9: Hard men of Montevideo 2001

The Socceroos arrived in Uruguay 1-0 to the good after the first leg of their continental play-off for a spot at World Cup 2002. But back then Soccer Australia didn’t have the planning ability or money of the current FFA to organise such an important trip and on arrival at the airport in Uruguay, local thugs were there to monster our players and spit on them. The sight of Stan Lazaridis shielding his face from the local idiots and the subsequent caged feeling around the side was reflected in an awful performance. We lost and our dream was dead. Again.

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