“Plenty of stress”: Socceroos’ family and friends watch the World Cup run from Qatar

As Australia rallies behind the Socceroos in the World Cup, the players’ friends and families watching on from Qatar have been riding every emotion.

Over the past week and a half Socceroos fans all over Australia have been getting up bleary-eyed in the wee hours of the morning to watch the team.

And while many across the country have been biting their fingernails as the boys held on for wins against Tunisia and Denmark, spare a thought for the family and friends of those in the squad.

Perhaps more than the average fan, they’ve been riding a whole wave of emotions as they watch their loved ones take on the world’s best.

“I had a tear in my eye,” says Mitch Duke’s junior coach Tony Basha. “It was a reward for all of those years of hard work.”

Duke’s goal against Tunisia was a moment of vindication for Basha, who first signed Duke to his Australasian Soccer Academy when the young striker was just 13 – at a time when very few thought he had the goods to make it as a footballer.

Tony Basha (left) has been cheering on his former player Mitch Duke at the World Cup. Photo: supplied.

“People were hugging and kissing me,” says Basha. “They’re saying, ‘That’s your boy!’”

Aside from watching his protégé lead the line for the Socceroos, the World Cup has been a great chance for Basha – who watched Australia’s first two games in Qatar – to reconnect with his countrymen, after having come straight from a work-related trip in Europe.

“It was just great to be around Australians again,” he said. “I loved everything about it.”

Also in Qatar is the family of Socceroos rookie Joel King, with the Kings having been to all three Australian games – as well as some others along the way.

“It’s been phenomenal,” says Joel’s father Bruce King. “Full-on football, it’s been very good.”

The World Cup has been a “full-on football” experience for the family of Socceroos’ defender Joel King. Photo: supplied.

And although Joel hasn’t taken to the field yet for the Socceroos, Bruce says the family has been feeling just about every emotion the team is going through.

“I would imagine that we have less nerves than some of the people whose sons are playing. But let me tell you: we’ve still had plenty of stress,” he laughs.

The Kings have had rare access to the Socceroos camp since they’ve been in Qatar, catching up with the team on a couple of occasions for lunch and a barbecue, which has allowed them to gain a first-hand view of the Australians’ famous team spirit.

“It’s impressive how together the team is. They don’t seem to be hanging around in bunches, they seem to be quite together,” says King.

“Joel hasn’t played a minute, but I noticed after the Denmark game that Harry Souttar came over, grabbed him and gave him a hug straight away.

“I don’t feel that he’s been left out at all. I’m sure he feels 100% part of the team.”

Joel King (right) celebrating with Kye Rowles after the Socceroos’ victory over Denmark. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Mirroring the players, King says many of the players’ parents have also been spending time together while in Qatar.

“Again, everyone is together,” he said. “And it’s good to talk to other parents who’ve been through similar things. We were talking to Cameron Devlin’s parents, and they’ve been through almost exactly the same pathways we’ve been through.”

Being in the stadium for the games has also given friends and family a very different perspective as to what goes on during the 90 minutes.

“We’re right behind the bench. They can see us, and while we can’t chat, we can make contact with the players,” says King.

“Graham Arnold: it is surprising how full-on he is in trying to guide and help the players while they’re playing. He’s yelling the whole time.”

Graham Arnold’s touchline antics have been a hit with Socceroos fans. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

In fact, watching the Socceroos manager has been a bit of a highlight for Basha, himself a football coach.

“Graham Arnold on the sideline, marching down and screaming – you don’t see that on the TV!”

And as the Socceroos prepare to take on the might of Lionel Messi and his Argentina side in the round of 16, friends and family will be riding every challenge and defending every corner with them.

“It’s going to be tough, but nothing’s impossible with this group of players,” says Basha.

“Our players shouldn’t get overawed by the occasion. It’s going to be hard, they’ll be playing against Messi and all these big players. But if they can go out there with a mentality of not putting too much emphasis on who’s playing, then we can do it. Anything can happen!”