Why Socceroos’ World Cup breakthrough has come at the right time for fractious Australia
When Nestory Irankunda made a beeline for the corner flag after putting Australia in front against Turkey last Saturday, everyone knew who he was paying tribute to. Twenty years on, Australia are still trying to replicate the magic of Tim Cahill guiding them towards the last-16 in Germany.
The sight of Cahill bobbing and weaving around the flag after the Socceroos’ first World Cup goal against Japan in 2006 remains a defining image in their history, so Irankunda thought it right to pay tribute to his “biggest inspiration” after the moment of his nascent career to date.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“I look up to him and I want to be like him one day,” the Watford winger said afterwards, instantly winning the hearts of many casual fans back home. But if they appear overly committed towards nods to the past, this was equally a breakout party for a team that are determined to far exceed low external expectations at World Cup 2026 - and simultaneously become central to a depressingly familiar political discourse.
Thanks to one fine result Tony Popovic’s squad, unperturbed by being so unfancied to emerge from Group D, face a battle for top spot against the USA in Seattle at 8pm BST on Friday, a match predictably being framed as the Soccer Derby.
Yet parallel to an opportunity few will have envisaged one week ago, Irankunda and a handful of his team-mates – yes, the migrants – have been inserted into that invidious position of becoming figures in a societal battle.
A couple of hours after Irankunda’s fantastic counter-attacking goal, a poll was released down under that said the far-right One Nation party is winning the nationwide popularity contest for the first time. On Wednesday its leader Pauline Hanson delivered an aggravating 51-minute address to Australia’s National Press Club in which she took aim at targets familiar to anyone who keeps tabs on the US Republican Party, Reform UK and other contemporaries.
Stop us if you think you’ve heard these ones before but there were attacks on left-wing media outlets, Islam, transgender rights. More pertinent when it comes to the Socceroos were her comments on immigration. “We cannot be a multicultural society,” she said. “We are a multiracial society but we must be monocultural. Australians must live under the one cultural umbrella.”
Were that the case, Australia would not be looking well-placed to reach the knockout rounds for only the third time in history. Indeed they might not even be at the tournament.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIrankunda was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp after his parents fled civil war in Burundi. Defender Alessandro Circati moved to Perth from Italy as a toddler because his dad, a journeyman in Serie B and C, got a transfer. Norwich forward Mohamed Toure was born in a camp in Guinea where his family lived for 14 years after escaping war in Liberia.
The defender Milos Degenek fled from Croatia to Belgrade as a baby and ended up in Sydney, the city where Ajdin Hrustic was born to a Bosnian father and Romanian mother. Awer Mabil spent the first 10 years of his life as a refugee in Kenya because his family fled from war in South Sudan. Captain Harry Souttar is from Aberdeen, eligible through his mother. There are others but you get the idea: all are Australian, all are from different backgrounds.
Zoom out a bit, though, and at a World Cup where minnows such as Curacao and Cape Verde have assembled squads that are not far off entirely reliant on the diaspora, the composition of Australia’s squad is merely reflective of a global game.
A significant majority of England’s squad, as with the previous few tournaments, were eligible to represent other nations. England can look at France and Germany and pick out players who could easily be in Thomas Tuchel’s squad now. Nationality is an increasingly layered social construct. Football, as so often, just happens to offer a crystalisation.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBefore the tournament the Australia squad filmed a video in which they spoke about their journeys to this point, taking turns to deliver a message that is stirring and easy to get behind.
“No matter where you come from, football is for everyone,” part of the script reads. “We are a reflection of modern Australia. Our diversity is our strength. The Socceroos right now are a representation of what Australia is. There are a lot of journeys behind the jersey. To be a Socceroo has many meanings but with one purpose: to do the country proud.”
It had not been picked up in huge numbers before the Turkey win but since then the views have rocketed. Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, Mabil underlined its meaning further. “The reason why it went viral is because it was raw. It was not edited. It was just purely what the players wanted to say and all put together,” he said. “It had an effect because individually Australians can feel and relate with it.”
It is just a shame that the myopia of Hanson and her ilk renders them incapable of realising the irony that the Australian team have already done more good for their nation than she is ever likely to achieve.
And while Irankunda may continue to speak glowingly of Cahill’s influence, the impact he has already had on other migrants this week still searching for a sense of belonging must not be underplayed.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
