Edinburgh During the World Cup

Having recently gotten into "the world game" living in the UK, I was really looking forward to being in the UK for its biggest showpeice, the World Cup.

I warmed up by watching a lot of matches on TV, including my newly adoped favourite team Middlesborough FC in the English Premier League. When they played in the UEFA Cup, I watched them in both the quarter finals and semi finals come back from 3 goal defecits to win games in spectacular fashion. From then I was hooked.

With Australia in the world cup this time round, it would also give added spice to my viewing.

My flatmate and I headed out to the home of Hibernians (Scottish Premier League team) to watch a warm up match between South Korea and Ghana, which really got us in the World Cup spirit.

When Australia's first match came around, I took the afternoon off work, and headed to the Globe where we sat with a small crowd (most people were at the walkabout) to watch Australias come from behind win over Japan. What an amazing 10 minutes of sport. Until Cahil scored that goal I was thinking "well ok, we have done well to be here" but after that little spurt I started to think, we DESERVE to be here.

After the Brazil hiccup, which I actually watched in Ireland, the Croatia match was shaping as the decider as to whether we made the next round. Again I headed for the Globe, which being a night game, this time was pumping full of Aussies and other backpackers. That was the good thing about living in a backpacker community during the cup, as we pretty much knew someone from every country taking part, so every night there was a reason to head out...made for an interesting month at work!

The Croatia match was one of the most bizzare football matches I have ever seen. From Kalic's poor effort, to the Croation guy getting booked three times, but in the end, Harry's goal sent us into the next round, and we partied....HARD!

The match against Italy was probably Australia's biggest sporting moment of all time. And that decision...ok he shouldnt have gone off his feet....but that wasnt a penalty. Lucas Neil we dont blame ya! That has to be about as upset as I have been after a sporting loss, and in Edinburgh we drowned our sorrows.

From then on, we death rode the Italians, which of course didnt work - damn Zidane!!

In spite of the controversy, I will admit, it was by far my favourite world cup of all time. I only hope SAF 2010 delivers as much!