IT’S a 9 metre by 12 metre show of national pride and football fans are hoping it makes a fitting tribute to the long and proud history of the Green and Gold as the Socceroos walk onto the field of destiny tonight.
Fledgling active support group Terrace Australis spent three days in an Ingleburn warehouse creating a punch of colour for tonight’s sell-out crowd.
The pullover’s big reveal will happen at ANZ Stadium but a sneak peak for Socceroos Tim Cahill and skipper Lucas Neill has already received the thumbs up.
Thirty new two-sticks and 10 two metre by two metre flags have been created for the match as fans take the fight for glory to the stands.
“The pullover is currently sitting in my house taking up a two metre square section of my lounge room,” said TA member Stephen Southworth who admits it’s been all hands on deck in the lead-up to the clash.
“It’s about bringing back the colour and atmosphere that have been missing from Socceroos games for a long time.”
Neill has been vociferous in his appeal for home crowd support as the Socceroos face Iraq in what the Aussies hope is the final showdown before booking a place at Brazil 2014 for their third straight World Cup.
And he’s been quick to draw on that night in November 2005 when the national team defeated Uruguay ending 32 years of torment.
Neill said: “The way the crowd can help is by singing the national anthem like they did in the Uruguay game all those years ago which was hair standing up on the back of your neck stuff.
"From there it gives the boys that buzz to go out and start well and put Iraq immediately under pressure."
It’s going to be tough to recreate that iconic moment but an 80,000 strong crowd will put the match into the Socceroos all-time Top 10 attendances and Southworth says the fans behind TA are certainly feeling the pull of history.
“Football has long and proud heritage in this country and it’s about paying our respect to the history of the game,” he said.
TA members will arrive at the ground at 12noon today to set up before heading to the Strathfield Hotel followed by a march to the stadium.
The group will also be selling scarves for $15 with all money going to the Johnny Warren Foundation. The same initiative before Australia’s 4-0 demolition of Jordan raised about $1000.
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