KIWIS OUT SOCCEROOS IN (DRAW)

The curses may have worked as the All Whites from New Zealand were dumped out of the World Cup, leaving their near neighbours (1100 miles) alone in the group pots! Australia, the Socceroos, beat Honduras easily and have made it. Not for the first time.
Way back at an international tournament in Vietnam, the Australian side played midst the Vietnam War. Harold Holt was Prime Minister and encouraged the "tour" hoping to boost morale, which it did. In November 1967 at the Vietnam National Day Soccer Tournament the matches were held in Saigon. "Uncle Joe" Vlastis was head coach and his team provided 8 of the Australian team that qualified for the  World Cup in Germany in 1974. The friendship the squad developed over this 1967 tournament counted for a lot.

The Socceroos played a match against their soldiers and lived with them. Their group included South Vietnam (1-0 win), New Zealand (5-3) and Singapore (5-1) with games played at the Cong Hoc Stadium.
In the other group were South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
The Aussies met Malaysia in the semi-final during which there was a brawl and the military police had to intervene to restore order. This led to a 1-0 win aet.
In the other semi South Korea came through and in the final Australia won 3-2.
This game nearly didn't take place because there was "no room" for the Australian soldiers in the ground. When the Aussies suggested that they might not contest the final, tickets arrived! After the victory the Aussies also played Indonesia and New Zealand winning all their games on tour.