SOCCEROOS RETURN IN STYLE
IF the Socceroos fail to score the required win over Honduras on Wednesday night to qualify for the World Cup, they won’t be able blame their preparations for the second leg.
About two hours after their 0-0 first leg draw against the Hondurans at the unforgettable Estadio Olimpico Metro- politano on Saturday morning (Australian time), the Socceroos were at the San Pedro Sula airport ready to board the chartered Qantas flight back to Sydney. The Airbus 330 plane can hold up to 300 people but on this flight there were just 60 passengers and 12 staff, including the three pilots.
Nothing was left to chance in terms of details. It’s understood the total cost of the exercise was $900,000, with Football Federation Australia paying all bar $150,000 that came from FIFA.
The Socceroos squad, as well as coach Ange Postecoglou, sat in business class at the front of the plane.
Physio and massage tables were set up at the opposite end of the aircraft, with the players getting regular treatment throughout the flight.
About the only hitch was a volcano in Mexico that required the pilots to fly a slightly longer route to get to Honolulu for the scheduled stopover of at least 90 minutes.
In terms of time, it was only an extra half an hour added to the first leg, which took nine hours and 20 minutes.
The Honolulu to Sydney leg was due to take about 10 hours, with plane due to land in the NSW capital about noon on yesterday.
Players were given specifics on when they should eat and sleep, with some donning special white glasses that were lit up to ensure they stayed awake and weren’t overly affected by jet lag.