Melbourne’s AAMI Park is likely to open its doors to Socceroos fans for the blockbuster World Cup clash with Argentina, as venues across the city prepare for huge and passionate crowds on Sunday morning.
The government worked into the night on Friday to finalise plans to open AAMI Park – and at least one other public venue – as alternatives to Federation Square, according to people familiar with those plans.
AAMI Park is set to host Socceroos fans for Sunday morning’s match.
Federation Square will again be the focal point for Melbourne’s World Cup fever, after hosting up to 8000 boisterous fans for earlier Socceroos games. Spectators could still test its 10,000-person capacity for the 6am match, which marks only the second time Australia has progressed past the World Cup group stage.
While AAMI may be the home of Melbourne soccer, it will be hard to top the passion which will be on display from 6am on Sunday at the Endeavour United club, in Melbourne’s south-east, when club members will cheer on favourite son and Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine.
Irvine’s signed Socceroos jersey hangs framed on a wall in the clubrooms, where current players and families will gather to watch the Socceroos face Argentina in a knockout round of 16 game at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Jackson Irvine and Milos Degenek celebrate the win.Credit:Getty
Irvine spent several years at the club before moving on to the representative levels. His jersey is a reminder to the 270 players of what can be achieved from their small club, which was established by Timorese refugees in 1988.
Irvine has started all three games for the Socceroos in a midfield role, and he is expected to be on the start the game against Argentina.
Endeavour United president Victor Lemos said the club was proud to have a player in the world’s biggest football tournament and planned to have a viewing party on Sunday morning.
Jackson Irvine’s Socceroos jersey is proudly displayed at the Endeavour United soccer club.
“We show that jersey off to everyone who comes here, as he is one of ours,” Lemos said on Friday.
“We have 15 or 16 junior teams and we always tell the kids that this is what could happen to you, if you keep working on your skills and turn up to every training – it gives them a push to stay in the game.”
The 29-year-old spent about three years at Endeavour United and then played for a couple of other clubs before he earned a junior contract with Scottish giants Celtic in 2010, which started his professional career.
“This was where I grew up and learnt the most about the game and had some very central friendship groups,” Irvine told WeAreTeam11 in 2017.
“It was an amazing place to play and you had that sense of community being in the clubrooms after games or training – just everyone together.”
Carlos Retre, Irvine’s coach at Endeavour United, said Irvine’s talent stood out early.
Retre’s son, Paulo, also played on the side and has also forged a successful professional career in the A-League, where he currently plays with Sydney FC.
“His understanding of the game, even as a young boy, was already second to none,” Retre said on Friday.
“You could see he was going to go places.
“We had a very good, homegrown side and we didn’t lose many games. I’m proud of what he has done but it’s all credit to him, everything is up to the individual and how hard they work.”
The Socceroos will start as underdogs against Argentina who feature living legend Lionel Messi. But Retre said the team had shown it could hold its own with anyone.
“You’ve got to keep dreaming,” he said.
“The unity of the team is there and that is the key. The game is 11 versus 11 and as long as you don’t think you are inferior and compete for 90 minutes, then you are always a chance.”
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