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As the Socceroos prepared for their group-stage decider, the next generation of stars faced their own battle. Longstanding rivals Endeavour Sports High took on Westfields Sports High on Thursday as teenage national-squad hopefuls played in the pouring rain.
Westfields has produced players for every men’s World Cup since 2006; this year’s FIFA World Cup squad alone features centre-back Milos Degenek, goalkeeper and captain Maty Ryan and rising star goalkeeper Patrick Beach.
Among the soaking schoolboys, Westfields goalie Ryan Di Bona, 17, said it was a big legacy to live up to.
“It’s something that I aspire to be every day,” Di Bona said. He looked forward to skipping class and cheering on the Westfields alumni with the rest of the school: “I’m definitely keen for the game but missing English is a bit of an extra.”
The productivity in offices – and schools – is set to plunge across the city on Friday as Sydneysiders flock to pubs and parks to watch Australia’s final group-stage game at noon. There have been predictions all week of sickies and more work-from-home days than usual.
Wet weather looked set to continue, dampening the prospect of outdoor beer gardens and open-air live sites. The Clovelly Hotel was already booked out on Thursday, manager Caitlin O’Sullivan said. But umbrellas were at the ready for “die-hard fans” to brave the rain. Green and gold balloons would decorate the sports bar. “We get pretty lively crowds in here.”
Juliet Kacen, nine, said her dad was “full-on” when it came to the World Cup and had printed out the entire tournament’s draw: “We think he’s going to skip work to watch it – be cheeky.”
She predicted the Socceroos would win and backed calls for a public holiday – but extended her campaign far beyond Friday’s game: “I think we should all have a long holiday until all soccer is off.”
Schools across the state are expected to pause classwork to screen the match, and students at Endeavour Sports High School are among those encouraged to wear green and gold mufti.
Endeavour’s football opens team captain, 17-year-old Toby Tindale, dreams of playing for Australia and is hopeful the Socceroos will succeed against Paraguay: “I’m confident we’ll get the job done.”
Tindale has an English exam and will miss the first half of the match but hopes to be distracted by the cheers of classmates packed into the school hall.
Dionn Nigro, the school team’s midfielder, found out last week he’d made the Joeys – an under-17s version of the Socceroos – and will head to an international game in China next Thursday.
He’ll be taking notes from the likes of Paul Okon-Engstler and Nestory Irankunda as they take on Paraguay, hopeful to play at a World Cup himself one day.
Di Bona expects it will be emotional: “It’s top to watch them, especially since they used to play for this school. To put on the same shirt as them – it’s a privilege.”
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