One of the Socceroos’ biggest ongoing dramas appears to be over, while Tony Popovic will surely feel vindicated by several of his recent selections after a host of star showings around the globe.
Popovic unveiled his squad for the upcoming friendlies against Cameroon and Curacao last week and the likes of Jacob Italiano and Deni Juric responded to their call-ups with eye-catching performances.
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But it was the words of an Italian-based 22-year-old that have raised the most eyebrows in recent days.
Cristian Volpato made his first start for Sassulo in the Serie A in three months in their 1-1 draw at Juventus on Sunday.
The Sydney born and raised winger spoke to reporters post-game and effectively slammed the door shut on him playing for the nation of his birth at international level.
“I spoke to the coach,” Volpato said.
“They’ve been wanting to call me to Australia for a few years, but I grew up watching the Azzurri, even the coach, and I’m waiting for Italy, then we’ll see how the rest goes.”
Volpato represented Italy at youth level and knocked back former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold’s approach before the last World Cup – when he was making waves for Roma as a teenager.
But a potential allegiance backflip appeared on the cards last month when Popovic and his assistant coach Paul Okon travelled to Italy to meet with Volpato.
Popovic stressed that was not “selling the shirt” by meeting with the likes of Volpato and earlier this month, opened up on how their meeting unfolded.
“We told him about our plans, what we’re trying to do, and then the rest is up to him,” Popovic said.
“There were no ultimatums or any pressure. If he wants to play for Australia, whether it’s in three months, six months, a year … they’re young men, you have to respect the decisions they have to make.
“He’s gone through the junior process, a lot of that with the Italian national teams. He’s a quality young player that has a lot of potential.
“He hasn’t played a lot of football, but recently, the last four games, he’s come on in all of them … and now that he’s indicated he’s open to the idea (of playing for Australia), if he decides (to represent the Socceroos), he comes on the list of our 50 players.
“Then we will monitor him and be in regular dialogue with him in terms of medically and any support that we can give, but we’ll see whether that happens or doesn’t.”
Italiano scores 2 worldies in hat-trick | 00:53
Among those who are eager to don the green and gold, Jacob Italiano made an impressive statement with a hat-trick in the Austrian Bundesliga.
The 24-year-old defender scored two absolute screamers from long range before ensuring he would get to keep the match ball by burying a penalty in Grazer AK’s 5-1 win against WSG Tirol on Sunday.
Italiano debuted for the Socceroos against Canada in October and can stake his claim for a World Cup berth with such strong form as his team push towards a UEFA Conference League place.
Deni Juric was another March window call-up who justified Popovic’s faith with a match-winning double for Polish side Wisla Plock.
The 28-year-old younger brother of former Socceroo striker Tomi Juric now has five goals for the season.
There were also statements made by Archie Goodwin and Cammy Devlin, who both missed Popovic’s latest squad.
Goodwin, who is yet to earn a Socceroos cap, scored his first MLS goal and then bagged another in Charlotte FC’s 6-1 thumping of New York Red Bulls.
The 21-year-old shared the A-League golden boot with defector Adrian Segecic last season before moving to the US.
Goodwin has been used off the bench by former Premier League manager Dean Smith in each of his 12 appearances for Charlotte.
He said post-match that his patience has paid off as he was named on the bench in the MLS’ team of the week.
“Definitely worth the wait. I think for me, I’m someone who just wants to be out there as much as I can,” Goodwin said.
“So there’s a lot of patience for myself, but yeah, grateful for the wait and now hopefully more opportunities and more goals to come.
“I think it’s confidence. For a nine, goals are confidence. First one’s come, the second one’s come now, so floodgates are open and more to come.
“(My teammates) got around me, just telling me how much I deserve it, hard work in training is paying off. So grateful for them. They’re such good role models for me and all the younger players in the team.”
Devlin, on the other hand, was in Australia’s squad at the last World Cup and returned for Hearts in their 1-0 win over Dundee from two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The midfielder not only now has the chance to press his claims for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but also to become a league winner in the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts are three points clear of Rangers and five ahead of Celtic at the top of the table with seven matches remaining.
They could become the first team outside of the Old Firm Derby rivals to win the Scottish top flight since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in 1985.
If Hearts finish in the top two, they will also earn the right to compete in Europe’s top competition.
“I think growing up as an Aussie from the other side of the world, the Champions League is something you would wake up at four or five in the morning to watch on the telly,” Devlin said.
“So I think that’s a massive, massive carrot, that would be a dream come true. But in terms of right now, my focus is on just getting back fit, playing for Hearts, seeing what we can do.”
Meanwhile, first time Socceroo squad member Ante Suto started alongside Martin Boyle in attack as Hibernian drew 0-0 with Motherwell. It was Boyle’s 400th appearance for the club.
Suto’s fellow potential debutant Lucas Herrington was on the pitch from start to finish as his Colorado Rapids defeated Sporting KC 4-1 in the MLS.
Riley McGree’s Middlesborough were held to a scoreless draw against Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship.
Middlesbrough remain second on the table, two points clear of third place Ipswich Town, with seven games remaining and the two top teams earning automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Like McGree, Nestory Irankunda played a full game for Watford as they too drew 0-0 with Leicester City, who remain in the relegation places.
Cameron Burgess also played the entire 90 minutes as Swansea City lost 3-0 to league leaders Coventry.
In La Liga, Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan stood between the sticks as Levante picked up a vital 4-2 win against Real Ovideo.
The Valencia-based club are trying to avoid relegation – they sit three points and goal difference from safety with seven games remaining.
In the Dutch top flight, Jordy Bos played the entirety of Feyenoord’s 1-1 draw with Ajax.
Ajdin Hrustic did the same as Heracles drew 1-1 with Excelsior.
Also in Europe, Alessandro Circati started and played 61 minutes as Parma were beaten 2-0 in their Serie A clash with Cremonese.
Jackson Irvine patrolled the midfield for all of St. Pauli’s 2-1 Bundesliga loss to Freiburg, while teammate Connor Metcalfe came off the bench in the 84th minute.