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AAP
AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Socceroos hope to inspire next generation

Socceroos fans celebrate the World Cup win over Denmark in Melbourne's Federation Square. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Aaron Mooy, the most introverted Socceroo, does not say much.

But he has succinctly summed up what Australia's triumphant World Cup team hope they are doing for their cherished sport.

"Hopefully it's making other kids fall in love with it," Mooy said.

"That's what the Socceroos have always done, inspire the next generation.

"And all the kids back home will be watching, and see that we won and probably say 'I want to be a footballer'."

The Socceroos have been on a mission in Doha not just to win football games but the hearts of minds of Australians.

"We sit on the backburner with a lot of codes in our country," striker Jamie Maclaren said.

"So to sit here now and do what only one other Socceroos team has done before is massive."

Australia's 1-0 win over Denmark secured a berth in the World Cup's knockout stages for only the second time, repeating the achievement of 2006.

And before the Socceroos caught the team bus back to their Doha base, they had already watched in wonderment at the wild celebrations in Melbourne's Federation Square.

"It just shows that there's people in our country that love this game," Maclaren said.

"And that is just one city.

"Us boys who want to give everything, who want to represent our nation, just come and support us."

Midfielder Jackson Irvine was buzzing, just as he was when in the crowd watching the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup.

"Being that kid, a 13-year-old in '06 in the crowd and watching those players do what I hope we have done for a group of kids out there," Irvine said.

"To show Australian kids, Australian football, that we can play at this level, that we can compete at this level and it's possible.

"(I'm) immensely proud to have hopefully given someone else that inspiration."

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