China ballboy video: lucky charm Stephen White torn as Socceroos face Team Dragon in Brisbane
CHINA’S lucky charm Stephen White admits he will be torn on when the Socceroos take on Team Dragon in Brisbane for a spot in the Asian Cup semi-finals.
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CHINA’S lucky charm Stephen White admits he will be torn on Thursday night when the Socceroos take on Team Dragon at Suncorp Stadium for a spot in the Asian Cup semi-finals.
The 12-year-old Brisbane schoolboy became an overnight sensation in China earlier this month when he correctly told Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei which way to dive to save a Saudi Arabian penalty.
In his role as a ballboy, Stephen had been standing behind China’s goal at Suncorp Stadium when asked for help by Dalei, whose save helped China secure a 1-0 win.
The victory was the start of what has thus far been a perfect Asian Cup for China, who topped Group B with nine points from three matches.
It has led to a quarter-final date in Brisbane with the Socceroos, who finished second in Group A.
“My heart says Australia to win, but my gut says China,” Stephen told The Courier-Mail.
“I’ll definitely be cheering for both goalkeepers.”
Stephen will again be on ballboy duty for the match, but much to the relief of him and his mother, he won’t be positioned behind the goal of Dalei or Australian gloveman Mat Ryan.
“There’d just be too much pressure on him if a penalty was awarded,” Suzie said.
“Everybody would expect him to pick the right away again.”
The good news for Stephen is that after tomorrow night, he will no longer have to choose between his beloved Socceroos and a China team he also now adores.
“Whoever wins, I’ll be supporting them for the rest of the tournament,” he said.
Originally published as China ballboy video: lucky charm Stephen White torn as Socceroos face Team Dragon in Brisbane
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