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The Socceroos’ day of World Cup destiny is about to arrive with Tony Popovic’s team finalising their preparations for their Round of 32 meeting with Egypt in Dallas, Texas.
Awaiting the Australians is their best chance yet to make national history and win a men’s World Cup knockout game for the first time.
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Such a feat could open the floodgates for Popovic’s exciting, young squad, but first the nation waits in anticipation to once again see what surprises the manager has in store at the selection table.
Several of the Socceroos’ superstars are surely certain starters against Egypt and have a golden chance in front of them to prove to big European clubs that they are worthy of big money moves in the future.
While all eyes have been on the fitness of Egypt’s greatest ever player with their coach revealing a big update in his pre-match press conference.
It might be another Premier League star that the Australian defenders will be most worried about, however.
Here are the biggest talking points ahead of the Socceroos’ clash with Egypt!
Socceroos prepared for penalties | 01:44
WHY THIS IS THE SOCCEROOS’ BEST CHANCE YET
The Socceroos have undoubtedly never had a better opportunity to win a World Cup knockout game than this.
That statement comes with no disrespect to Egypt, but when you look at Australia’s history beyond the group stage, it is simply a fact.
When Guus Hiddink took the Socceroos to the Round of 16 in 2006, Australia’s golden generation met eventual champions Italy.
Four years ago, when Hiddink’s former assistant Graham Arnold replicated his mentor’s feat, an unheralded Australian side met eventual champions Argentina.
FIFA’s change to a 48-team tournament has given the Socceroos the chance to avoid a powerhouse of world football in the knockout stage.
In the past, a second-place finish in the group meant a titan awaited in the next game.
Now, a second-place finish most likely leads to a meeting with another second-place finisher as it did for Tony Popovic’s side.
SOCCEROOS’ FULL WORLD CUP PATH
And Egypt presents a massive opportunity.
The Pharaohs possess the likes of Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush in attack.
They were unbeaten in the group stage, drawing with Iran and Belgium and defeating New Zealand.
“They’re tough … They know each other, they’ve been together for a long period of time, so they play as a team, as a unit,” Australian assistant coach Hayden Foxe said of the Egyptian side the day after the drew with Iran to finish second in Group G.
“It’s going to be a tough opponent — someone that we’ve been watching quite closely, especially last night and during the group stage.
“It’s going to be an almighty game, an exciting challenge.”
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Even with such firepower and a good record so far, they are in uncharted territory.
Egypt had never made it out of the group at a World Cup before this year.
They had never even won a game at the global showpiece event until they overcame our friends across the ditch in their tournament opener.
Former Socceroos and Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes the pressure firmly sits on the shoulders of the North African country because of that lack of history.
“Now, everything’s kind of a bonus for us in some ways, even though I believe this team can go further,” he said on the Football360 podcast.
“So, I believe this team can be the first ever Socceroos to win a knockout stage game.
“But they have to go out and do it, right. Deal with the pressure. Deal with the scenario.
“And I feel that because we are underdogs, the pressure is less on us than it is on Egypt.
“All of those things come into play.”
Bos reveals ruthless WC mentality | 01:58
WHY THIS MIGHT BE THE START FOR SOCCEROOS
While the Socceroos are on the cusp of World Cup history, this could also just be the beginning.
Manager Tony Popovic has made it no secret that his young squad was not built for this World Cup, but for what they can accomplish in the future.
“Will they be better in four and eight years? Without a doubt,” Popovic said at his press conference announcing his 26-man World Cup squad last month.
“But that’s not to say they’re not good enough now. If they weren’t I wouldn’t play them and I wouldn’t have him in the squad.
“So, I don’t need anyone to dampen the expectations. They should believe, they should love to see these boys play and have the mix of the experience and the youngsters.
“I think it’s quite clear that in time and maturity when they get mature as a footballer, get the experience of playing in big games, it’s natural that you will get better as a footballer. And I had that in our generation, you know, I experienced that we had an eight-to-ten-year cycle. We lost against Uruguay and were really bullied in the second leg.
“That same group played four years later and didn’t get bullied. That’s maturity, that’s maybe another 100 to 200 league games under your belt at the highest level.
“So you can handle those occasions better. We weren’t poor players four years earlier. We were very good players. We were a great group. But four years later, we’re much better. So these boys will be good now, without a doubt. And I’m very, very happy they’re here. I’m very confident to play them and have them involved. And it’s a pleasure to coach them.
