings & goings. I'm a product of the English - cram the last beer in the pub/are we leaving early for a drink - school. But, you know, the game has a kick off time & (generally) lasts 90 minutes. In my experienced opinion, significant numbers of Australian fans wander in 30 minutes after kick off. Many (not necessarily the same people) start drifting off home 10 minutes into the 2nd half. And they don't half like standing in the aisles - ie IN MY WAY.
Come on mate. It's a grid system. Rows are letters. Seats are numbers. Surely you can find it. And to be honest, staring at the seat while blocking my view - well it's not magically gonna change from Row P Seat 15 to whatever it says on your ticket.
A few Aussie fans, unable to find their seat, have quizzically shown me their ticket. Gleefully, on one occasion, I pointed to the ticket & said - "it's right there, 17:30 kick off, where've you been".
Whhhhooooossshhhh
No big deal. The come & go as you please irrespective of kick off time & game duration style is uniquely Australian I feel. I think it shows the admirable cheap ticket prices attracting intrigued, novelty value, once in a lifetime, spectators. Be careful in assuming they'll turn up for A League.
But, the Canberra Asian Cup experience has been great. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. But that's history now.
A simple & efficient display by South Korea here in Stadium Australia in Sydney. Iraq never really got going. South Korea stayed strong in the tackle, were difficult to shift off the ball & took their chances. They've yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
79/188
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