Popovic's plan backfires as 'awful' Socceroos humbled by USA

SEATTLE: Tony Popovic‘s decision to bench the Socceroos’ opening-match goal-scorers, Conor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, backfired in a 2-0 loss to the USA at the FIFA World Cup.

Popovic, known for his tweaks, opted for Nishan Velupillay and Mat Leckie on the wings in Seattle and replaced the former at half-time when the scoreline was 2-0.

The combination of Leckie and Jacob Italiano on the right didn’t gel at all, with Folarin Balogun screaming down the left early in the match and beating Italiano for pace.

Balogun put a low cross in with defender Cameron Burgess caught in an awkward position trying to clear it with the outside of his boot. However, his timing was off with the ball ending up in the back of his own net.

From there the Socceroos looked anything but the compact team that beat Türkiye, as the USA continued to press aggressively.

Australia’s lack of pace and inability to control possession haunted them and there was a sense of inevitability another goal was coming.

Read more

Photographer who captured this moment lifts lid on pitchside mania

That moment arrived in the 43rd minute when Alex Freeman headed in a goal after a rebound from a long shot.

Freeman’s goal was originally disallowed for offside but VAR changed the decision with Balogun ruled not to have actively been involved in the play.

At half-time, the smaller group of Australian supporters were unable to be heard with “USA” sounding throughout Seattle Stadium.

Another chant of “How did you beat Türkiye?” was heard near the media box.

On SBS, Harry Kewell said Australia had “frozen on the big stage”, while Wayne Rooney described the Socceroos as “awful” on the BBC.

“It was what we spoke about before the game: USA’s high press, winning the ball back in high areas. Australia are very deep and they’ve got no outlet,” Rooney said.

“Leaving the two wide men, the two goal-scorers from the last game out has meant they’ve got no outlet, nowhere to go. USA keep winning the ball back and keep going back at them.”

At half-time, Burgess, Velupillay and Mo Toure were all subbed off with Jason Geria, Metcalfe and Irankunda coming on.

Leckie then came off in the 60th minute with a hamstring injury with Cristian Volpato entering the fray.

Volpato’s impact was instant, putting a beautiful ball through for Irankunda who entered the box before finding Volpato again, whose attempt went over the bar.

“Better signs for the Socceroos,” Luke Wilkshire said on SBS.

Volpato’s introduction continued to inspire life for the Socceroos, weaving his way through the USA defence that had now retreated to a lower block.

The newly aligned Socceroo created chances but none clear-cut as frustrations boiled over during injury time when Italiano and Harry Souttar were yellow-carded for a scuffle. Balogun was also given a yellow card for his role.

That decision took the yellow tally to four for Australia after Jordy Bos and Alessandro Circati copped similar punishment earlier. The USA finished with three.

Post-match, Popovic described his side as “flat and lethargic” in the first half, before admitting he thought the referee gave away too many fouls.

“Sometimes you didn’t have to do too much to get a foul, and on other occasions you had to do a fair bit to get one, but that’s for the referees to assess,” he said.

The Socceroos coach was asked about his decision to bench Irankunda and Metcalfe, and conceded he could have made further adjustments.

“We didn’t want to go with the same 11, and you could see why today. Probably, I should’ve made more when you look at how difficult the match was,” he said.

“We judge what we see at training, how the players look, how they’ve recovered physically and emotionally from the match, and we wanted some freshness in those wide areas, and that enabled us to put more explosive players on in the second half.”

The Socceroos now prepare for a clash with Paraguay, their last game of the group stage.