“But you know, hopefully they can keep growing in their club football. They need to keep playing regularly, they need to get the games, and then let’s hope that in the next four and eight years we’re looking at this core group of players just growing and having more continuity together and getting to know each other better, which can just help Australia keep growing because we want to keep evolving and this is part of that process to keep evolving, getting a new generation into the Socceroos.”
Popovic’s words have become prophetic since his side defeated Türkiye and drew with Paraguay to advance out of the group for the third time at a World Cup.
They are also getting Australian fans excited for the future.
Popovic’s starting XI against Türkiye was the second youngest Socceroos line-up at a World Cup with seven players aged 24 or younger.
That XI was also the youngest fielded this tournament and the Socceroos have fielded three of the five youngest XIs so far.
Australia’s squad is also the second youngest of any of the 48 teams.
Ange Postecoglou’s XI against Spain in a dead rubber group game at the 2014 World Cup was the only Australian team younger than Popovic’s only the world stage.
Postecoglou’s won the Asian Cup the following year.
Popovic will surely be hoping to follow suit in Saudi Arabia in February.
The Socceroos are the only AFC team left in this World Cup, and they will certainly be trying to maintain that continental supremacy.
Popovic signed an extension to the Asian Cup before this World Cup began.
Beyond that it remains to be scene how things play out, but the hierarchy at Football Australia will certainly be targeting the 2030 for the World Cup for a deep run.
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Volpato speaks on Italy-Australia switch | 02:41
WHAT CHANGES MIGHT POPA MAKE?
Once again, the big question at Tony Popovic’s selection table is what to do with the front three.
Socceroos fans got what they asked for against Paraguay when Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato started after an eye-catching second half against the USA.
That trio presented a new issue with Irankunda playing up front despite predominantly being a winger.
The 20-year-old battled against three Paraguay centre backs, and it has led to many calls that Popovic needs to tweak the front three once again.
“Could we decide to come out all guns blazing?” the most capped Socceroo ever Mark Schwarzer pondered in a preview article for Football360.
“Either way, for me, I’d be changing the set-up up front.
“When Nestory Irankunda is asked to play the role, he did so well against Paraguay, I think you lose that unpredictability and pace in behind. You’ve got players up his backside a lot. He’s got to fight, battle and use a lot of energy trying to keep the ball and be an outlet.
“His best position, for me, is as a wide player able to utilise his pace and his skill on the ball, attacking and running at players.
“The selection conundrum is a tough one, but a good problem to have.”
Schwarzer believes Irankunda needs to remain in the starting line-up.
The 20-year-old started and scored the opening goal against Türkiye but was benched against the USA.
Schwarzer does not want a repeat of that situation for the former Bayern Munich now Watford winger.
But that means Volpato, who impressed in his first World Cup start against Paraguay before being subbed off just before the hour mark, may need to be recast as a super sub.
“I’m not averse to starting Volpato, I think he showed enough in that game against Paraguay to warrant that. But I can also see him coming on because I think his impact in the game can be really significant,” Schwarzer added.
“Personally, I feel that we need a bit bigger presence up front.
“Either Mohamed Toure or Tete Yengi are mobile and have the ability to run the channels; Irankunda on the left, Connor Metcalfe on the right, and then you bring on Volpato.
“You could go with Volpato and Irankunda but then you’re slightly more deficient on the defensive element.”
Schwarzer’s fellow former shot stopper Mark Bosnich agreed that there will likely be a change to who will be Australia’s leading man.
At the back, things are set to be more settled following Lucas Herrington’s assured display against Paraguay.
While Patrick Beach is likely to hold his place in goal instead of Mat Ryan.
But Bosnich believes Popovic might be tempted to make a change in the middle of the park despite Aiden O’Neill claiming MVP honours and Jackson Irvine impressing in the last game.
“He might think about bringing Paul Okon-Engstler back in the midfield,” Bosnich said on SEN.
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Volpato on Roos: “I felt it was right!” | 03:21
HOW AUSSIE STARS CAN IMPRESS BIG CLUBS
Many Socceroos have caught the eye of the world’s biggest clubs this World Cup.
But none more so than Nestory Irankunda, Jordy Bos and Lucas Herrington.
If European powerhouses still had any reservations about the trio, this is the perfect chance for them to stake their claims for a big money move even further.
For Irankunda, a goal in a World Cup knockout game could easily lead to the 20-year-old joining, or rejoining, a giant of world football.
“There’s obviously been links with clubs after that first game,” former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on the Football360 podcast.
“It’s a hard one for him because of the fact that now he’s kind of playing out of position. He’s not able to really show his strengths but I think that clubs will see it, scouts will see it, clubs will identify that this kid’s got some real talent.
