‘It was coming’: Double act we waited generations for; final issue Popa must solve — Talking Pts

The Socceroos have advanced out of their group at the World Cup for just third time as a goalless draw with Paraguay guaranteed second place in Group D.

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic was ecstatic after the final whistle in Santa Clara and the result Australia needed came off the back of the manager seemingly listening to the demands of supporters, past players and pundits alike.

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Popovic’s moves allowed a host of exciting young players to shine with 22-year-old Cristian Volpato and 23-year-old Jordy Bos combining to form a partnership that showed they both have a big future ahead of them.

So too did a teenager, who has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, on his World Cup debut.

While Australians far and wide will be relishing the Socceroos have silenced the many doubters that wrote them off before the tournament began.

But many will also many seeking to solve the biggest question that hangs over Popovic’s side before next week’s Round of 32 clash at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

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POPA PLEASES EVERYONE

For the first time this World Cup, Australians were not stunned when the starting XI was announced.

Six changes to a line-up should provoke a big reaction, but an overwhelming sense of calm swept across the nation as Tony Popovic gave Socceroos fans, pundits and former players alike what they wanted.

Lucas Herrington was installed into the centre back trio for his first taste of World Cup football after the 18-year-old attracted a bid from Barcelona and had Liverpool scouts come to watch him earlier this year.

Aziz Behich replaced the injured Jacob Italiano, and eyebrows were slightly raised when Jordy Bos swapped flanks to allow the veteran to play on the left.

But injecting vice-captain Jackson Irvine into the midfield made sense.

While Australians rejoiced at Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato starting in attack.

It was exactly what had been called for all week and despite not scoring a goal, the verdict was unanimous.

“We’re learning each time, each time we’re playing these games, I was impressed,” Socceroo legend Harry Kewell said on SBS.

“Especially with the changes he made. The ones that came in were very good.”

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Herrington produced an assured display worthy of a defender well beyond his years.

The attacking trio had their moments with Volpato showing his class.

While veteran pair Behich and Irvine brought the collectedness of being at their third World Cup.

The latter’s recall particularly proved to be a masterstroke after being benched with Paul Okon-Engstler starting the previous two games.

“Big standout for me is Jackson Irvine,” Kewell said at half time on SBS.

“He’s brought that kind of calmness. He’s been very disciplined. But what I like is operating the ball, he’s working the ball from side-to-side, but he’s also not afraid to play forward, which is good.”

“Jacko keeps it simple, moves the ball. This part of Jacko’s game is something that I don’t know any other Australian midfielder has,” four-time World Cup Socceroo Mark Milligan added.

“He gets in the box, got his head to the ball that opens up space for players like Bos and Volpato in those wide areas. Someone has to go with Jacko when he starts playing in between lines or making the late runs in the box.”

Paraguay presented a very different proposition to Türkiye and the USA.

Like Popovic’s side, the South Americans prefer to sit back, defend and try catch their opponents on the counter-attack.

That style meant Australia had a lot more of the ball than they did in Vancouver and Seattle as they had to be the ones trying to break down a low block.

Milligan, who is making waves in the A-League as coach of the Newcastle Jets, liked what he was from the Socceroos with the ball.

“We seemed more balanced on the ball,” he said.

“As you could probably predict the second half, ultimately a little bit cagey that we expected that both teams wanting to make sure they gave themselves the best chance to go through to the next round.”

Former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams agreed.

“A lot of confidence, we were playing the ball, passing it around and got chances on target and we got to take a lot of positives around the game,” she said on SBS.

“We dominated it, I think, and limited Paraguay to I think it was maybe only one or two shots on target so did not trouble us too much.

“Still cagey because you never know what will happen when it is 0-0 but I was really happy with the result.

“I think we are enjoying the changes that were made and the result came at the end of the day.”

‘GET THE KID TO THE PREM’: DANGEROUS DUO SHINE

Australia looked like a completely different team when attacking down the right-hand side for the first hour.

Cristian Volpato and Jordy Bos formed an impressive combination with dazzling dribbling that gave the Paraguayan defence several headaches.

Volpato followed up his eye-catching half an hour stint against the USA by being Australia’s most threatening player in the first half.

He was eventually substituted just shy of the hour mark and Bos took over that mantle.

“We’ve seen early on most of our attacking threat is coming down the right side, through Jordan Bos and Volpato,” former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire said on SBS’ commentary.

“The one thing I love about Volpato, he’s brave and looks to create, wants to make an impact on the game.”

“To get on the ball – he’s an unpredictable player too. Not sure we’ve had a player potentially of this quality, close ball skills, since perhaps Harry Kewell sitting in the studio,” commentator David Basheer added.

There is set to be more high praise to come for the pair who created three goal scoring chances apiece against Paraguay.

They both came ever so close to breaking the deadlock.

Volpato cut back onto his left, but his shot was parried away close to half-time.

While Bos had the chance to be a match-winner at the death knock after a brilliant run into the box, but his left-footed strike sailed wide.

Regardless, they both showed they were a class above.

For 22-year-old Volpato, it was particularly impressive given it was his first World Cup start.

