The WORST World Cup nickname goes viral as fans have a picnic with Socceroos star Mat Leckie’s new name after his starring role in the loss to France.
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Socceroos winger Mathew Leckie had the football world abuzz with his sublime first touch and cross for teammate Craig Goodwin’s goal in the team’s 4-1 loss to France, but it was his last name which made it viral.
During the one-sided defeat at Al-Janoub Stadium in Qatar, Australian fans were delighted to point out that ‘Leckie’ is pronounced the same way as the slang term down under for electricity.
And boy did they have a field day while writing a series of horrible puns and jokes on social media.
A dejected Mathew Leckie looks on after Australia lost to France 4-1 in their World Cup. A quick look at why he’s blown up on social media might cheer you up.
One fan wrote that Mat Leckie’s full name is in fact ‘Mathew Electricity’, while many (presumably English) fans pointed to the severe energy crisis across Europe.
“Every time Pearce says the name of the Aussie Boy Leckie, I wonder when he’s going to get gas,” wrote one fan.
“I bet this Aussie boy Leckie is really expensive and way too expensive,” another commented in response to skyrocketing electricity prices in England.
‘Just watching the game (France v Australia) (and) Mathew Leckie came in for a strong challenge. I yelled ‘Leckies Off’ and the family panicked because the power was out,” another fan wrote.
Leckie is pictured with his wife Laura and their five-year-old daughter. He now lives in Melbourne after a long career playing in the German Bundesliga.
Leckie jumps high to compete for the ball with French star Adrien Rabiot (hidden) during Australia’s 4-1 World Cup defeat.
Leckie was also the toast of social media for his role in the unfortunate tournament-ending ACL injury of French fullback Lucas Hernandez, who was wowed by the incredible nature of his exquisite first touch during the opening goal.
A long ball from centre-back Harry Souttar deep into the Australia half found Leckie on the right wing.
The Melbourne City striker, who has spent much of his career in Germany’s Bundesliga, caught the ball as if his boot were on glue.
A picture says 1000 words! Mathew Leckie (left) dribbles past France defender Lucas Hernandez (right), who is left clutching his badly injured knee after the Australian’s ‘world class’ play.
Leckie then dribbled around Hernández at full speed, with the Bayern Munich star then grabbing his knee, before the winger’s cross found Godwin unmarked at the far post; who quickly sent the ball to Hugo Lloris for the first goal of the game.
Leckie’s “world class” move, colloquially called “ankle breaker”, where an opponent’s speed and skill in soccer or American football (in particular) is so great that an opponent is left stuck in the air and losing the equilibrium.
Many feared the worst for Hernández, and those fears were proven right after the game with the news that he had suffered an ACL injury; that he will finish his World Cup and probably see him out of action for a year.
It led fans to brand Leckie a ‘career finisher’ for his move on Hernandez.
“Leckie may have ended Lucas Hernandez’s career with that cut,” wrote one leading pundit, though the fact that the left-back is only 26 will certainly ensure he can make a full recovery.
“Mathew Leckie didn’t break his ankles, he tore his ACL,” another commented, accompanied by a series of crying emojis.
Leckie and his Australian teammates will be in action at 9pm on Saturday against Tunisia for their second Group D battle.
No doubt nothing less than a dominating win will suffice against the 30th ranked team in the world; but with the Socceroos sitting eight places behind, it won’t be an easy task.