On 20 November 2001, Australia played the first of its two-legged qualification matches for the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea.
But this time it should be different for
me, I was there. I put an Australia vacation so which I can pursue the game in the
Melbourne Cricket Ground when Australia plays against Uruguay.
Four years previously, on the day of the Australian leg of the 1998 World Cup Qualifier between Australia and Iran, there was a gathering of old Australian internationals. Another was held on the eve of this year's game. In a climax of my long time involvement in Australian football, I was invited to this gathering.
I was the single not national player to this historic event might be present which was a big honour for me. Regulator of this reunification were Ted Smith, Australian Ex national player and a member of the legendary Olympic Team of 1956 in Melbourne and Brendan Schwab from the management of the Australian professional footballers association.
I attended another function the previous day at
which there were also past players. This was a lunch function held at the Crown Plaza
Hotel, in the heart of the beautiful city of Melbourne. Towards the end of that function,
some members of the current coaching staff made an appearance.
In an announcement of the speaker I was mentioned and my many years' passion was appreciated for the football team of the 5th continent. After this announcement I came hardly more to dinner, because several newspapers and TV broadcasting station took care of interviews with me.
Trainers and players greeted me and wanted to find out everything about my collection.
However, the common celebration
during the day of the game excelled everything far. More than 100 former players were
invited here and appeared. I had enough time to talk opportunity with my heroes from the
past. I myself sat at a table together with Ted Smith, Alex Tobin, Milan Ivanovic, Mehmet
Durakovic, Robert Zabica and Ernie Tapai.
However, this was by far not everything. Participants of big Australian teams had appeared. There were the Olympic Team of 1956 with players like the goalkeeper legends Ron Lord and Bill Henderson, as well as Ted Smith, also already had appeared to my " Welcome back home, André " party the day before.
The World Cup team of 1966 with
captain Pat Hughes, the team of 1982 with players we Gary Cole, Tony Henderson and Alan
Davidson, as well as other player like Paul Wade, Oscar Crino, Warren Spink, Bill Vojtek,
Jim Armstrong, Paul Trimboli, Francis Awaritefe, David Mitchell, Jeff Olver, Robbie Dunn,
Peter Stone, George Harris and Frank Loughran to enumerate only some.
However, the absolute best moment for me was the reunion with some players of the legendary Australian team from the 1974 World Cup in Germany.
I met my friend Rale Rasic, up to now succeeded the first and unfortunately single trainer to one qualification, I spoke also to centerfield star Jimmy Rooney who has often belonged from me. Ernie Campbell, Peter Ollerton, James Milisavlejvic and Jack Reilly were other players, in this world championship participation's I met.
Jimmy Mackay, who scored the crucial
match-winning goal in the play-off against South Korea in 1973 which meant the Socceroos
would participate in the 1974 World Cup, had died not long before and so was sadly missed
at this gathering.
He passed away too early. But his son Malcolm Mackay was there and we spoke at length about the heroic deeds of his father.
Australian Star forward Ray Baartz was also there. I am in contact per email with him since a long time. For many people he was the best Australian player ever. Short before the World Cup, a brutal foul destroyed his career and it was not possible for him again to play a Soccer game in his life. To talk to all this Socceroos and to there experience moving moments from their football career, these were unforgettable moments for me.
In a break, some football fans waiting before the door, recognised me and I had to write industriously autographs. Also the television was again on the spot, SBS, Futball Mundial as well as channel 9 asked me for interviews which were transferred partly live. Readily I answered every question and told again why I am such a big fan the Socceroos.
The absolute climax was for me, came as the
World Cup team of 1974 gave autographs on old photos and the players asked me to sign them
too. "André, you are one of us, you belong to the '74 team," was their reason.
Proudly and happily I signed every photo submitted to me.
Unfortunately, two my big idols of '74 were not able to take part: Adrian Alston and Otti Abonyi. However, I caught up with both later in my stay. I am connected to Abonyi through many years' friendship. Unfortunately, the big distances in Australia prevented me meeting him, because Otti does not live in Sydney any more, but I did later speak with him on the phone.
Naturally I have tried to step with my youth idol and the best player for me of Australia, Peter Wilson, in contact. Wilson lives since about 1985 completely pulled back in the mountains near Wollongong and has got to avoid every contact with the public. Nobody could lead to this day an interview or talk with him.
