Johnny Warren, Australia's great soccer ambassador, died today.

Warren was captain of the only Australian team to qualify for the World Cup finals, in 1974. He thought that Soccer would eventually roll over the top of the other football codes to become the premier winter sport in Australia. It hasn't happened. The sport's been racked by scandals, internal divisions and lack of international success.

This year Warren was awarded with FIFA's Centenary Medal of Honour.

On receiving the award, an emotional Warren spoke of his dreams for the code in Australia.

"I want Australia to embrace this fabulous game," Warren said.

"It's not `wog-ball'. This is the game of the world."

Despite his comments, soccer in Australia has traditionally been the sport of European immigrants rather than the Anglo majority. It has a huge amature following, but the professional competition hasn't been very successful.

Warren was keen to promote soccer at every opportunity. Unfortunately, he couldn't do much about Australian soccer's biggest problems; the movement of talented players chasing big money overseas, and FIFA's woeful handling of the Oceania World Cup division.

Although I don't follow the game much at all, I respected Warren's enthusiasm for the code. Soccer is going to need lots of Johnny Warrens if it hopes to succeed in Australia.