Updated ,first published
Follow our live coverage of Australia’s crucial World Cup clash against Paraguay.
Seven flares ignited over a sea of green and gold at Federation Square as thousands of Socceroos fans watched Australia play out a tense nil-all draw against Paraguay in their high-stakes World Cup clash.
One teenage boy was arrested and three more will be fined for riotous behaviour after Socceroos fans braved a chilly morning to queue before sunrise, forcing authorities to open the gates early and the live site quickly reached capacity.
Crowd controllers resorted to megaphones to send hundreds more Socceroos supporters down the Yarra to watch the game on the big screen at AAMI Park.
Federation Square resembled an outdoor nightclub early as fans, many in their late teens and early 20s, revved themselves up in the countdown to the 12pm kick-off.
A DJ had fans jumping to a mix of Australian favourites and classic hits, including Men at Work’s anthemic Down Under, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond and Gala’s Freed From Desire.
Police were forced to separate a group of males seen fighting about 10am, but there were no injuries.
Shortly afterwards, a flare was set off over Federation Square as the crowd started getting impatient ahead of the big game.
Many teenagers among the group kept breaking into football chants, jumping and occasionally throwing plastic bottles.
“I feel like I’m at a school excursion,” soccer fan Philip Klenkowski, 32, said.
The FIFO worker luckily didn’t have to take the day off work. He came into the city alone but said he’d made many mates.
“Everyone’s super friendly,” he said.
Ringwood local Sam Pragnell, 21, and Ferntree Gully resident James Ventura, 22, were excited to be among thousands who made it inside Federation Square.
“Pretty loud and electric, a little rough,” Pragnell said.
Sharon Banks, 41, and Jesele Baxter, 20, spent the lead up to the game arm in arm despite meeting hours earlier in the crowd.
“I’ve been praying for this to happen and I know we’re going to make it to the round of 32 and then the round of 16,” Banks said.
Jeremy Lawler, 18, said his parents supported him skipping the last day of term to watch the Socceroos with mates.
“It’s so loud but everyone’s just cheering on each other,” he said.
The mood was jubilant all morning and throughout the match, with groups of fans frequently breaking out into chants.
“It’s an absolutely crazy atmosphere,” Rocco Colaci said.
He and his mate Sinan Ucar were relieved to make it into Federation Square after lining up from 7am.
Charlie Nagy came into the CBD last week for the Socceroos’ 0-2 loss to the US. He left his Watsonia home at 7.30am with two friends, hoping to secure a spot again for Friday’s clash but the gates had been closed.
They were still hoping to bag a spot inside. “I’ll be behind the barrier, don’t worry,” he said.“We’ll make the party.”
Shortly before kick-off, some younger fans were still trying to sneak in, attempting to jump barriers and pry open gates.
But police and security were keeping a close eye on the crowd.
“I’m gonna come down there in five minutes, so go over there,” one police officer wearing a riot helmet told fans. “The security guard doesn’t want you here, so move on.”
Multiple flares were set off during the match and at the final whistle.
Police said 7500 people attended the live site at Federation Square. A 16-year-old Whittlesea boy is expected to be charged on summons and police will review CCTV to identify those who set off the remaining flares.
Two Whittlesea teenagers, aged 14 and 15, and a 19-year-old Hoppers Crossing man, were fined for riotous behaviour and asked to leave the area.
Julien Butrous, 27, was relieved with the drawn result.
“At the end of the day, we made the knockouts, and that’s all that matters,” the Greenvale resident said.
Alex Vasilaras, 18, said he was a bit disappointed with the result but said he was happy the team played well.
He said the crowd was “pretty well-behaved, bit of trouble” and was happy to see fans of all ages.
Elsewhere in Melbourne’s CBD, workers donned Socceroos scarves and shirts on their way to the office.
A much smaller group of Japanese supporters gathered in the neighbouring Transport bar to watch their team draw 1-1 against Sweden and book a berth in the knockout stage as the second-placed nation from group F.
With Andrew Wu
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Rachael Ward is a journalist in the City team at The Age. Contact her at rachael.ward@theage.com.auConnect via email.From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
