Soccer: Dreamtime for Australians and more to come

MELBOURNE - A mixture of euphoric relief and sheer disbelief hung over Australia yesterday as the realisation sank in that the national team had reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time.

Thousands set their alarms early, or merely extended their night of drinking, to gather in Melbourne's Federation Square and watch their side claim the draw they needed against Croatia in a match starting at 5am local time.

The timing of the game in Stuttgart prompted a surreal mix on Melbourne's early rush-hour streets.

Sober-suited commuters stood beside giddy late-night drinkers draped in the country's green and gold colours to unite in a nation more used to success with an oval ball.

Against authorities' wishes, flares were let off with each of Australia's two goals, as "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" filled the morning air.

After Harry Kewell's late goal brought the scores to 2-2, the tension was palpable and the final whistle brought an ecstatic response.

The mood was more muted at the Australian Croatian Association breakfast, where green and gold freely mingled with the red and white checks of the disappointed Croats.

Prime Minister John Howard likened the achievement to Australia's 1983 America's Cup triumph.

"What is great about this is that for so long we had in Australia hundreds of thousands of young boys, and increasingly girls now, playing soccer but somehow or other we couldn't break through into the international scene," he said.

Australia will play Italy in the second round on Monday in Kaiserslautern.

- REUTERS