The nation is on a high after last night’s historic win over Denmark – and now, a fan has perfectly captured what we’re all thinking.
A goal from Mathew Leckie in the 60th minute was enough to cinch a 1-0 victory, and secure our place in the Round of 16.
That’s a feat we haven’t pulled off since 2006, when the Roos achieved a draw against Croatia in the group stage.
And as Socceroos fans erupted in Qatar’s Al Janoub Stadium, one held aloft a plain white sign with one simple, completely reasonable demand: “Give us a public holiday”.
The demand for a public holiday is building on Twitter, with one fan issuing a direct plea to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “Can Anthony Albanese give us a public holiday on Monday please?”
“Good morning Mr. Prime Minister, surely the nation deserves a national public holiday tomorrow. We want to support the Socceroos without worrying about work. Follow in the footsteps of Mr. Hawke and give Australians what they deserve. #AUSvDEN #FIFAWorldCup” another posted.
It might sound unlikely, but Saudi Arabia’s King Salman granted his citizens a public holiday after the national team’s shock 2-1 upset over Lionel Messi’s Argentina last month.
Before that game, Saudi Arabia had won only three World Cup matches in its history – a track record that exactly mirrors Australia’s own World Cup fortunes.
And there’s also an Australian precedent, with Labor legend Bob Hawke – a man Mr Albanese cites as a personal hero – famously announcing a national holiday after our 1983 America’s Cup victory, and bluntly declaring that: “Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum”.
However, we weren’t granted a day off after last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Tunisia last Saturday night, despite former Socceroos skipper and SBS commentator Craig Foster’s on-air plea to the PM.
“Someone needs to call Albo about a public holiday,” Foster said.
“Saudi Arabia have done it so why not the Socceroos?”
So come on, Albo.
The (soccer) ball’s in your court.