NEWLY formed active support group Terrace Australis has drawn up its own battle plans for getting the Socceroos to their third successive World Cup.
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Buoyed by the national team’s impressive 1-1 draw against Japan on Tuesday the group has issued a call to arms, challenging Aussie supporters to bring the noise and the boys home on a wave of green and gold.
It’s do or die wondering for Holger Osieck’s men as they head into the final two must-win qualifiers against Jordan in Melbourne (June 11) and Iraq in Sydney (June 18).
With fan pride and a place at the 2014 World Cup on the line, a packed and re-energised home end will be doing its bit to fortify Etihad and ANZ Stadiums against a home ground boilover.
“We’re going to be standing up the whole match – we’re going to be waving flags and banners and singing non-stop,” said fan Sean Herrett.
In just a few weeks, Terrace Australis has rolled out branches across Australia, launched a website and Facebook page and, this week, a logo.
Members will bunker down with more than 50 metres of material in a warehouse in Sydney, on Saturday, for a tifo workshop. Two-stick banners, flags and pullovers are all on the agenda.
Chants are being fine-tuned and fans are working their printers to the bone producing songbooks for match-day distribution.
Plans for a 74th minute Poznan-like celebration (but facing the pitch) will honour the nation’s first crop of World Cup stars from 1974.
Supporters are urged to head to the group’s website to find out how they can get involved.
Skipper Lucas Neill gave the team’s fans a post-match rev up in Japan, urging people to turn out in big numbers for the remaining crunch games.
According to Stephen Southworth, the veteran defender had a similar message after the 2-2 draw against Oman in March.
“He said the Oman game just didn’t feel like a home game – the away supporters were louder than us,” Southworth said.
“That was a wake-up call to everybody who is an active supporter. If you were at the game or watching on TV you would have noticed that the atmosphere was dead.
“The skipper noticed and that should be enough for people to think, well if the players are getting affected by the fact we’re not contributing to the atmosphere then we’ve got to do something about that.”
More than 62,000 fans of the Samurai Blue packed Saitama stadium to scream their team to another World Cup on Tuesday, and Terrace Australis is hoping some heavy-lifting from the stands will also help the Roos to Rio.
A home end sell out is a tough call but that’s the goal.
The group has come a long way in a short time. Branches have been launched in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. There are plans for one in Adelaide and discussions are taking place with fans in Canberra.
Long term they have the 2015 Asian Cup in their sights, at which time they’ll have a couple of years’ experience to draw on. And the Matildas and national youth teams will also be getting the TA touch.
But with the Socceroos in the final days of learning their World Cup destiny there’s not a moment to lose.
“What we’re saying is that it’s in our hands now, that’s the beauty of it,” Herrett said. “We win the next two matches and we’re there.
"There’s no excuse not to get along to the games. And if people have got even one bone in their body that says they want to jump up and down and sing then get on our website and find out more.”
It might seem like an overnight creation, but Southworth said the group will draw motivation from the national team’s long and proud tradition.
“We want to bring some heritage to the terraces,” he added. “The Socceroos have a great heritage from 1922 all the way through to now and the fans will be getting inspiration from that.”
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