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True Aussie Dedication

May 30th, 2006 | By: Matt | 18 Comments »

So you blokes over in Europe think you do it tough? Try being a football fan on the other side of the world, in particular Australia. During the World Cup, our viewing times for matches are in between 11pm and 7am. Every day of the cup. As our mate Steve Irwin likes to put it, Crikey!

From my understanding, we have the absolute worst viewing times. Alot of football fans will be used to it however, due to the fact that supporting a European based side, means that game time is in between midnight and 2am, or 4 and 6am. Hard Yakka! It will be no wonder that during the World Cup, supporters around the country will be taking days off work, and consuming large amounts of amber fluid while the rest of the nation is tucked up in bed. I will definitely be amongst those who will become nocturnal for a month, perhaps I might see you other football nuts floating around in a bar somewhere.

A study done by 3 mobile, of Australian football fans during the World Cup revealed the following:

The majority of Australian men aged between 18 and 39 said they will watch about 30 hours of live matches.

94 per cent of fans planned on drinking beer while watching matches, while 83 per cent said they will drink 3 or more.

One out of three surveyed, admitted they are thinking about or have decided to take a sickie during the tournament.

Now that’s dedication!

Tags: Australia

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Comments

By Ritz | May 30th, 2006 at 3:46 pm

It’s all part and parcel of supporting the Socceroos mate. In 1997 i skipped school (for the first time ever) to watch the qualifying match – only to end in tears.

In 2001 – I decided not to go to uni.

I sweated bucket loads in the qualifying match against Uruguay (just watching!)

And now that we’re finally there, i’m going to be missing a lot of days off work. Hey, jobs will always be out there….but the world cup comes just once in every 4 years!

EXCITED – Oh and just off the topic, i finally got my Aussie Kit (which cost me half my pay check) – just wondering if the team logo should be embroided?

I got it from a legit site with tags etc but just curious why only the nike is embroided.

Thanks!

Posted from New Zealand

By Nicolas | May 30th, 2006 at 6:46 pm

Quit your job, disconnect the phone, breakup with your girlfriend/boyfreind and embrace the vampire….(the nocternal thing not the blood thing)…..these things come and go but the world cup is only one month every 4 years…..

Vive Les Bleus!!!

Posted from Australia

By Ritz | May 30th, 2006 at 9:46 pm

Hahaha. I suppose that’s one way to look at it. If I keep browsing more footy sites at work, I think i’ll be well on my way to that…

Posted from New Zealand

By Matt | May 30th, 2006 at 10:06 pm

The Socceroos logo isn’t embroidered on the real shirt. I thought this was a bit cheap when I saw them in Rebel sport. I guess it makes it easier for people in Asia to produce counterfeits.

Posted from Australia

By Martin | May 30th, 2006 at 10:59 pm

Yeah, I was slightly peeved when I got my shirt that the only embroidery was the Nike swoosh….What the!

I’m here in the States so the games are on during work time. It’ll be strange, used to having all nighters watching Football on the tube.

Ritz, I know what you mean, I spend the majority of my work time surfing the net for more info….it’s addictive!

By Ritz | May 31st, 2006 at 12:28 am

Haha. Thanks for the info guys. Yea disapointed would be an understatement. I spent sooo long trying to get a kit in medium. When I finally got it I was thrilled…till I saw the ‘iron on’ logo…and it’s made in Indonesia. C’mon Nike?! Make em for $5 (less) and charge the loyal fans $150-$200?!

Maybe i’ll just make a trip to Indonesia and buy a couple hundred.

Posted from Australia

By Martin | May 31st, 2006 at 8:08 am

And I was thinking of all the places to make an Aussie shirt, Indonesia.

Don’t know what the shirts selling for in the stores back home ($130 I saw advertised on some websites) but the shirt only cost me US$70 (about AU$92). Can’t believe its cheaper for me to buy the Aussie shirt in the States than back home.

Posted from United States

By marco | June 2nd, 2006 at 4:10 am

i love watching matches at that time .. i always watch serie a for 11 – 2-30 am and champions league from either 4 or 5 am .. i recon its the best time coz theres no one up to anoy you … and watching it in the day it just not as good .. dont really no why tho haha

Posted from Australia

By Andy Peters | June 2nd, 2006 at 4:29 pm

You what? When the World Cup was in Japan and South Korea I had to get up at stupid o’clock to watch the football in the UK, stop whinging. I’ll also be watching England retain the Ashes at stupid o’clock as well! Soft cock!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Martin | June 2nd, 2006 at 7:30 pm

Andy Peters, stop being a tosser mate! There was no need for that.

By David | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:05 am

and you lot in the UK whinged and whinged and whinged! and that was the first time that it had ever happened, that the World Cup (or any major tournament) had ever been in anything remotely approaching our time zone! and did you ever stop to think that we have the same deal with the Ashes every other time… don’t go calling us softcocks!

Posted from Australia

By Andy Peters | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:30 am

Sorry I have no sympathy. It was the same in USA 94, Mexico 86, there were weird times to watch the matches in the UK. Then add in things like the Olympic games in Sydney (and next Beijing) and then the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. I love sport and I watch it at stupid times. I never complain about getting up at a stupid hour. And yes I realise that about the Ashes! Difference is I don’t whinge about it!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Andy Peters | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:33 am

Did I also mention about getting up at stupid o’clock for the rugby world cup as well? So the Olympics and the Rugby world cup aren’t major tournaments then?

Posted from United Kingdom

By Matt | June 3rd, 2006 at 11:17 am

The thing is, you dont get up at that time every single week to watch your team play. 45 odd weeks of the year we are up watching the teams we support in Europe, where as you have to deal with it for maximum of a month every 4 years

Posted from Australia

By Ritz | June 3rd, 2006 at 4:48 pm

Exactly. And we don’t call it ’stupid’ o clock because for us its great. You call it that simply because you’re a typical whinger mate.

We love our sport and we watch it at any time. No one he is whinging about the time…only you. I suggest posting in the England blog.

Posted from New Zealand

By Andy Peters | June 4th, 2006 at 5:09 am

“So you blokes over in Europe think you do it tough? Try being a football fan on the other side of the world, in particular Australia. During the World Cup, our viewing times for matches are in between 11pm and 7am.”

I call that whinging.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Andrew | June 25th, 2006 at 12:00 pm

Back on the topic of the aussie Home Kit, I am disappoint with the fact that the Logo (I have come to terms with the iron-on vs embro)on the kit is differnt to the ones being worn by the team.

Does anyone know what’s the story?
Is there a legit explanation for this.

If I hadn’t printed Bresciano’s name on it, I would have returned it.

Posted from Australia

By Spieler | June 25th, 2006 at 1:35 pm

I agree the Australian kits are a bit disapointing. Though in Germany we are only paying 60€, about $100 Australian, why is it cheaper in Germany and the US than in Australia, though I still think they are too much.
As for watching sports in different time zones, countries not on the European side of the world do have it tougher as most major sporting competitions are in Europe and the US. Therefore people in Europe and the US should not complain when something is on the other side of the world.

Posted from Germany