路透社，經過32年的等待，澳大利亞終於又出現在世界盃決賽階段的賽場上。而他的第一次回歸就淘汰了克羅地亞進入淘汰賽，這令世人對之刮目相看。淘汰賽對陣強大對手意大利，澳大利亞人毫不示弱。

　　克雷格穆爾表示“我們清醒地知道自己的實力，但我們現在會把每一場比賽都當做總決賽去打，我們一定會傾盡全力。能夠小組出線，我們就已經十分開心，現在我們想能走得更遠一點。”

　　鏈結:http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-worldaustraliaunderdogs&prov=reuters&type=lgns

　　原文:World-Aussies in no rush to leave now

　　By Julian Linden

　　OEHRINGEN, Germany, June 24 (Reuters) - After waiting 32 long years to get back into the World Cup, Australia's players are definitely in no rush to leave it now.

　　The Socceroos surprised most people by reaching the second round ahead of the more fancied Croatia but now face a tough encounter with Italy in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

　　ADVERTISEMENT

　　The Europeans are overwhelming favourites to win the match but Australians say they will not go down without a fight.

　　"We can't get carried away with ourselves, we know we are going into this game as massive underdogs," defender and former captain Craig Moore told reporters.

　　"The position we're in now is that every game is like a cup final to us -- we just have to give it everything we've got.

　　"It's a fantastic achievement to get through our group stages and we're really enjoying it and hopefully we can be here a bit longer."

　　SUDDENLY HOOKED

　　Soccer is still a relatively minor sport in Australia compared to cricket, rugby and Aussie Rules, but the whole nation is suddenly hooked on the World Cup.

　　"Once you get a taste for it, you realise what we've been missing out on for so long," said defender Lucas Neill. "It brings the world together, it's just phenomenal.

　　"People from all over the world are sharing stories and having a beer together and on the field you're testing against the very best in the world and on a personal note you can't ask for anything more."

　　The battle facing the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) is how to maintain the interest once the World Cup ends.

　　Their top players are all based in Europe and rarely come home to play friendlies because of problems with their clubs or the fact most high-profile international teams were reluctant to travel so far to play a team that were regarded as weak.

　　"I think we've sent the big message out that we're now a proper football nation." FFA chief executive John O'Neill said.

　　"This team plays fantastic football, they have a never-say-die attitude.

　　"Every team we've played has been ranked higher than us but the world is starting to listen to our message and it's a big message."

　　Updated on Saturday, Jun 24, 2006 10:50 am EDT

　　作者-丁曉晨-北京第二外國語學院英語系

責編：段曉冬