Omedetou!

That is what I have heard from every teacher here at school from the moment I arrived this morning. I didn't even know the score of the Aust v Croatia game, so I assumed we had beaten them. I just said "thank you", though and came straight to my desk, turned on my computer and logged into the SMH.

Ok, so we didn't beat Croatia, but we drew with them, which was enough to put us through to the final 16. Woah. Good on you boys! And it was enough to cause the teachers to congratulate me.

Australia hasn't played in the world cup for 32 years, and now we are down to the final 16. Australia never ceases to amaze me how it can always rise to the occasion, and achieve what some people may consider to be the impossible.

At the Olympic Games, Australia was strong in the baseball, Japan's adopted national sport. We managed something there that wasn't really expected. And now we are in the knock-outs of the World Cup, preparing to face Italy.

Ah, it makes ya proud to be an Aussie.