PRIME Minister Tony Abbott, draped in a Socceroos scarf, has called the team’s captain Mile Jedinak “Mike” in a message of support posted on his YouTube channel.

“Ange, Mike and the Socceroos,” says Abbott, “in this World Cup you have the opportunity to make the world game our national game.

“Throughout this World Cup we’ll burn the midnight oil as you take the field in our name.

“We stand with you as you carry our colours into the world’s great teams’ sporting event.”

It has been a tough couple of weeks for Mr Abbott, who upset Canadians with a minor slip of the tongue when he referred to the country as Canadia.

He has often been prone to gaffes, including a recent one where he was caught winking mid interview to an ABC radio host when a sex worker called in to talk to him.

Jedinak plays his football with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League and leads the team into the opening game against Chile today.