Meanwhile, for 23-year-old Bos, it was a performance on the big stage that everyone felt was coming despite a significant change pre-game.

The Feyenoord star, who has come on in leaps and bounds in the past 12 months under the tutelage of former Arsenal and Manchester United goalscoring machine Robin van Persie, switched to the right against Paraguay.

With Jacob Italiano missing with an adductor injury, the change was done to let Aziz Behich occupy his preferred position at left wing back.

It was a change that may become permanent – at least for the rest of the tournament with Italiano reportedly unlikely to return.

“Bos was fantastic on the right-hand side. He could be starting there a lot more now,” Kewell said.

Popovic revealed in his press conference that the shift was not unprecedented.

“We’ve seen him play for Westerlo on the right, and he did come on for us against New Zealand early in the year in a friendly, so we’ve seen that he can adapt and play on that side,” he said.

“It’s the best game he’s played of the three by far.”

Regardless, it showed Bos’ talent to be flexible.

With Lucas Herrington producing a solid display on the right side of Australia’s centre back trio, it allowed Bos to push higher up the pitch.

If that continues going forward, it will only benefit Australia as arguably the nation’s best footballers get more involved in attacking plays.

While it could also lead to higher honours for him at a club level.

Leading football commentator Daniel Garb summed up the nation’s admiration for Bos by writing on social media: “that’s the Jordy Bos game we knew was coming. Get the kid to the Prem.”

Before the World Cup, Bos had already featured in transfer rumours suggesting a move may be on the cards after a club season that included winning the Eredivisie’s player of the month in September.

He is set to play in the UEFA Champions League with Feyenoord next season, but English Premier League clubs are surely now standing up and taking notice.

Or maybe they should listen to Ajdin Hrustic who told reporters in the mixed zone post-game that he started calling Bos ‘Dani Alves’ – after the legendary Brazilian defender – upon shifting to the right side in training.

‘LOOKS FANTASTIC’: WUNDERKIND’S DREAM DEBUT

Speaking of young Australians destined for big moves, Lucas Herrington gave the nation the World Cup debut everyone was waiting for.

The 18-year-old looked completely unflustered by stepping into a crunch, final group game to make his first appearance at the tournament.

He also delivered a display that shows why he has risen so rapidly and is tipped for much more success – having been linked with Barcelona and Liverpool.

One of the teenager’s biggest assets is his work with the ball.

He caught the eye of many keen onlookers when in an MLS game against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, the Colorado Rapids youngster delivered a superb long ball to assist an equaliser.

Herrington did not get the chance to play provider against Paraguay, but he did show that he is cool with his feet.

There were multiple times early when the Paraguayan attackers pressed at him but the Brisbane Roar product kept his cool to find a teammate and avoid a sticky situation.

“He does. Looks comfortable, does not seem like too much fazes him and there an instance where they marshalled him into the side down the left-hand corner and he played it out nicely,” Socceroo legend Harry Kewell said at half time.

“Good communication and connection with Aziz as well but looks fantastic.”

Australian fans were in disbelief when one of our own was linked with a move to the Nou Camp before the World Cup.

The Athletic later revealed that Barcelona’s initial offer of €10 million was rejected by Colorado Rapids as the American club believe they can get a record fee for the Queenslander.

It was also reported that Liverpool had sent scouts to watch him earlier this season as the massive European clubs have identified him as a potential successor to the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ronald Araujo.

That is certainly high regard for the teenage who only left the Roar for the US in January and became the youngest ever MLS player to feature in a World Cup game.

Herrington has played every minute of the MLS season for the Rapids and also played the entire match against Paraguay.

He is giving Australian fans every reason to be excited about his future; while also showing he belongs at present.

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic put it best when asked about picking him in the starting line-up before kick-off.

“He’s a very cool and calm young man,” Popovic said.

“I’ve got big wraps on him for the future, but I trust him enough to play in a crucial game.”

He reiterated those words in his post-match press conference.

“He is a special talent and I think I’ve spoken highly enough about him previously and that’s why he’s selected in the squad,” Popovic said.

“Not to just make up the numbers. We trusted this talented young man in the most important game of the three.”

AUSSIES PROVE THE DOUBTERS WRONG

It is time to dig out all those prediction videos.

Every Socceroos fan knows the ones.

Americans, Europeans, English and South Americans all talking about how Australia will finish bottom of Group D.

Well, for a second straight World Cup, it is the green and gold who have the last laugh.

Tony Popovic’s team entered this World Cup with a quiet confidence.

The manager spoke at his squad announcement about how his youthful squad would no doubt be stronger in four years’ time, but he did not want to squash expectations this time around.

It proved to be the perfect formula.

Australians who kept tabs on Socceroos players abroad knew that something special might be brewing with the likes of Jordy Bos, Lucas Herrington, Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure in impressive form for their respective clubs.

But Australians listened to Mark Schwarzer before the tournament when he had loud-mouthed American pundit Mike Grella squirming when saying Australians just let our performances on the pitch do the talking.

And that is exactly what Popovic’s men have done.

“I think if you were to look when the draw came out, I don’t know how many people would have circled us to be in second,” former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams said on SBS.

