CHANGE has come to Sydney town since Australia’s 2:1 win over Japan.
The man at the centre of these events is an icon of the game. Probably only the third or fourth Australian player who would get a start for any nation you name. He's a Sydney boy, he loves his family and he even makes an arm full of tattoos seem wholesome. He and his teammates had just completed one of the hardest tasks in world sport: a multi-year part-time war against the best teams in Asia.
They had fought at altitude, in deserts, in freezing cold and oppressive heat and emerged not only as victors, but conquerors. So comprehensively great that not even the most puritan of Australians would begrudge Tim Cahill a celebratory night at the Cross, let alone one extra drink at closing time.
On the other hand, the cadres at the Daily Telegraph were fighting a different war on a much smaller field...until their target rose in the manner of a hero, with two winning goals against a self-proclaimed World Cup top-four team.
Then,on the local branch of the world's biggest TV network, he thanked the Australian public. There will still be defensive skirmishes in the future, but it is clear that the war is over.
As if to underline the new reality, the Socceroos then entered the top echelon of the world game. For a moment, the vertigo was overwhelming. But, if our ranking of 16th is somehow flattering, then the Swiss, Greeks, Yanks, Serbs and Danish immediately above us are performing Chris Angel-like deceptions.
The jokes comparing Holman and Ronaldo aside, the ranking doesn't flatter too much; Australia sits pretty comfortably in that company and we'd happily have any of those team in our World Cup group. With two World Cup bids being driven off the back of Sydney's Olympic history and status as a world city, this town is embracing football.
On cue, Sydney FC seem to have gotten their act together, playing great football in every corner of the city. And while Sydney FC fans would have loved a high profile match against a touring European team, the main game was always to re-connect with as many people as possible before mounting a serious challenge on the A-league.
But the goal isn't just about being local champions; it's to then beat teams from other great cities like Tokyo, Seoul, Tehran and Beijing to be champions of Asia. The goal is to make Sydney FC the pride of 5 million people and envy of 3 billion.
And rugby league will not be harmed because the biggest rugby league cities are also the most storied football cities. Manchester, Leeds and Tim Cahill's adopted home of Liverpool are cities steeped in rugby league history, but renowned for their football teams. Before long, Sydney will keep that company and the Daily Telegraph will celebrate the loudest. Because it is a tabloid. Its only job is to be popular.
