Rustenheartbreakburg

Rustenburg would have to be the remotest World Cup venue in the modern history of the tournament. It claims to be one of the richest cities in the country and admittedly we didn’t see much aside from the pre game function at Rustenburg Golf Club and the stadium, but it came across as having a large population of lower class. The drive to the ground was again a confronting experience as we looked out the windows at some sub humane living conditions for some of Rustenburg’s poorest. The pre game was again fantastic. The large entertainment area in the golf clubhouse was an enjoyable way to relax with a few beers and enjoy one another’s company. The venue was also open to other Australian travelers not specifically on the Green & Gold Army tour. Once at the stadium, Australians took over the main outdoor bar area which was reminiscent of Marin Platz square in Kaiserslautern four years ago when the central part of the town was covered in a sea of green and gold. Again, my seat was on the second tier so I was on the search for a better viewing area once inside. Most of us mingled in a standing area parallel to the corner flag and there we remained for the match’s entirety. I thought I was living a nightmare when I saw the referee’s come out for their warm up. Not having read any of the official match previews, I was unaware that Italian official Roberto Rossetti had been appointed as the referee. My confidence immediately dwindled and I couldn’t help but think back to the amount of times I have seen the man single handedly ruin matches played in the Italian top flight. How he was afforded an opportunity to officiate in a World Cup defies logic, in my opinion. I just hoped that a contentious decision wouldn’t eventuate that would change the balance or influence the outcome of the match. It didn’t happen, Just after the twenty minute mark, Schwarzer came off his line, ball went past, Harry on line on his own, moves, seemed to strike his forearm, we hoped it hadn’t, ref blew his whistle, hearts sink, penalty, red card…. Rossetti again wins the award for best actor in a leading role. The replay, watching it back shows that the ball clearly hit the outstretched arm of Kewell. It turned out to be the correct decision but at the ground I couldn’t help but wonder what the outcome would have been had the ref been anyone else. The boys were gallant and had the chances that fell to Chippers and Wilkshire gone in then we would be singing a different tune; but we’re not. Instead we are wondering about what might have been and on the two hour bus ride home you could hear whispers amongst friends and partners, fathers and sons intensely trying to calculate every outcome possible in how Australia can possibly scrape through to the second round. Its simple: Beat Serbia and hope that Ghana beat Germany, or hope that Germany thrashes Ghana by 3 or 4 and we put 2 or 3 past Serbia. Tall ask but we if being on this continent has taught me anything about its past, then there is still hope.