The reason Lachlan Batley looks tired is because he hasn’t had much sleep in the past month.
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That’s the case for many people across Australia, who have had to get up in the early hours of the morning to watch the action unfold in the 21st FIFA World Cup.
The World Cup brings together 32 nations from around the world to play football, or soccer, and they battle it out for the right to be called world champions.
This year’s World Cup is being played in Russia and that means for many Australians, they have had to get up early or stay up late to see some of the best nations play.
Mr Batley, a Charles Sturt University student currently residing in Bathurst, said he’s watched at least half of the competition matches live and has only watched two replays.
So understandably, he’s pretty exhausted, but because the World Cup is only every four years, he says it’s worth it.
“In all honesty, I’ve watched about half the games, so about 30,” he said.
“The group stage was the hardest, with so many games on.”
Mr Batley has been playing football since he was five years old, but it wasn’t until he was in year seven that he started watching the game.
“I had a friend who joined the West Ham girls academy, so I started watching them play. Before, I’d only watched the World Cup and not league competitions,” he said.
“I just love football. There’s something really inspiring seeing players from all over the world from different leagues come together and play great football.
“France is one of those teams. They’ve got so many amazing players from different leagues and to see them play together how they are is just great.”
France defeated Belgium 1-nil in the first semi-final on Wednesday morning, before Croatia defeated England 2-1 in extra-time on Thursday morning in the other semi-final.
It sets up a France versus Croatia final and Mr Batley is tipping a 1-nil win to Croatia.
“I don’t think France will win. They’ve not been that impressive in front of goal.”
The final kicks-off at 1am this Monday, July 16.