As the Socceroos bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the most painful way possible, there’s an undeniable feeling gripping Australia.
2030 simply can’t come quick enough.
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The Socceroos lost to Egypt in Dallas on Saturday morning, meaning they still haven’t won a World Cup knockout stage game after a third time of asking.
Having gone 1-0 down early, Australia pushed the Round of 32 match to extra time following a second-half own goal. Then, thanks to some last-ditch heroics, it forced a penalty shootout against Mo Salah’s side.
It then all went wrong with centre backs Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missing their penalties, while Egypt went a perfect four from four.
The campaign is now all over. Egypt will play the winner of Argentina or Cabo Verde in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
For Australia, the good feeling remains given this is a young group that could well be developing into the Socceroos’ next golden era.
Even so, there will be an unmistakeable feeling that some mistakes were made along the way.
Scroll down for our Socceroos Talking Points!
‘MASSIVE CALL’: Popa explains bombshell 119th-min call as laptop image exposes masterstroke that sunk Aussies
MATCH REPORT: Socceroos OUT in shootout heartbreak after huge Popa gamble stuns in fiery thriller
‘RECKLESS’: Heat on ref from bitter Socceroos foe as ‘terrible tackle’ leaves Aussies seething
‘THAT WAS SENSATIONAL’: Aussie keeper’s heroic moment keeps WC campaign alive
Socceroos FUME after Bos is taken out | 00:30
POPA’S FINAL WORLD CUP GAMBLE
He may have named an unchanged line-up, but Tony Popovic had one last selection gamble up his sleeve this World Cup late in extra time.
With a nailbiting encounter heading towards a penalty shootout, Popovic made the decision to take off goalkeeper Patrick Beach and replace him with veteran shot stopper Mat Ryan.
The Socceroos boss stunned before the tournament opener against Türkiye when he left regular captain Ryan on the bench in favour of the 22-year-old.
Beach quickly proved to be an inspired selection, however, making eight saves and keeping a clean sheet against Türkiye.
The Melbourne City keeper became an instant household name and even had Melbourne’s St Kilda Beach named in his honour.
There was speculation about whether Popovic might abandon Beach in the lead-up to the final group against Paraguay.
Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer called for Ryan’s experienced to be used in that all-important clash.
Popovic backed in Beach for that encounter, but at the most critical juncture of Australia’s campaign, he backflipped on his call on who would stand between the posts.
Beach kept Australia’s hopes alive with a super, save of the tournament contender in the 93rd minute as he somehow tipped Ramy Rabia’s header from point blank range over the bar with one-hand.
But in his fourth World Cup, Popovic trusted Ryan to step onto the pitch for the first time in the tournament and handle the pressure cooker of the penalty shootout.
The Egyptians were ready for the prospect of Ryan in goal.
After the whistle blew to end added time, they gathered around a laptop to watch footage of France and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe putting a penalty past the Australian.
Their homework cleared paid off as Ryan failed to make a save from four, well-struck penalties, including Mohamed Salah’s Panenka which caught Ryan out for moving early.
When asked to explain the move that replicated Graham Arnold’s decision to ditch Ryan for ‘The Grey Wiggle’, Andrew Redmayne, in the qualifying playoff against Peru four years ago, Popovic said: “I think that was always an option for us and then you have to see how the game progresses.”
Unfortunately for Australia, there is a fine line between genius and looking silly.
As Egypt kept their cool, Popovic’s decision did not look like a masterstroke as he had hoped for.
“These are the decisions that you have to make as a coach and the risks that you have to take,” Newcastle Jets manager Mark Milligan said on SBS.
“Looking back in the tournament, two big decisions against Türkiye that paid off (also starting Paul Okon-Englster over Jackson Irvine).
“For me, unfortunately, the decisions made after that probably didn’t come to life like he would have hoped.”
“I think that’s exactly right,” former Socceroo Tommy Oar replied.
“Not to apportion the blame on him – that’s part of football – but it’s about learning the lessons from those mistakes now.
“What Millsy touched on earlier, fundamentally when you go out to win a game of football and that intent is instilled and they have that belief, it’s front foot, attacking football, these things seem to go your way more often than not.
“Rather than waiting for something to go wrong.”
‘GO AND HIT THE BACK OF THE NET’: PENALTY CALL STUNS
No one will be hurting more than Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington – the duo who missed their penalties in the shootout.
For most of the game, the two pair, who formed two-thirds of Australia’s centre back trio alongside Alessandro Circati, were heroic.
Skipper Souttar, who later handed over the captain’s armband to Mat Ryan when he came on the pitch, was the target that led to the own goal for Australia’s equaliser.
At the other end of the pitch, the towering 27-year-old made a pivotal block in the dying minutes of added to extend the contest to extra-time.
As Egypt surged in the final 15 minutes of the extra period, he also made a superb last gasp tackle to deny Mohamed Salah.
