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Australia has climbed to a 14-year high in the FIFA men’s rankings, leapfrogging Turkiye following the team’s 2-0 victory in Vancouver.
The Socceroos got their World Cup campaign off to a dream start on Sunday AEST by toppling Turkiye, with Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scoring superb goals.
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Australia, having entered the tournament ranked 27th, has now climbed to 23rd spot, the nation’s highest position since 2012; the Socceroos are currently above the likes of Ecuador, Austria, Nigeria, Egypt and Norway.
And just to rub salt into the wounds, Turkiye has slipped from 22nd to 27th, dropping below the scrappy Australians.
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AUSSIE LEGEND’S TRIBUTE TO IRANKUNDA
Socceroos legend Tim Cahill has paid tribute to Nestory Irankunda following the Australian striker’s heroics during the 2-0 victory over Turkiye in Vancouver.
After unearthing Australia’s tournament opener, becoming the Socceroo’s youngest goal-scorer in World Cup history, the 20-year-old celebrated by boxing the corner flag, which was a Cahill trademark during his playing days.
Irankunda later referred to Cahill as his “biggest inspiration” while speaking to reporters after the match.
“So much talent and this kid knows how to let his football do the talking,” Cahill posted to Instagram on Sunday.
AUSTRALIA’S NEW MINISTER OF DEFENCE CROWNED
The accolades are coming thick and fast for Harry Soutar.
After the Socceroos defender helped Australia keep a clean sheet during Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Turkiye, someone made him the country’s Minister for Defence on Wikipedia.
However, the cheeky joke has since been removed, with Richard Marles — the actual Minister for Defence — reinstated.
AUSSIE PUNDITS REACT TO TURKIYE TRIUMPH
Football analyst Craig Foster has admitted he was concerned when Socceroos manager Tony Popovic sideline the experienced Matt Ryan and Jackson Irvine for Australia’s World Cup opener against Turkiye.
However, the selection switch proved a masterstroke, with goalkeeper Patrick Beach producing a career-defining performance in Vancouver with eight saves.
“I was worried, I’ve got to be honest. I’d love to say we were all there saying ‘brilliant this makes perfect sense’, it didn’t,” Foster told Channel Nine’s Today on Monday.
“Popovic made a huge call and Beach had one of the all-time great Socceroos goalkeeping performances. It was unbelievable.
“I think he statistically made the most saves of a Socceroo in a World Cup match. The one that he turned onto the post was Superman stuff.
“All of the decisions paid off handsomely, and it was courageous from the coaching staff.”
Elsewhere, football commentator Simon Hill hit back at Turkish and US pundits that talked down the Socceroos ahead of the tournament, delivering a warning to the American’s ahead of Saturday’s World Cup contest.
“I’ve heard a lot of trash talk from not just the Turks, but the Americans as well,” Hill told SEN.
“Australians are at their most dangerous when you write them off and say that they can’t play or that they are rubbish.
“I don’t think they did their homework. You only had to listen to the pre-game interviews; ‘They’re strong on set-pieces, they are physical, we’re going to dominate, we’ve got quality’.
“You know what? Maybe one or two of the latter points are right. Individually, they’ve got better players.
“But as a team performance, that tonight is going to take some topping by any team.
“Australia were trashed by the world’s press, and they’ve stuck two fingers up to them this evening.
“Are you watching America? Are you watching, America? We are coming for you!”
