'Roos Go Through

Well, they did it. The nation had a definite spring in its step this morning despite getting up at 5am to see Australia play Croatia with qualification for the knock-out stage at stake for both sides (this is the World Cup, it's football, played with a round ball, for those non-sporting readers).

A late goal from Harry Kewell, or King Harry, as the Prime Minister calls him, was enough to draw the game, which was all they needed to finish second in their group. Travellers stranded at Canberra airport this morning because of fog were still fondly watching the replays many hours later. This was just as well as many were there for some hours (I know, I was one of those travellers).

Here's an irony. I've mentioned before that football here is very much the preserve of immigrant communities, though that may now change, and the list of player's names has a distinct European/Balkan flavour. The Socceroos' captain is a guy called Mark Viduka and he's of Croatian descent and started his professional career there. I reckon he passes Norman Tebbit's infamous cricket test, if that's not too confusing.