Full of Australians wearing my green and gold in Germany! Friday morning was a landmark in Australian Football folklore and everyone will remember it on many levels. Australia are now in the final sixteen of the World Cup.

For me, I was with Trudi and Flynn at Birrarung Mar watching the Socceroos battle through adversity against Croatia, the bungling efforts of Englands ‘best’ (and I use that loosley) referee, and the eventual final whistle that marked Australia as a true Football nation.

It was cold in Melbourne. It had been raining all morning and we were undecided whether or not to go to Federation Square in the City or the Limerick Arms in South Melbourne. I took a punt and opted for Fed Square. We got there just as the national anthems were sung and found that Fed Sq had been closed off as it was at capacity and we were directed a short distance to a second large screen further up the Yarra.

There would have been around 7000 here and as we arrived we saw the Socceroos go down 0-1 from a free kick – 4 minutes into the match. We were going to be made to suffer for this match it would seem.

Nevertheless, true Aussie battler spirit rose to the fore answering both of the goals Croatia scored. It was a fantastic match to watch to see how well the Aussies dominated the game. The Socceroos were unlucky not to be 2 goals up if Graham Poll (the ref) was actually watching the game.

The most bizarre incident was the ref’s handing out three yellow cards and then a red card to the traitor Josip Simunic and then ruling out the winning goal scored by Tim Cahill. I doubt Graham Poll will ever ref another World Cup match again.

Well done to the Socceroos, they truly deserve to make the final 16 and they should be very proud of their effort against Croatia. Next assignment is Italy on Tuesday morning.

Thoughts turn to Ty who is currently in Costa del Sol in South West Spain where he was the only one cheering for the Aussies in an english pub there – PARTY ON TY!