The ‘innocent’ assassin Socceroos must shut down
Ex-Socceroos captain Craig Foster believes Australia will defy the bookmakers and advance to the round-of-32 at the World Cup.
The Socceroos, ranked 27th in the world, are rated by sports gambling websites as the most likely team to finish bottom of a Group D that also includes the United States, Turkiye and Paraguay.
Nestory Irankunda of Australia celebrates with teammate Mohamed Toure Getty Images
Australia kick off their tournament against 23rd-ranked Turkiye in Vancouver on Sunday (AEST).
“The problem with the group is it’s all really balanced,” Foster told Nine’s Today.
“They think they can beat us, we generally think that we can beat all of the teams in the group. It’s actually the most balanced group in the World Cup, so really tough, but everything is possible.
“I do believe very strongly that we’ll get out of the group, but the first game is really important. They’re high quality.”
Socceroos manager Tony Popovic admits his young squad will be stronger in four years’ time.
But both he and Foster hope some exciting talents are already set to shine.
“We had many at a very high level playing Champions League, EPL, Serie A back in ’06, and we’re just starting to get a generation come through,” Foster said.
“Lucas Harrington in defence, he’s only 18-years-old, he’s an amazing player. He’s only played four times (for Australia) and is almost a lock to start.
“You’ve got Jordy Bos on the left-hand side, fantastic player, of course Nestory Irukunda, you’ve got Mo Toure up front, Tete Yengi who had a bit of time (against Switzerland) and of course you’ve got (Alessandro) Circati at the back and now you’ve got (Cristian) Volpato, so really good generation coming through.
“Of course for Popa it’s about how many does he use and what’s the balance. The squad itself is like a new generation, it’s extremely exciting.
“We’ve got some amazing young kids, you know, we’re trying to produce some of the top players in the world.”
Of course, Turkiye have some gems of their own.
Young attacking midfielder Arda Guler will lead their side as they make their return to the World Cup for the first time in more than two decades.
Despite strong showings in the European Championship in recent years, Turkiye have not played at a World Cup since making the semi-finals in 2002, and though the 21-year-old Guler was not even born back then, he will bear the attacking hopes of his football-mad nation on his shoulders.
“He has talent, intuition, reading of the game; he knows when to slow down, when to go vertical, and he knows how to score. He has an innocent face, but he is very clever,” Turkiye coach Vincenzo Montella said.
Arda Guler of Turkiye celebrates after scoring a goal. Getty
“He has talent, plays at a high level, and handles a lot of pressure.”
While Guler’s shoulders may be broad enough to carry that burden, there are worries over his physical fitness after he sustained a hamstring injury late in his club season with Real Madrid that caused him to miss the run-in.
Appearances against North Macedonia and Venezuela put some of those fears to rest, but Guler’s task will not be an easy one as Turkiye take on an Australian squad that made it to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.
Australia have rung the changes since and could have 17 World Cup debutants at this tournament, including two uncapped players in Japan-based striker Yengi, 25, and 22-year-old attacker Volpato, who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia just ahead of the tournament.
“I think Turkiye’s got a lot of pressure as well because they haven’t been to the World Cup since 2002,” Australian defender Milos Degenek said.
“There’s a lot of hope on them and a lot of pressure, but we’re ready for that definitely.”
Popovic didn’t think the relative inexperience of his players would affect them.
“What we have is a lot of young exuberance, a lot of exciting talent, which is the start of a new cycle,” he said.
