Socceroos ignite golden horde … of bemused schoolkids
The Socceroos are now in Russia with their eyes firmly focused on the prize — the prize being surviving an onslaught from France, with dignity intact, in five days' time.
Not that you would know the Australian players are staring into a Les Bleus abyss, all three who faced the media on Monday maintained an air of quiet confidence, almost a fearlessness.
The Australians have nested at the home of the AK Bars club, one of the powerhouses of Russian ice hockey, where they will remain for as long as they survive in the World Cup.
Monday's training session was open to the public, with more than 3,000 locals streaming in to watch Bert van Marwijk's side run through some light drills.
Securing such a sought-after home base for the World Cup was a coup for Football Federation Australia, who got in early to take advantage of the first-in-best-dressed system for this tournament.
In previous World Cups it didn't matter how much scouting you had done for a base camp, one of the bigger, richer federations could always come in late and claim it as their own by offering more money.
Along with Japan and Colombia, Australia is based in pretty Kazan, once conquered by Genghis Khan's Golden Horde before Ivan the Terrible stormed its fortified walls and claimed it for the Muscovites.
The players wouldn't have seen much of the city since arriving on Sunday, nor would they be likely to have read up much on its history.
When asked about the current political tension between the governments of Russia and Australia, Trent Sainsbury swatted away the question with a shrug.
"I'm just a footballer," he said.
The ever-quotable defender was equally dismissive of suggestions he would be sliced up by the French rapier Antione Griezmann, the Atletico Madrid superstar who is lightning quick, skilful and lethal in front of goal.
"Obviously, yeah, he's one of the best in the world. Everybody's talking about him, he's such a great player. But at the same time, it's a team sport and I've got teammates around me that can help me deal with that."
Concentration must be maintained for the entire game, Sainsbury said. A moment's lapse would absolutely be punished.
"We have to be on our best behaviour."
Goalkeeper Mat Ryan, too, spoke of how clinical France will be, saying Australia must sustain its highest level for the 90 to 95 minutes of the game.
"We have to have the answers to those questions."
Midfielder Massimo Luongo expressed what would be considered foolish bravado, if he wasn't so well-spoken and thoughtful.
He wouldn't entertain the idea of damage limitation against France.
"In everything we do in training and that we've done previously, we're always out there to win the game. You've spoken to the manager, he doesn't want to lose games or draw games, he just wants to win," he said.
As locals streamed in to watch the Monday afternoon training session, it appeared to be less about FIFA's concept of each host city adopting a team to support, as families looking for something to do on a chilly June afternoon.
One babushka pushing a baby said she was visiting from Yekaterinburg for the weekend and thought she'd pop along for a free activity.
Three huge Russian men who could have been wrestlers, or grizzly bears, said they were keen to get into the spirit of the World Cup. Despite clutching green and gold Socceroos flags, they said they will support Russia.
"But someone said the Australian national team must be good if they are here in this tournament," he said.
"It's not often events of this scale happen here."
Young scallywags Emil and Ramadan, accompanied by their dad, said they were football lovers and just wanted to have a look.
Somewhat erratically, they said they were fans of both Real Madrid and (Barcelona star) Lionel Messi. They couldn't name any Socceroos players.
The AK Bars stands were turned into a sea of gold thanks to the Socceroos flags handed out at the gates — after passing through security scanners — but the MC's attempts to get an 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy!' going fell fairly flat.
Quite a few, including the grizzly bears, filed out when they realised they were just watching a light training session, but others stayed and became particularly enthused by the goalkeepers' drills, in which Ryan, Brad Jones, and Danny Vukovic attempted to fire free kicks past each other.
Is that what passes for entertainment in Kazan? On a lazy Monday afternoon … probably yes.
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ABC .net
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