1. FIFA World Cup Victory v Tunisia. Tunisia's Game 1 draw v Denmark may have been the pivotal moment for Australia's hopes, but the truth of it is that the Socceroos won a really tough game 1-0 on Saturday night but will struggle v Denmark to make the Round of 16. We have never won two games at the football World Cup before.
It is our first win at the World Cup since way back when we beat Serbia 2-1 in South Africa in the World Cup of June 2010. Glorious to win a game at the World Cup however. It vindicates a lot of hard work and preparation and also gets away from the embarrassment of just an appearance and a straight sets exit - Qatar style.
Graham Arnold is still one of the best coaches in all sports in the country that is for sure. He is so centred and flourishes despite the heat applied by loud mouth ex-players especially. I can confirm that Mark Bosnich never played at a World Cup for Australia. The way he talks you would swear he played five like Ronaldo.
The World Cup of football is the premier World Cup across the world. It brings out the super stars and heavy weights all at once. Very exciting to watch - especially the second half with the run into full time. The game opens up massively.
2. Wallabies. Finally a victory and an excellent win v Wales. How many tight games has this team either lost or won? Dave Rennie has coached Australia from 2020-2022 (34 Tests). In this time he has had 18 Tests decided by 5 points or less (8 losses and 7 wins). An incredible stat:
- Lost by 2 to France
- Lost by 2 to Scotland
- Lost by 1 to Wales
- Lost by 4 to England
- Lost by 2 to NZ
- Lost by 1 to France
- Lost by 1 to Italy
- Lost by 3 to Ireland
- Won by 2 v NZ
- Won by 2 v France
- Won by 3 v France
- Won by 2 v South Africa
- Won by 2 v England
- Won by 1 v Scotland
- Won by 5 v Wales
- Drew with NZ
- Drew with Argentina
- Drew with Argentina
3. Cricket. Justin Langer needed to remain quiet in the media, but could not. He is an intense fellow, but a winner. He does need to smile more often. Cricket Australia again can't do anything right and always seem to be playing catch up. Finally Ronnie McDonald and the hamburgulars have reason to smile with a mean nothing, do nothing ODI tournament won by them v England 3-0.
There is something not well with the fast bowlers in that team. Starc has been dropped and reinstated, barking back in the media; Hazelwood became captain for a game (please) and Cummins..we know about his world more now as he patches up soiled friendships and ex-player relations and comments on world energy issues. That Alinta Energy bath did not help any of them. There is a need for renewal there too.
4. WBBL. The Adelaide Strikers beat the Sydney Sixers in a bit of a canter, heralding the commencement of the BBL on 13 December. Will be interesting to see if the draft they instituted brings a jot of difference to the quality. They need to bring through new talent and should be mandated to play two rookies in every team. The women's version of BBL is more entertaining.
5. Cameron Smith. Killing it at Royal Queensland again (third Australian PGA title), but still not content. That is the sign of a legend in the making. High expectations of self first...then others. Sustaining the highest level of performance over time is the other challenge. Look at Adam Scott, Jason Day...great moments, but unsustainable. A three time winner of the Joe Kirkwood Cup.
Who was Joe Kirkwood? Our first US PGA winner and a player who it is said hit 29 holes-in-one in his career! He also beat his age in a round of golf (62) at the age of 63. Legend...not a lot of major success - three fourths at the British Open and a third at the US PGA., but handy!
6. Australian Davis Cup Tennis. Into the final for the first time in quite a few years. Not a Kygrios or Tomic in sight which is a great thing. No place for ego in a team tournament. Alex de Minaur is a rising star (24th in the world) and led the team. Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson did the business in the reverse singles, but Purcell made a goose of himself swearing in the post-match interview. He will regret that ill discipline and needs to do better. First time since 2003 into the final. No surprise that Lleyton Hewitt is the captain. He is a winner through and through.
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