Socceroos enjoy 18 minutes on top of world before reality bites in World Cup defeat to France | Emma Kemp
23-Nov-2022 00:12:47 | The Guardian
Craig Goodwin’s early goal provided a glimmer of possibility that was soon extinguished in a French football lesson
For 18 minutes, the Socceroos dared to dream. For 18 minutes they had scored from open play at a World Cup for the first time since Brazil 2014, when Tim Cahill conjured that exquisite volley against the Netherlands. For 18 minutes they led a match at the finals, something not achieved since that same fixture in Porto Alegre – and that was only four minutes. And for 18 minutes they had done those things against France, the defending champions.
This match was the domain of Kylian Mbappé, of Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembélé. Except that for 18 minutes it was the realm of Craig Goodwin, a concept so surreal the packed media tribunes at the Al Janoub Stadium practically shook in psychedelia. Cognitive processes became frazzled. Twitter exploded. Pubs across Australia woke up the neighbours who did not yet know that this unfathomable thing was happening 10,000km away.
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