00:02After a successful grassroots campaign for an official live site to support the Socceroos,
00:08Canberrans braved the cold to make the most of it.
00:11In 2022 we had it at Civic Square and it was just great to have the whole community involved
00:17and everyone getting around the Socceroos.
00:19Despite a midday kickoff on a Friday afternoon,
00:22almost a thousand locals packed Garima Place and many more in local pubs.
00:27Among them, young and old, politicians from across the aisle,
00:32even some Melbourne mayors seeking sporting relief from a council conference.
00:36They'd all found a way to make it work.
00:39I'm working, having a mimosa and watching the game.
00:42I'm just on my lunch break at the moment,
00:44so I'll duck back, couple of cheeky two hour lunch break and then back to the office this afternoon.
00:50Thank you to my boss and people at Questacon, I do have the afternoon off.
00:55As fans rode the emotions of an anxious 90 minutes, desperately waiting for a Socceroos goal that never came,
01:03the tension was broken with the final whistle, booking Australia's place in the knockout stage.
01:09Relieved, very relieved.
01:11Been an absolute ball of nerves.
01:13I couldn't sit still to be honest, so I'm just glad it's over.
01:16The screening was regarded mainly as a success, but some weren't a fan of the events set up.
01:22Just the grassroots effort to get a screen here was great.
01:26But I think that, like, Events Canberra didn't have enough time to properly plan a bigger, like, screen.
01:33I mean, it was a bit hard, but, like, especially over there, but, like, once you found, like, a good
01:38spot,
01:38you could see it decently enough.
01:40It'd be better if the screen was a bit higher there.
01:42Minister for Sport Yvette Berry says the ACT Government will look into alternative screen options
01:47ahead of the Socceroos' Round of 32 game next Saturday.
