‘Lambs to the slaughter’: Bosnich puts heat on Socceroos coach
Updated . First published
Socceroos legends Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater have pulled no punches in their assessment of Australia’s 2-0 defeat to the United States.
Speaking on Stan Sport’s Added Time, Bosnich used the damning phrase “like lambs to the slaughter” in a stinging review of coach Tony Popovic’s decision-making.
Tony Popovic's side lost to the United States. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
Both former players questioned Popovic’s decision to bench Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the players who had pivotal roles in the 2-0 win over Turkiye.
“I think the game was over before it even started,” Bosnich said on Added Time.
“Just to reiterate ... very rarely in any sport, let alone football, two goal-scorers from one of the greatest wins in Australian football history (would be) left out.
“I think it upset the whole balance.”
Slater agreed, saying the move doomed the Socceroos from the opening whistle and was the “wrong decision” from Popovic.
“I just don’t get why we left out two goal-scorers out of the starting XI.”
The shake-up left Australia completely exposed in the first half according to Bosnich, who believes the Socceroos were lucky to escape only two goals down.
“In my opinion, you don’t leave out your two goal-scorers from one of your greatest victories of all time. America were outstanding in the first half,” Bosnich said.
“The best thing from Australia’s point of view is that they got to half-time only 2-0. In the second half, I don’t think the Americans got out of second or third gear.
“For all the huffing and puffing, the best chance of the second half still fell to America.
“When you preach so much after that first victory, giving players belief, going out there, we know in the past people have looked down upon Australia, all this type of stuff. This sort of starts to veer towards chip on-the-shoulder type of stuff.
“You’ve got to back up the words with your performances and be positive - and from the first half perspective, they weren’t out there.
“It was like lambs to the slaughter waiting to get beat.”
Nestory Irankunda celebrates his goal with Mo Toure during the Türkiye game. Getty
Bosnich pointed out the outnumbered midfield. Dissecting exactly where the Socceroos stumbled structurally, he argued that Popovic failed to adjust, leaving the Australian midfield completely overrun.
“They need to say, ‘You need to be adaptable’. It just makes common sense, right? Bosnich said.
“If we’re playing five a side with the boys, right? And they had one up front and me, you and Robbie at the back, I would say to one of you two, ‘Listen, we only need one extra person here. Whoever the free man is, if there’s three of us against one, the third one, you go into midfield and make that extra body’.”
Despite the defeat, both Australian legends argued the Socceroos still had a great chance to continue into the round of 32.
“Look, we can still qualify. We have still got a great chance. We’ve got to pick ourselves up, and it’s always very difficult understandably playing against the host nation,” Bosnich said.
However, when asked about the upcoming showdown against Paraguay, Slater admitted that predicting Popovic’s next starting XI was anyone’s guess.
“We just don’t know what Popa’s gonna do,” Slater admitted.
“I would like to think he’ll go back to that (squad for the Türkiye game).
“Popa’s gonna do what Popa does, you can be sure of that.”
Australia now head to Santa Clara to play Paraguay on June 26.
