In case you didn’t realise, the life of a gilded Socceroo is eerily similar to the trailer of “Logan’s Run”.
“Just imagine being a Socceroo, where you will hold your entire future in the palm of your hand. When a tiny glowing crystal will guide you through an existence in which each game is more wonderful than the last. Where it will be possible for you to obtain the fulfillment of every football fantasy, the satisfaction of every vanity, the absolute attainment of every wish.”
And then it happened. The Socceroo lifeclock in Lucas Neill’s palm, that glowing crystal, started flashing red in Brasilia. Try as he might, he could not hide it when Neymar glided past him; an Aussie tortoise to his Brazilian hare.
Surely it was time for Neill’s turn to enter the “Carrousel” (sic). Surely his time was up.
The Carrousel, where ageing Socceroos, in front of their appreciative Australian fans, are vapourised in a rapturous final send-off.
The Carrousel, where Socceroos are efficiently “renewed”.
But Lucas Neill did not submit to his destiny. He became a runner, slowly running from his destiny.
Lucas Neill became Logan 5 of the cheesy 70’s sci-fi movie “Logan’s Run”
And just like Michael York in the film, Lucas Neill, upon realising the imminent end of his Socceroo mortal coil, protested.
“Look! Don’t you understand? It’s different now because it is me! My life as a Socceroo.”
Lucas Neill then reappeared at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Where he played bollard to the French Citroens.
He is still slowly running…but for how much longer.