While moments later 18-year-old Herrington made an excellent block of his own.
Unfortunately, those efforts to save the game will not be sticking in their minds right now.
Souttar stepped up first in the penalty shootout and blasted his attempt over the bar.
Herrington did likewise when he was Australia’s fourth penalty taker and his miss put Egypt on the brink of victory.
Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil were the other Socceroos who stepped up to the spot.
Former Scotland midfielder Scott Brown was baffled that striker Mohamed Toure was not one of the four penalty takers.
“Australia put two centre-backs on penalties,” he said on the BBC.
“You want to see your strikers go and lead the team and hit the back of the net.
“Touré has been on fire for Norwich this season, scoring nine goals.
“Go and hit the back of the net instead of putting an 18-year-old on.”
Former England forward Chris Sutton replied: “There will be questions about why two centre-backs are stepping up to take the penalties for Australia.”
Herrington has drawn huge praise this World Cup.
The teenager who joined MLS outfit the Colorado Rapids in January from the Brisbane Roar was linked with Barcelona on the eve of the tournament.
It was also revealed by The Athletic that Liverpool has sent scouts to the US to watch him earlier in his club season.
Such a gut-wrenching moment will no doubt be hard to take, but Australian fans will be hoping it can be the making of Herrington, who no doubt has an exciting future ahead of him.
“Two of the defenders who missed today and unfortunately didn’t force the keeper make a save,” former Matilda Sarah Walsh said on SBS.
“He is leaning way too much back here. Looks pretty tired. Air-conditioned stadium – but Herrington, so proud of him stepping up to take this.
“There is no way that Popa would have said, “You’re going to take it. You’re going to take it.” He would have put his hand up.
“If anything, it makes me admire him more to put himself in that position. The way he shook it off as well, taking everything in his stride and I’m sure this will be just another learning curve for him. His future will be absolutely incredible and that’s one huge positive we can take from this.”
In a post-game interview, Irvine revealed that it was a set list of penalty takers with each player told which penalty they were going to take.
The midfielder said they have practised at training and it was no spur of the moment decision for Herrington and Souttar to step up.
AUSSIES NOT BOLD ENOUGH AS ‘CRUCIAL NEXT STEP’ BECOMES CLEAR
In the end, the Socceroos’ recurring issue of struggling to find the back of the net reared its ugly head once again this World Cup.
Tony Popovic’s team scored three goals in four matches.
The only goal to come from an Australian boot in their last 300 minutes of football was Cameron Burgess’ own goal against the USA.
The Socceroos equalised against Egypt via an own goal.
And a Socceroo has still never scored a goal in a World Cup knockout game – the goal Graham Arnold’s side scored against Argentina four years ago came via a deflection.
Nestory Irankunda started up front with Connor Metcalfe and Cristian Volpato on either side.
Volpato struck the crossbar from long range in just the fifth minute, while Irankunda once again battled when leading the line.
The 20-year-old is a more natural winger than a No.9, but even when he was replaced by striker Mohamed Toure, Australia’s fortunes did not change.
If a winner was to come in the second half or in extra time, it was always going to come via a header due to the Socceroos’ distinct height advantage.
It was a change of tact from the opening hour when Australia did the bulk of the attacking despite conceding an early goal.
Popovic’s men still managed to have more shots by the end of the 120 minutes.
But in the final hour – spanning across the second half and extra-time – four-time World Cup Socceroo Mark Milligan felt like the Australians went into the shells.
With an equaliser secured, they appeared to look to take the game deep rather than push for a winner.
It led to a sustained period of pressure as Egypt pressed and Mohamed Salah’s team ultimately carried that momentum forward into the shootout.
“We saw it in the first half that it felt that Egypt did have vulnerabilities when we were more aggressive playing out,” Milligan said on SBS.
“There were a number of times we threatened, but no one was ahead of Nestor to capitalise on that.
“Apart from that early chance in the second half that Egypt had (when Omar Marmoush fired wide), which they probably should have capitalised on, I thought we were much more positive.
“This group of players is a much better team when playing with that kind of intent, and they got the reward for it – a very, very deserve own goal.
“But from there, we’ve reverted back to what we’ve come to expect from this side, through qualification and through the World Cup.
“Yes, it was disappointing, because, yes, they have good players, world-class players, but we have a fantastic team, fantastic players, a lot of young boys who are very, very promising, and up and coming.
“We need to back that as well. I think we should have gone into this game with the expectation that we win.”
Milligan’s teammate in Brazil in 2014, Tommy Oar, agreed.
“It is a misconception when you lose this defensive ability when you have the attacking intent,” he replied.
“It is exactly the opposite because you spend more time defending. It is a shame going back into the shell in those moments when we have the ascendancy.
“I hope we can learn the lessons from that. It has been a theme over the last 12 months.
“Popa did so well to bring the professionalism but the next step with the ball is a crucial next step.”
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
Despite the heartbreak, the future is undoubtedly bright for the Socceroos.
