Australian PM "broken-hearted" after Socceroos World Cup loss
27/6/2006 14:56
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said "I'm broken-hearted" after the
Australian team lost to Italy 0-1 in the World Cup today.
Howard, now
visiting Indonesia, said on TV that the last minute penalty "is a very cruel way
to lose, right on the knocker like that, but the team just played so bravely the
whole match."
Football Federation Australia Chief Executive John O'Neill told
Seven Network TV from Germany that "We are really gutted. Sport can be very
cruel, but today it was excruciatingly cruel."
But Australia has proved
itself to the world, he said. "We came in Canberra as a lowly ranked team, lucky
to make it in the eyes of the world, but the world has taken notice, big time,
of what Australia has done."
Federal Sports Minister Rod Kemp congratulated
the Australian players on a job well done, despite its loss, saying "all
Australians are enormously proud of the magnificent efforts of (captain) Mark
Viduka and his Socceroos following today's heartbreaking loss to Italy."
Tens
of thousands of fans gathered at city squares and watched live broadcast of the
match in major cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. About 20 were arrested
across the country for causing trouble after Australia
lost.
xinhua
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