Gulf News

Toddler’s first taste of World Cup fever

EMMY JOINS 10,000 FANS FROM AUSTRALIA CHEERING THEIR TEAM

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Given that David Kuhn proposed to his wife Sandra amid the euphoria that followed Australia’s qualificat­ion for the 2006 tournament, it is perhaps not too surprising the couple wanted to give their daughter an early taste of World Cup fever.

And so it was on Saturday that toddler Emmy was dressed up in a tiny green and gold replica shirt and joined some 10,000 fans from Down Under cheering on the Socceroos in their Group C opener against France.

At 15 months old, Emmy made little contributi­on to the wall of noise created by the passionate Australian­s as their team went down 2-1 to the French at Kazan Arena, but that suited mum just fine.

“She slept during half of it so that was good for me. I got to relax and watch the game,” Sandra Kuhn said.

“And then the second half she was just flirting with everyone around her, she was so good with all the noise and everything.”

Emmy’s parents are hoping they will have a similar experience in Australia’s last two group matches against Denmark and Peru before they make the 13,000km trip back to their home in Sydney’s beachside suburbs.

The two Socceroos fanatics will also be hoping for a couple of wins for their team as Australia look to get into the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time in five attempts.

The second of those five appearance­s at the finals came 32 years after the first and was secured in 2005 with a win over Uruguay in a penalty shoot-out at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, a result which was to have lasting consequenc­es for the Kuhns.

“When John Aloisi got his

She slept during half of it so that was good for me. I got to relax and watch the game. During second half she was flirting with everyone.” Sandra Kuhn » David Kuhn’s wife

Australia managed to qualify to finals, 32 years later.

■ goal to make it to the World Cup, which I never thought would happen, yeah, I proposed to Sandra,” David recalled.

“It all began there, that was our falling in love with the World Cup.” Sandra remains convinced that the proposal might not have come but for Australia’s win.

“I think he was on such a high, he didn’t realise what he was doing at the time,” she said laughing. “And by the next day he was thinking, ‘Oh God! what have I done?’.”

Meanwhile, Denmark midfielder who sustained two broken ribs and a punctured lung after a collision with Peru’s Jefferson Farfan in their opening Group C match says he is doing better and hopes to return at the World Cup.

William Kvist posted a video on Facebook from the hospital in Saransk to say he was travelling home for further checks. He said there was “tiny opportunit­y” he would return to the Danish squad, adding “we will get a long way”.

 ?? Sandra Kuhn Facebook ?? Sandra Kuhn with Emmy, dressed up in a tiny green and gold replica shirt, joined fans to cheer Australia against France.
Sandra Kuhn Facebook Sandra Kuhn with Emmy, dressed up in a tiny green and gold replica shirt, joined fans to cheer Australia against France.
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