Get your alarm clocks ready and bust out the green and gold, it is World Cup time!
The 2022 men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicks off in the early hours of Monday morning, with the Socceroos set to feature on the international stage once again.
The Socceroos will start their campaign with a huge clash against reigning champion France at 6am on Wednesday, November 23, with local fans ready to cheer them on from afar.
The Caledonian Hotel will be holding a special watch party on Wednesday morning, with the game to be shown live on the big screen.
There is free entry for the watch party, with families and all members of the public welcome to attend. The doors will open at 5.30am, with coffee and breakfast available.
While there is certain to be plenty of green and gold at the Cal on game day, there should also be a strong contingent there to cheer on Les Bleus as well.
Carole and Michael Ciavarella will be at the watch party on Wednesday morning, and the couple has a strong connection to both countries.
Michael is an Australian who lived in France for eight years. That is where he met his future wife Carole, who is originally from Paris.
The pair returned to Australia in 1993 and has two children — one born in France and the other in Australia.
Carole said she would “definitely” be cheering on France come Wednesday, while Michael will be hoping for a Socceroos victory instead.
“I don’t usually like sport, but the World Cup is different,” Carole said.
“It’s going to be nerve-racking. I’m quite full-on watching it.”
Michael said it would be fantastic to see the Socceroos do well in Qatar.
“I would like to see them do well,” he said.
“I love the journey they have made over such a long period. To even qualify is such a big deal, so to see them go and do well would be great.”
Carole tipped an emphatic 5-1 victory for France, while Michael said he thought Australia would get over the line 2-1.
Australia will be taking part in its fifth consecutive World Cup finals and will be gunning to make it out of the group stage for the first time since 2006 — but it will face a tough test to do so.
Drawn in group D, the Socceroos will take on Denmark and France — two nations it faced in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia — as well as Tunisia.
France, ranked fourth in the world, is one of the pre-tournament favourites alongside five-time champions Brazil and Argentina, while Denmark (10th) and Tunisia (30th) are also ranked higher than Australia (38th).
But the Socceroos will dare to dream and they will be hoping to recreate the magic run that saw them reach the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup.
After taking on France, Australia will face Tunisia at 9pm on Saturday, November 26, and Denmark at 2am on Thursday, December 1.