Historic midday kick-off triggers nationwide planning
Friday's World Cup match between the Socceroos and Denmark marks the first time a Socceroos World Cup game is played entirely during Australian traditional working hours, with a noon AEST kick-off. The match has been dubbed the 'Great Australian Socceroos Sickie' by the fan group Active Support, referencing Bob Hawke's famous 1983 quote: 'Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum.'
Stakes high for Australia
A win or draw will send Australia through the group stage for the second consecutive time; even a defeat may suffice depending on other results. The Socceroos assistant coach Paul Okon has called for the prime minister to declare a day off, as pubs and live sites expect thousands of attendees.
Workplaces adapt to prevent exodus
Some workplaces, including Coles and Allianz, are playing the game for staff. CommBank, the naming rights partner of the Socceroos, would not confirm if it would show the match but its executive Monique Macleod said: 'I'm sure our people will be following the match with great interest.' Liam Parslow of Active Support said he'll watch at work and expects an 'early Friday knockoff', hoping employees will decorate desks in green and gold.
Fans and businesses plan for big crowds
The Imperial Hotel in Melbourne saw over 600 people for the Socceroos' first group game, and manager Christopher McInnes expects even more on Friday. 'We're expecting a really, really big crowd,' he said. 'I'll be very surprised if I don't see a few people in suits with their laptops out trying to pretend they're getting their work done.' The pub's corner location at Bourke and Spring streets is ideal for office workers to pop out early.
Patrick Clancy, chair of the Football Supporters Association Australia, called the midday kick-off an 'extremely unusual and historic moment'. He noted that employers are finding ways to allow people to watch. Adam Wallis, director of Artdeshine Pty Ltd, plans to show the game on an 85-inch TV with full volume, hoping it brings employees into the office.
Long-planned time off and early kick-offs
In online forums, fans boast of booking time off months ago. One Reddit user said: 'I'll be on the brekky beers I reckon.' Bazz Wilders, a landscape gardener, has taken four weeks off every World Cup since 2006. He'll watch at home in Perth, as 'none of our locals are open at 10am'. He added: 'The 12am and 1am kick-offs are a bit of a struggle. I'm usually in bed by 6.30pm to get a bit of shut-eye before first kick-off.'
