The World Cup carries on however the Socceroos’ exit means the top of the journey for a lot of travelling Australian followers and media in Qatar.
It’s been an exciting trip for these fortunate sufficient to be right here. Here’s some reflections on the match, and the host nation, after an eye-opening three weeks protecting a World Cup like no different.
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THE GOOD
It’s exhausting to argue Qatar is placing on an awesome present – the type you’d count on from a reported $US220 billion outlay. The stadiums, pitches and infrastructure constructed for the occasion have been good.
But the centerpiece of Qatar 2022’s success to this point has been the product itself – the soccer.
Many, together with Australian coach Graham Arnold, had forecast the primary ever November-December World Cup may very well be stuffed with shock outcomes and it’s proved the case with Asian and African groups particularly over-performing.
It’s a dream situation for the hosts as a result of, after years of controversial build-up, individuals have been truly speaking about soccer.
Socceroos World Cup dream over | 02:55
Most group stage qualification battles have gone right down to the wire on the ultimate days, creating loads of pleasure, drama and buzz and you could possibly really feel it across the metropolis.
Away from the pitch, pre-tournament fears about exorbitant costs and discovering a beer haven’t actually lived as much as the fact. Yes, should you’re solely shopping for meals at official World Cup venues you’ll rack up a invoice however that’s the case wherever, even in Australia. Once you discover your ft in Doha, and ask round, you realise there are many nice meals choices that aren’t solely reasonably priced, however low cost.
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The issue of getting a drink was additionally overblown. It is available in most of the metropolis motels which haven’t been as overcrowded or exhausting to get into as many anticipated.
Another noteable a part of the expertise in Qatar — not less than from my very own private expertise — is that it appears like one of many most secure locations on the planet. The oil-rich nation’s crime price is extraordinarily low, unsurprising given the results will be actual, and harsh, however there additionally appears to be a normal stage of respect you may not expertise elsewhere.
There aren’t many locations on the planet you may stroll house from a recreation at 3 or 4am within the morning, carrying costly gear, and never really feel in the least threatened. Serious and petty crime does exist after all — and the expertise could also be totally different for individuals of different ethnicity, sexualty or faith — however I didn’t come throughout anyone who skilled it throughout the match.
Socceroos win over hearts of Aussie fan | 03:54
THE BAD
While it’s been principally a constructive expertise, Qatar 2022 has additionally had some challenges for these attending.
There had been considerations about how the nation would address the inflow of tourists throughout the match and whereas it’s not as dangerous as many thought, getting round city proved a battle at instances.
The metropolis’s new $36bn metro system has apparently eased the pressure on the roads however it’s nonetheless not unusual to expertise Los Angeles-like site visitors or gridlock, particularly travelling at night time.
Around the stadiums may very well be a irritating logistical expertise for too – the post-game herding of individuals by way of sophisticated fenced routes appeared pointless at instances. It made for some prolonged journeys house and late ones, particularly with the unfriendly 10pm native kickoff instances.
Young Socceroo has vibrant future | 02:43
If there’s one other disappointment to be discovered it’s in all probability the environment, or lack of, inside a number of the stadiums. There had been actually exceptions – the noise ranges at Tunisia vs Denmark are a number of the loudest I’ve heard at a sporting occasion, whereas the Argentine followers had the home rocking throughout their 2-1 win over the Socceroos.
But different video games had been noticably flat, and didn’t actually even really feel like a World Cup match, maybe a mirrored image of the very fact many touring spectators had been extra informal followers — not the hardcore sorts that usually generate the majority of the noise — and the hosts’ last-minute beer backflip that meant alcohol as not served inside venues.
THE UGLY
While it’s straightforward to get swept up within the glitz, glamour and pleasure of the occasion there have been moments that introduced issues into perspective.
One of our many Uber and taxi rides sticks in my thoughts as our driver opened up and informed us, “the stuff you hear concerning the human rights in Qatar, it’s true.”
He was from Pakistan and got here final 12 months seeking a greater wage to offer for his household again house however, like many who did the identical, has struggled to make ends meet resulting from exorbitant recruitment charges to safe jobs and contracts that pay lower than initially promised.
“After the World Cup I believe I’ll go house,” he stated. “Because if I’m not incomes extra and need to be away from my household, why am I right here?”
Where it went mistaken for the Aussies | 06:47
It is a posh situation, after all, and one not distinctive to Qatar, which insists it has made important progress on employees’ rights as a part of its legacy mission from internet hosting the match.
His story was certainly one of a number of related ones we heard from good, hard-working individuals (many we met had been additionally pleased and had few complaints, it have to be stated).
The migrant workforce is the heartbeat of the nation – making up a reported 95 per cent of the nation’s employees – however it grew to become clear over the three weeks the place they match into the hierarchy and, sadly, how large the wealth hole is.
BEST MOMENT
Back to soccer; given the low expectations coming into the match, Socceroos followers in all probability would have welcomed even one actually magical World Cup second in Qatar. Instead there have been many.
Scoring in all 4 of their matches for the primary time in Australian soccer historical past, Graham Arnold’s workforce took the nation on an exciting trip that featured encounters with world megastars together with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
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The spotlight needed to be Mathew Leckie’s sensational solo aim that sealed a 1-0 upset over Denmark and the nation’s second ever berth within the spherical of 16.
Like Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mile Jedinak and Brett Holman earlier than them Leckie, Craig Goodwin, Harry Souttar and Mitch Duke created reminiscences for Australians in Qatar, and again house, that’ll be a number of the longest enduring from an unforgettable journey.
