FIFA World Cup 2006

[Conker]

How popular has this year's FIFA World Cup been in Australia?Is soccer able to survive in Australia with Australian rules football?The socceroos did really well this year.They almost beat Italy today.

[gemini_liberal]

1. Always preferred soccer over other sports

Like most othe Australians, I was happy to see our team get this far, and I do believe it will bring the sport a slight boost. However, soccer's growing popularity has been at the grassroots level. It has been growing in popularity over the last decade due to local soccer games being easy to set up and equip.

The world cup itself will, of course, have a bit of an effect. However, most people who were "converts" this time, will go back to ignoring the soccer again because we didn't do well over all. Most people tend to prefer to be the big fish in the small pond.

AFL will always trump in popularity. It's an entrenched sport, as well as a slight nationalism thing.

[Matilda]

2. Cricket is my game, but I prefer soccer to any other type of football.

I sat up last night to watch the game with Italy, and I feel so sick about the result. To lose
against a better team is one thing, but to lose because of a bad refereee is heartbreaking.

Australia played so well, and in the second half I thought they were looking in much better shape
than the Italians, and they were in control of the game. But they've suffered so much from bad
refereeing decisions, I can't help wondering whether it was a matter of putting those Aussie
upstarts in their place. That final penalty should never have happened; it would have been easier
to go with a shoot-out, although in general that sucks as a way of finishing a game.