“So, I think to be in that position with the big result on the first game day, I think they could really look at themselves with confidence.

“This game was full of confidence and hope, and I think they got to play with flair as well and showed individual qualities, so I think it has been a really successful game and tournament so far.”

Group D presented one of the toughest groups in the tournament.

Türkiye were billed as a dark horse after coming through European qualifying.

The USA were always going to be a challenge on home soil.

While Paraguay defeated the likes of Brazil in qualifying.

Those resumes are why so few overseas gave Australia a hope.

“It’s a great achievement for Australia. It was a tough group and to come second is fantastic for them. It sets them up nicely now,” former Socceroos, Tottenham and Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said on ITV.

“It’s another World Cup that they’ve got out of the group stage.

“It’s massive for a country like Australia. We’re at that stage where we’re qualifying for World Cups regularly and now it’s about getting to that next level.

“For a lot of countries like Australia and others at that level, for us to break through we’ve got to get to the knockout stages consistently and win knockout games – that’s the next phase.”

As Postecoglou, who managed the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup, said winning a knockout game for the first time in the nation’s history is now the challenge ahead of them.

For those who tuned in to pre-tournament press conferences, the current squad, especially those that have been on this stage before, made no qualms about that being the goal.

Now, by finishing second in the group, they have avoided a Round of 32 date with Germany.

Instead, they will wait until next Saturday morning to play the runner-up of Group G – which could be Egypt, Belgium or Iran.

However that match up falls, it is far more enticing than the European powerhouse.

“We know you want to give yourselves the best chance of having the best run as deep into the tournament as you can,” four-time World Cup Socceroo Mark Milligan said on SBS.

“That is why finishing second was so important and today’s performance was so important. Popa spoke about after the second game perhaps the players being overwhelmed by the occasion. Make no mistake, today was a big occasion.

“They had not every right but there was every chance that if that second game affected them that tonight would have. Seeing the performance individually and as a group thanks didn’t affect them at all.”

WHERE WILL THE GOALS COME FROM?

There is no hiding the fact that the Socceroos need to find the back of the net in their next game.

After putting two past Türkiye, Popovic’s side have failed to score in their last two outings.

It is a credit to Australia’s defensive solidity that they have advanced to the knockouts having only scored two goals – their lowest ever tally to make it out of the group.

“You have to earn the right to play and today we earned the right to play,” Socceroos legend Harry Kewell said on SBS.

“From the moment we played, we played forward, we played with pride, tempo, we used the right areas.

“The only thing we are lacking, and when we look at that table, I know it goes Australia 4 points, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal.”

As the USA game proved, teams must eventually score to avoid the dam wall bursting.

Popovic’s decision to start Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato against Paraguay was widely praised after they looked dangerous in the second half against the Americans.

But it did not solve his attacking headaches.

Irankunda battled admirably against Paraguay’s three centre backs, but the 20-year-old typically plays as a winger for English Championship side Watford rather than leading the line.

Popovic trialled him in the role in the lead-up to the World Cup.

But it clear that with Irankunda’s desire to use his blistering pace to get in behind defenders, he is better suited to the wide positions.

“It is a difficult one because of how we have been playing, there’s been a lot of speculation on who will be leading the line for the Australian team,” Kewell said.

“I felt in the second half he was better, a lot more aggressive in his passes, his one touch was better, he was laying off and trying to get to his area and making things happen but it’s difficult.

“Sometimes being up there by yourself against three centre-backs is very hard to find space and when you do, especially a player like Irankunda, wants to get on the ball and feel it and drive at players and feel things are so is not that kind of focal point.

“Whereas Mo Toure is. Even Tete Yengi when he came on, he’s that kind of position. So great sign for Popovic though with the options.”

The question about Irankunda throughout the tournament had been whether or not to start him.

Now, it seems Popovic’s question is what to do with the striker position?

He could return to Mohamed Toure, who banged in goals for fun for Norwich last season but has not been sighted in a Socceroos shirt since he was substituted at half time against the USA.

While Tete Yengi is an unproven option but offers the advantage of his towering frame if Popovic wanted to play a front man who would compete strongly in aerial contests.

Wherever the Socceroos boss lands, he will be buoyed by some of Australia’s attacking efforts against Paraguay.

Of course, Jordy Bos and Cristian Volpato, impressed.

But the Socceroos will also benefit from the challenge of having to try breakdown a low block.

Knockout games are notoriously more defensive with teams happy to sit back, take less risks and wait for their openings.

So, whoever they end up playing, Australia will not only be able to rely on counterattacking like they caught out Türkiye with.

“The chances we created in the first couple of the game, we were direct and looking to use the pace of the boys in those wide areas,” four-time World Cup Socceroo Mark Milligan said on SBS.

“And today, we had some fantastic passages of play, we were able to get Bos into these areas like pre-tournament when he was scoring goals and getting him to these types of areas where he is able to skip past players and get into the box.

“It becomes difficult for defenders when you get players like Jordy Bos into the box, but you cannot jump in.

“Guessing the other quality we have in those areas so again creating chances through good passages of play.”