Home-grown World Cup action returns to Australia
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-12 13:59 Pubs planned to stay open well past their regular
closing times Monday and millions of people were expected to tune in at home on
a forecast cold winter's night as Australia began its World Cup-induced dose of
insomnia.
Australia's World Cup
soccer team players stretch during a training session in the German town
of Kaiserslautern June 11, 2006. Australia will play Japan on Monday in
both teams opening games of the World Cup.
[Reuters] |
Not that anyone was complaining about the impending sleepless nights.
Watching the Socceroos play in the World Cup for the first time in 32 years,
Australian fans-some who only jumped on the bandwagon when Australia qualified
by beating Uruguay last November-planned to moan, groan and cheer with every
scoring chance or questionable refereeing call during the Group F match against
Japan at Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Among those saying they planned to watch were Prime Minister John Howard and
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, who said he expected a less than productive day
by lawmakers in federal Parliament on Tuesday.
"There's going to be bleary-eyed Australians tomorrow as they turn up to work
after the long weekend and it won't be because they hung one on," said Beazley.
"It will be because they'll be up watching the Socceroos. As I will be myself.
"I expect a fairly desultory day in parliament tomorrow as we have some of
the effects of having celebrated a great Socceroos win."
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