Peter and I has written to us many years, but also
this he stopped before some time. Nevertheless, then during the last but one day of my
journey I started to his house convenient very much apart drive. Unfortunately, nobody was
there, so I left only individually news. During the following day, mine last in Australia
I enjoyed in the beautiful Bondi Beach, there was a rang on my mobile phone.
"Hello Andre, this is Peter Wilson," a friendly voice said on the line. We talked for more than 30 minutes about everything people can discuss. Peter was open on any subject. Whether private things, his time as a player, or why he kept himself away from the public for these many years, he told me everything. But we both understood the things we talked about would be kept private and so I will not cover any of the details here.
Once perhaps comes the time which he reports back, and the Beckenbauer of Australia, how him the German trainer Gutendorf called once, will get the big honour which is due to him. For me it was one big moment of many and I will try to hold everything furthermore contact with Wilson.
In between meeting all these famous players and
coaches of the past, I also went some games of the Australian national league, the NSL.
The contest between Northern Spirit and Perth Glory was the best. Northern Spirit plays in
a beautiful old stadium in the north of the four-million metropolis of Sydney.
The fans of Spirit, they were suitable incidentally definitely Bundesliga (German League), supported their team fanatically. Unfortunately, it used nothing and with thanks of the Referee, Glory won 2-0.
When I turned a round in the stadium at the half time, the fan's block recognized me in the "Bob Stand" and they started to sing immediately, with musical support of their drums, my name. " Aaaandre Kruuuuger ", sounded by the width of the stadium.
To all games I had free entry and there I also met many old players
from whom most also knew me, for example 
Robbie Slater, Alan Hunter, Craig Foster and
many more.
I gave several TV interviews, two times for SBS, and one each for channel 9, channel 10, Futbol Mundial, and Network TV. But I was also heard on radio with ABC Network in Adelaide, as well as Triple J, and by two broadcasting stations in Melbourne. The Sun from Sydney, as well as the Herald-Sun in Melbourne wrote article about me and my stay. On the street I was recognised, taxi drivers and waiters in restaurants called out to me, and several times I had to provide autographs.
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 774 ABC Melbourne |
The
games against Uruguay were to this moment already past. The Socceroos have to protect it,
unfortunately, again not created the participation the World Cup. I experienced the game
in Melbourne together with over 85,000 Australian fans in the fantastic Cricket Ground. It
was very much a moving moment, when the national anthem was played and the biggest choir I
ever experienced, strongly sang with.
In an exciting game of two equally strong teams, Australia won by a penalty goalof Muscat shortly before end. The cheers were indescribably and still long after the final whistle the singings sounded by the oval.
The away game in Montevideo took place at 6:00
o'clock in 
the morning, south-east Australian time. Early that morning I travelled to
the centre of Sydney where about 1,500 fans watched the game on a big screen.
Unfortunately, the Socceroos lost 0:3, and so missed out on qualifying for their second
World Cup. Nevertheless it was exciting to be allowed to experience this game in
Australia.
Many people who recognised me from TV reports and newspaper articles, embraced me, partly weeping because of the defeat. They thanked me as a German for supporting their country so energetically filled me with pride as I wore the Australian national shirt.
On my last evening, there was a farewell party for me, organised be the fantastic Bonita Mersiades. She made also the welcome Party in Melbourne, were I met all my Australian friends, I knew so long before just via email.
The farewell party was held in a beautiful
little Italian restaurant in Sydney where the waiter recognised me as the German guy from
the radio. I had the chance to say good-bye to the great people I had met. A big surprise
for me was two of my friends from Canberra: Chris Kunz and Warwick Cathro, made the
four-hour trip from their home town to see me for the last time. So I had the chance to
say good-bye also to Geoff, Chris, Stuart, Peter, and Julian.
From my trip, I will never forget also the fantastic
day with Rale Rasic, when he showed me his big private Soccercollection, the day at the
National Library at Canberra and the night at the wonderful home of the Cathro family.
However, out of football there also were still many other things I has experienced on my
journey. The visit of national parks or other beautiful space in the cities, the fantastic
Beaches or the dreamfull skyline of Sydney, particularly with sunsets, the width of the
Australian landscape
and the different animal and plants worlds
was impressive. I thank on this way a lot of people who have cared for it these my vacation in Australia a unique experience will remain and has burned itself for good in my heart.
" I still call Australia my home. "
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