BBC news anchor Jane Hill has become an unexpected internet sensation among Australian football fans following her distinctive pronunciation of the national team's name, 'Socceroos,' during coverage of their World Cup defeat.
During a report on Australia's loss to Egypt in a penalty shootout on Saturday, Hill pronounced the team's moniker as 'Sioh-key-roos' rather than the commonly accepted 'Soh-kerr-roos.' The segment, which detailed how the Socceroos missed two spot-kicks allowing Egypt to secure victory, has since garnered significant attention online.
A clip of the moment, viewed nearly three million times on X, prompted a wave of reactions from Australian viewers. Many expressed amusement, with some comparing her pronunciation to that of a Greek football player. Others speculated that Hill might have mistakenly believed 'Socceroos' referred to the surname of one of the Australian players who had missed a penalty during the shootout.
Comments included observations such as "She said Socceroos like a Greek player Brighton just signed" and questions like "Who is Sokirous? Some Greek footballer?" One viewer noted, "I don’t think she realised what she was saying – clearly reading off the autocues and not a football fan!"
Australia's World Cup campaign ended in the Round of 32 following the penalty shootout defeat in Dallas. Both Lucas Herrington, 18, and Harry Souttar missed their penalties against Egypt, with Souttar sending his attempt over the crossbar. Herrington, who became the youngest Australian to start a World Cup match earlier in the tournament, was visibly devastated after the match.
Despite the on-field disappointment, Herrington has received support from football legends Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thierry Henry. Ibrahimović offered a message comparing penalties to a lottery, while Henry expressed empathy for Herrington and questioned the decision to let such a young player take a crucial penalty. "Don't be upset; you go there taking it, you miss. I feel for you, but keep your head up," Henry said.