Soccer: Long wait ends for Australian fans

Soccer may not be the most popular sport in Australia but the national team can still boast some of the most dedicated fans at the World Cup.

It has been 32 long years since the Socceroos' only previous appearance at the finals so nothing was going to stop their most devoted supporters following them this time.

More than 7000 fans have flown from Australia to Germany, a trip that can take up to 30 hours, while thousands more have travelled over from Britain, where many Australians live.

They have come from all walks of life. There are wealthy businessmen, butchers, bricklayers and backpackers.

Some have come alone, others in groups. Some men have left their wives at home, others have brought their entire families.

Hollywood actor Anthony LaPaglia, a shareholder in Sydney FC, turned down an offer to watch the matches from a VIP box so he could sit with the crowd and cheer like the rest.

Tony Harper and Matt Wood, two friends from Sydney, are chronicling their adventures on their own blogsite.

Brett Burns, a Melbourne dentist, has brought his five-year-old son because he did not want him to endure the same long wait he did.

Australia's opening match against Japan in Kaiserslautern was a day to remember for all the travelling fans.

They sang the national anthem with pride then burst into Waltzing Matilda and the more familiar sporting chant of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, oi, oi".

Australians are not used to seeing their national teams lose so the atmosphere was typically subdued when they conceded an early goal but the mood quickly changed when they hammered in three late strikes to claim their first win at a World Cup.

The streets of Kaiserslautern were suddenly flooded by a sea of green and gold fans wearing corked hats, carrying inflatable kangaroos and celebrating as though they had won the World Cup.

Oehringen, where the players are based, has adopted the Socceroos as their favourite team with Australian flags draped all over town and is planning a fans' welcome day tomorrow.

Germany can even lay claim to being the home of perhaps Australia's most devoted supporter.

Andre Krueger was a teenager when Australia played at the 1974 World Cup but was instantly fascinated by the team. He has spent three decades researching the history of Australian soccer and is now recognised as a leading expert on the topic.

He has followed the Socceroos ever since, enduring the heartache of previous attempts to qualify, and cannot believe he is now taking his own children to watch them in Germany.

He can look forward at the very least to their remaining group F matches against world champions Brazil and Croatia. The team could even prolong their stay to the second round.

"It has been a very long wait for everyone. I cried every four years when Australia didn't qualify and now that time is over," Krueger told The Age newspaper.

- REUTERS