Socceroos winger Mat Leckie has been ruled out of Australia’s World Cup match against Paraguay due to a hamstring injury.
The 35-year-old veteran was substituted off during the second half of Australia’s 2-0 loss to the United States after suffering a minor hamstring tear.
And speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Socceroos assistant coach Paul Okon confirmed that Leckie would not recover ahead of Australia’s group-stage contest against Paraguay in Santa Clara.
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There remains a possibility he will play no part in the remainder of the tournament, with the veteran set to be assessed further after ther match.
Leckie’s setback opens the door for Cristian Volpato, Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda to potentially slot into the starting XI.
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DAD’S EPIC RESPONSE TO NATIONALITY QUESTION
Alessandro Circati’s father has delivered an epic response to sceptics questioning the Socceroos defender’s nationality, declaring that “he’s Aussie, he’s not Italian”.
Born in Italy, Circati was 16 months old when he moved to Perth in 2005, where his father Gianfranco briefly represented Perth Glory.
He represented Italy’s national Under-20 side, but has since make 15 appearances for the Socceroos, including a stint as captain.
“He’s Aussie, he’s not Italian,” Gianfranco told reporters on Tuesday.
“He’s been having a mullet for the last six or seven years. I’m not very happy with that.
“It doesn’t matter where you were born, it depends on were you were raised, how you were raised.
“I don’t agree with people who say if you weren’t born in Australia, you’re not Australian.”
However, Gianfranco confirmed some members of the extended family back in Italy were surprised by Circati’s decision to represent Australia
“At the start, they didn’t understand his decision to play for Australia,” he added.
“But after talking to him, obviously they realised that now, deep down, he’s not Italian.”
‘CHEATING THE GAME’: AUSSIES WON’T PLAY FOR THE DRAW
The World Cup’s new structure, which sees tied teams advancing on their head-to-head result rather than goal difference, has created a unique dilemma for Australia and Paraguay ahead of Friday’s game in Santa Clara.
Both on three points, Australia and Paraguay only need a draw to qualify for the knockouts, while even a narrow defeat could be enough for the Socceroos to feature in the Round of 32.
It would therefore be advantageous for the Socceroos to wind down the clock and play for a draw, which would guarantee Australia second place in Group D.
However, Socceroos defender Jason Geria denied that Australia would consider parking the bus if the situation arose.
“I think you’re sort cheating the game in a way if you’re looking to just call a truce with 10 minutes to go,” he said.
“That doesn’t seem right in my opinion.
“Yeah, we could both progress with a point, that’s evident, but I don’t think it’s in us to just concede or just take the foot off the gas.
“We want to win every game, regardless of who the opponent is or what the situation is.
“So I don’t think if it is one-all or nil-all with five minutes left or 50 seconds left, it’s going to be us taking the foot off the bell. I think we want to win this game. So that’s how we’re going into it.”
Changes to be made for Paraguay clash? | 02:33
AUSSIE GREAT CALLS FOR MULTIPLE SOCCEROOS CHANGES
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has called on Australian coach Tony Popovic to make multiple changes to the team line-up for the final group-stage match against Paraguay in Santa Clara.
Bosnich believes that Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, who both scored goals during the Socceroos’ 2-0 victory over Turkiye but started on the bench for Australia’s loss to the United States, should return to the starting XI for Friday’s game.
“It’s quite simple,” Bosnich said on SEN’s Gloves Off.
“Number one I’d bring back Irankunda and I would say Connor Metcalfe. And I would somehow try to fit in Volpato. I know that will be difficult with the balance.
“We’re coming up against a team who don’t play too dissimilar to the way we play. A team that will be looking a little bit more to win than we, because we know a draw will guarantee us second place.
“Definitely Irankunda and Metcalfe, in my opinion, have got to start. I don’t think there should be any question about that.
“If Irankunda gasses out, like people have said, then take him off. Quite simple. But you start with your best players and he’s arguably our best player.”
He added: “In terms of the midfield, if they do go with Volpato then he will need people around him to do the running for him.
“You need two runners in behind him to let him do what he does with the ball which is an absolutely wonderful quality.
“I think the future is Volpato, Irankunda and Mo Toure. Those three up front would be absolutely outstanding.
“For this game it might be a game too soon to perhaps do that with Volpato but you might have to bring him on anyway because if we’re losing we don’t want to finish on three points.”
Leckie in doubt for Paraguay clash | 02:34
Meanwhile, Bosnich also floated the possibility of teenager Lucas Herrington potentially replacing fellow defender Cameron Burgess.
“Whether you want to bring in Herrington at the back, that’ll be a decision that’s a toss-up. I would lean towards perhaps yes,” he said.
“No disrespect to Burgess. It maybe needs a little bit of refreshing there. He did nothing wrong as well.”