Sydney FC players and staff have expressed their disappointment at the news Australia was unsuccessful in its bid to host 2022 World Cup bid.
Sydney FC players and staff have expressed their disappointment at the news Australia was unsuccessful in its bid to host 2022 World Cup bid.
Blues defender and Young Socceroo Sebastian Ryall could likely be a senior member of the Socceroos squad come 2022, and was bitterly let-down by the awarding of the tournament to Qatar.
“I woke up and heard the news. It was disappointing but I-m glad we went for it, you never know we could get the next one, I don-t know if they are going to push for it, but I-m quite disappointed,” he said.
“I wish we could get it here, but it just shows how far we-ve come as a footballing nation to actually push for it.”
Striker Alex Brosque was a little less optimistic when talking about Australia-s attitude towards what is not merely the biggest sporting event in the world, but the biggest event full stop.
“It-s a real shame because having the World Cup here would have done so much for the country, and people don-t realise how big it is,” he said.
“I think the media has put a lot more focus on the fact that if we don-t get it, it could be the end of the A-League. I guess the papers and the people that own the papers have interests in other sports so that-s the way they are going to portray things.
“The World Cup would have been a bonus and would have highlighted to Australians just how big football is around the world, I think we take it for granted a little bit here with other sporting interests and the media more focused on other sports.”
Sydney FC coach Viteslav Lavicka revealed his surprise that Australia-s bid didn’t get the wanted result.
“I expected Australia to win, but I know it-s diplomatic and too many other things can change [the outcome].”
“Of course I am disappointed like all Australians, but what happened has happened, it-s unlucky,” he said.
Lavicka was quick to dismiss the notion that the A-League may suffer from Australia not hosting the World Cup, citing no concerns for the future of the national league.
“Of course if a country gets a big event like the World Cup it-s great generally for the development of football in that country, [but] I think the A-League has good quality and is going up [with] good young players and experienced players coming back from overseas. I think it-s good for the future,” he said.
Despite his disappointment, Brosque was equally optimistic about the shape of things to come for the A-League.
“I think the A-League is here to stay and what Frank Lowy has done for football in this country is a good base, so I think there is nothing to worry about,” he said, urging the media and public not to consider the failed $46million bid money down the drain.
“Someone on SBS said this morning when you look back Australia had three goes at trying to get the Olympics here, and now that we had it no one complained about the money spent on that.
“I think the World Cup is the same, even though this is a setback and a disappointment they should still continue to push because Australia will have seen nothing like the World Cup if we do get it, so we should keep pushing.”