“I even read something …that Bayern Munich have a buyback clause on him as well. So, they’re even monitoring the situation. So that that would actually not surprise me at all.
“I could see him working really well at a team like Bayern Munich. And then obviously, not that it necessarily would be a starter, but he’d be in and out of the team, provided he’s one of those players that’s a go to.”
Meanwhile, Bos was slated for a Premier League move after his standout performance against Paraguay.
The Feyenoord star is set to play Champions League football this season with his Dutch club, but he may be doing so elsewhere if big clubs listen to what his teammates had to say about him.
Milos Degenek was calling him ‘Dani Alves’ after the Brazilian legend.
Degenek also hailed Bos as one of the “top five left backs for his age” as one of Australia’s best ever.
Or if they have been dazzled by his electric speed.
In the 2-0 win over Turkiye, Bos clocked a top speed of 36.7 kilometres per hour.
That was faster than renowned speedsters Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Micky van de Ven and Uzbekistan’s Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov in the opening round of group matches, according to FIFA data.
But the 23-year-old is not letting the noise go to his head, even if another star showing could lead to a dream move.
“I’m not too worried about and not thinking too much about it. I’m just living in the moment and trying to do my best for the country and whatever happens, happens,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“Right now, it’s not on my mind at all.”
He was also asked about Degenek’s comments and smirked as he listened to the question.
“I saw that and it’s obviously nice to hear, I’m not too sure how factual it is at the moment,” he said.
“He’s really had my back all throughout my career at the Socceroos, he’s been so supportive of me and believes so much in me. It’s nice he says stuff like that.”
Herrington has been spoken about in similar ways after he made his World Cup debut last week.
The 18-year-old has previously been linked with Barcelona and has had Liverpool scouts come to watch him.
Such high regard led to former Socceroo Craig Foster saying on Stan Sport that Herrington “can play for any club in the world”.
Like Bos, the teenager is not letting the praise go to his head.
He is simply focused on the challenge ahead.
After battling with likes of Argentine icon Lionel Messi in the MLS this year, he wants to show that he can tackle the best players in the world like Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
Which will obviously bode well for his club future.
“It’s nice to verse (compete against) players like that. Really, that’s where you want to be, that’s who you want to verse,” Herrington said.
“So, to be given that opportunity, hopefully, it’ll be special, and I can’t wait.”
Metcalfe speaks ahead of Egypt clash | 03:15
WHAT’S THE GO WITH MO?
All the intrigue in the lead-up has been around the fitness of Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan put to bed any rumours that Salah would miss his nation’s first ever World Cup knockout match, but shared that he is still unsure exactly how big of a role the 34-year-old will play against Australia.
“Salah, as you may know against Iran, we learnt he suffered a hamstring strain during the second half of the match and asked to be substituted,” Hassan told reporters during his match eve press conference.
“Our very distinguished medical department took care of that.
“We tried to introduce him to partial team training as of yesterday only.
“But, Salah is a passionate player, very much looking forward to making his own contribution with his players but on the other hand I am not going to run any risk unless I am 100% sure he is fit and raring to go tomorrow.
“We are looking forward to him playing tomorrow … just not sure if it is going to be in the starting line-up.”
Socceroos stars like Jordy Bos and Lucas Herrington made it known that they are up for their challenge in their interactions with the media this week.
Former Australian defender Trent Sainsbury, meanwhile, has called for the Socceroos defenders to get physical with Salah.
“If Salah does start the game, we’ve got to make sure we’re super aggressive, be up in his face and just try and rattle his cage a little bit,” Sainsbury said on the Football360 podcast.
“Having said that, he’s done it in the Premier League for who knows how long now and I don’t think there’s going to be much that can get under his skin.”
Salah is one goal shy of Egypt’s all-time goal scoring record, which is held by his coach Hassan, but with the superstar hindered or potentially coming off the bench, Omar Marmoush looms as the likely danger man.
The Manchester City forward scored six goals under former manager Pep Guardiola last season.
Guardiola summed up Marmoush as a player in February shortly after returning to Manchester from representing Egypt at the African Championships by saying: “He gives us his special quality; his pace, his movements in behind, and his work ethic.”
The Australians know they cannot give a player of such quality an inch to work with.
“The individual players are pretty good, the likes of Salah and Marmoush going forward,” Socceroos centre back Alessandro Circati said.
“But there’s a lot of opportunities we can exploit, lots of things we can take advantage of, keeping in mind the quality of their players as well.
“You’ve got to stay attentive for the whole time you’re marking them because they can make something out of nothing.
“A half chance they can create into anything that they want, so it’s really about being in control and being able to limit the things they do and the chances they can create.”