Tony Popovic rolled out three of the five youngest XIs in the tournament in the group stage.
While only Cote d’Ivoire’s squad was younger this World Cup.
In Australia’s sole win of the tournament against Türkiye, seven of the starting XI were aged 23 or younger.
That did not even include 18-year-old centre back Lucas Herrington or 22-year-old winger Cristian Volpato.
Herrington has been linked with Barcelona and has attracted interest from Liverpool.
Alessandro Circati has been linked with PSG, Atletico Madrid and several big Italian clubs.
Jordy Bos, who unfortunately had to leave the pitch injured at half-time after a dangerous challenge, had received plenty of speculation about a move from Dutch side Feyenoord to the Premier League.
While only yesterday, reports emerged of Watford rejecting an offer of almost $20 million for Nestory Irankunda from newly promoted Premier League outfit Hull.
There are clearly going to be Australia’s playing in Europe’s top five leagues in the near future.
But if they are to translate club success to international level, former Socceroo Mark Milligan believes the nation cannot assess simply competing at World Cups as being a pass mark.
“There moments are hard to see. I don’t like seeing them. I’ve lived those moments as well and we are now seeing it again,” Milligan said on SBS.
“When are we as a nation, as a federation as well, going to decide who we are and when we qualify, will that always be enough? What do we want moving forward?
“Like I said, with this group of players, especially and Popa has done a fantastic job with them and getting them to where they are.
“But over the past 10 years, Ange to Arnie. Very good and different, different to Popa who is again a shift in what’s happening. Looking at the continuity of what countries are trying to build because they have a clear approach.”
Australia’s Asian rivals Japan famously have a 100-year strategy for their football that ensures players are clear on expectations from a very young age.
That method will be put to the test against Popovic’s team and other regional contenders in Saudi Arabia next year.
The only Australian XI at a World Cup to be younger than Popovic’s against Turkiye was Ange Postecoglou’s against Spain in 2014.
That group won the Asian Cup on home soil a year later.
Popovic must surely have his eye on silverware.
“To be fair to Popa, they’ve just re-signed him and they’ve got an Asian Cup coming up,” former Matilda Sarah Walsh said on SBS.
“Let’s see what happens there. He finally has a team together with continuity. Yes, it was a fantastic run.
“We’ve played a lot of friendlies over that time, but I think the real test is Asian Cup there are expectations that they do really well and win that.”
Milligan stressed that Football Australia must look more broadly to unlock the solutions to success, however.
“Again, is it on Popa? Or us as a footballing federation to come out and be clear?” he pondered.
“I’ve watched this now as a fan. I want to know what the future of Australian football looks like.
“At this very moment in time, the crop of players he has, I think we’ve been in the best place we’ve been since the golden generation.”
“I agree completely. The shorter piece of how Popa should evolve this team moving forward, we don’t do enough to create opportunities to score goals,” former Socceroo Tommy Oar replied.
“A lot from Bos and Toure in the front third and expecting miracles from them, I guess you could say, to get past. There is no repetition from us to have a formula to break down opposition teams and getting better in that formula, having accountability and how you can improve in that methodology. That’s part of the next step and part of the evolution, to your point.”
BEACH’S HISTORIC DISPLAY
If the team of the tournament was chosen right now, there might be an Australian in it.
At least based on statistics, there should be.
Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach is statistically the best goalkeeper of the World Cup so far.
The 22-year-old, who plies his trade for Melbourne City, prevented 2.2 goals this tournament, according to Opta stats.
More than any other shot stopper.
Beach looked like he was Australia’s hero when he pulled off a remarkable save in the dying minutes of added time.
His one-handed tip over the bar with catlike reflexes is not the only save that will be added to his highlights reel this tournament.
There was also his superb full-stretched dive against Türkiye where he got fingertips onto the ball to edge a long-range rocket into the post.
Conceding three goals in four games, including keeping two clean sheets, was the best ever return by a Socceroos goalkeeper at a World Cup.
The fact it came when he was expected to simply make up the numbers this tournament makes it all the more remarkable.
“We have to be honest with the young ones who have come through, it was a massive, massive call to leave Maty Ryan out when he did,” former Socceroo Tommy Oar said on SBS.
“Maty Ryan did nothing to warrant that. Coming off the back of a fantastic season. Again, if it weren’t for Beach, this tournament would have looked a lot different from this game.”
Beach did not get the chance to try save Australia in the penalty shootout as Popovic entrusted Ryan for the biggest moment of the campaign.
Regardless, that decision will not take away from the fact that clubs aboard will surely come knocking for the youngster, who has still only played six times at international level.
“Well, the transfer on his head is big now,” Newcastle Jets manager Mark Milligan said on SBS.
“Playing at Melbourne City, I would be very shocked if he doesn’t get a move abroad after what he has done on the biggest stage of all. Pressure does not seem to affect him.”