By Harry Kewell
October 21 1998 – The Sunday Mail.

The life of a professional soccer player is a roller-coaster ride at the best of times – but last week then high and lows were even dizzier than ever.

It all began with me scoring one of the craziest goals of my professional career at Everton and ended in bitter disappointment after Leeds coach David O'Leary informed me I wouldn't be allowed home to play for Australia against Brazil next month.

I already knew he only wanted me to play in one game against Brazil, at Stadium Australia, on November 14, and I didn't have too many misgivings about going to see him.

When I walked in he simply gave it to me straight, saying the club wasn't prepared to release me.

To say I was shocked is simply putting it mildly. I was the first member of Frank Farina's squad to put his hand up for the games against Ronaldo and Co and I was looking forward to coming home, like any kid does, for Christmas. I'm still coming to terms with the club's decision. I'm totally gutted to be missing out.

I didn't think there would be a problem because the games take place during a 10-day break in the English Premier League calendar and Farina has obtained the release of his other foreign-based players.

Perhaps the fact I've played something like 80 successive games for Leeds without a break played a part in their decision. Or maybe they fear I will get injured or suffer from jet lag from the long trip. I really don't know.

The Socceroo boys don't get together often enough and it hurts that I won't be there with them. I was also looking forward to a belated birthday bash with my family – I turned 21 in September.

But I'll just have to cop this and carry on trying to produce the sort of form that has given me a bit of cause for satisfaction of late.

Never more so than in our 4-4 goalfest with Everton last Sunday. It was a week I won't forget.

We needed at least a draw with Everton to stay top of the league.

We trailed three times before going ahead only to concede a last minute goal. I had an eventful afternoon, made all the more memorable by a 35m chip which glided over the Everton keeper and into the net.

The goal has been seen all over the world and most pundits claim it was a cross not a shot. Simply a fluke. They're wrong, I saw the keeper off his line and deliberately went for it.

It was unreal.