Socceroo Ajdin Hrustic has fired back at media who blasted Australia following the 0-0 draw against Paraguay that secured a second-place finish in Group D.
As the Socceroos celebrated advancing to the World Cup knockouts for the third time ever, and for the second straight tournament, sections of the English media, in particular, could not help but take a few pot shots.
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Sky Sports described the scoreless draw as a “largely forgettable game,” while The Athletic said it “won’t be remembered as a classic by anyone who watched it”.
Meanwhile, Guardian Football Weekly panellist Barry Glendenning, who is deputy sports editor of the Guardian UK, went further by saying it was “the worst game of the tournament by a considerable distance”.
Speaking to reporters as the Socceroos farewelled their training base in Berkeley, California – a place they have called home for roughly a month but the team will now go on the road for the remainder of the tournament – Hrustic argued that the critics had missed the point of that all important final group game.
“Look, you can’t make everyone happy can you,” he said.
“If it’s one of the worst games for them, fair enough, but we got our job done and that’s what counts, right?”
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Hrustic came off the bench for the first time in the tournament against Paraguay, replacing Cristian Volpato on the right wing.
The World Cup knockouts is not uncharted territory for the 29-year-old, however.
He came off the bench against Argentina in Qatar four years ago and has been using his experience from that clash to help prepare some of his younger teammates to take on Egypt.
“You’ve got to be ready. You’ve got to enjoy it,” Hrustic said.
“That’s the biggest challenge. You’ve got to enjoy it. You can’t forget to enjoy it.
“I think this is one of the main things for us. You’ve got to enjoy the moment and be ready for match day.”
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The Round of 32 clash will be played at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
The 80,000 seat stadium is air-conditioned, which will come in handy given temperatures are tipped to reach 37 degrees at kick-off at 1pm local time.
Even though it will be cooler inside the iconic venue, Socceroos coach Tony Popovic put his squad through the longest pre-tournament training camp of any nation to make sure his side’s fitness was top notch and ready to meet the demands of an American summer.
Hrustic also noted that he and the likes of Harry Souttar and Jackson Irvine, who were key cogs in Graham Arnold’s squad four years ago, are well versed in playing in scorching heat.
“We had it in the last World Cup,” he said.
“We played in Doha against the UAE and Peru (in qualifiers) where it was 40 plus degrees in Qatar. You’ve just got to adjust, it’s never going to be perfect, but you’ve got to be ready and switch on. You’ve got to deal with it, right? Because what, we feel, is what they’ll feel.
“It didn’t feel that bad. It’s just different, you’ve got to be prepared and that’s what we’ve got and sums us up.”
The Socceroos might not be the only Australians feeling the hurt in the early hours of Saturday morning AEST.
The game will kick off at 4am AEST with watch party sites like Melbourne’s Federation Square set to be heaving.
Hrustic outlined what he believes is the best plan of attack for Socceroos fans to be ready for the game.
“Everyone will be out Friday night, leave the club at 3 and be ready for the game at 4am,” he said with a smirk.
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LIVERPOOL LEGEND RETURNS TO TRAINING TRACK
On the final day of Liverpool contract, Mohamed Salah took a huge step towards facing the Socceroos as he returned to training with his Egyptian teammates.
The 34-year-old, who is now a free agent after departing Anfield at the end of the Premier League season, is in doubt for his country’s first ever World Cup knockout game after sustaining a hamstring issue in Egypt’s thrilling 1-1 draw with Iran in their final group game.
Salah was sent for scans and had been completing rehabilitation exercises away from the squad in recent days.
But on Wednesday morning, Salah rejoined training in Spokane, Washington as the four-time Premier League golden boot winner tries to prove his fitness for Saturday morning’s meeting with the Socceroos in Dallas.
Socceroos star Jordy Bos’ potential dual with Salah is a mouth-watering proposition.
But Bos told reporters on Wednesday that he is not getting swept up by the chance to do battle with the Liverpool icon.
“He’s been at the top for a very long time. We’ll definitely have to look at how we can stop him, and Egypt. We’ve already done a little bit about that,” Bos said.
“On the field, there’s no respect. It’s just eat or be eaten. That’s how everyone’s going to go in the game, and that’s how I will go in the game.”
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AUSSIES PREPARE FOR SHOOTOUT POSSIBILITY
The World Cup was rocked on Tuesday with Germany and the Netherlands being eliminated by Paraguay and Morocco on penalties.
It was a reminder of volatile a shootout can be and Paraguay’s progression to the Round of 16 past four-time champions Germany shed new light on Australia’s draw with the South Americans.
The Socceroos have never gone beyond the regulation 90 minutes at a World Cup, but penalty shootouts have been a key feature of Australia’s qualifying journey over the years.
So, the players need no reminder that a shootout could be on the cards against Egypt.
“You’ve got to be ready for that 90th-minute winner and you’ve got to be ready for a penalty shootout,” Ajdin Hrustic said.
“That’s what it takes to get through to the next stage.”
Hrustic knows all about penalties.
He missed one in a friendly against Cameroon in Sydney in March, but two of the best moments of his career have come in shootouts.
The Melburnian scored his penalty in the playoff qualifier shootout against Peru four years ago.
While he also converted his chance in the 2022 Europa League final’s shootout as his then club Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany defeated Scottish giants Rangers in Seville, Spain.
“I’m not giving nothing away, but I’m calm,” Hrustic said of his approach to penalties.
“If it [penalty shootout] comes, I’m ready. The boys will be ready and I’m sure the keepers will be ready too.”
Hrustic was asked by reporters what Australia’s preparation for penalties looks like.
It has been raised in some circles that given Tony Popovic’s team are defensively-minded, playing with a back five, they might play for a shootout.
But doing so would be a risky move.
In 2006 against Italy, Socceroos boss Guus Hiddink rolled the dice on the match going to extra-time by only making one substitute.
It came back to bite when the eventual champions scored a penalty in stoppage time to record a 1-0 win.
Popovic has been willing to gamble with his selections this tournament and may have more moves tucked up his sleeve.
Graham Arnold famously subbed off Mat Ryan for fellow goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne before the shootout against Peru.
‘The Grey Wiggle’ then became a household name when Redmayne made the crucial save after doing his pre-kick dance routine.
Hrustic would not entertain any such speculation, however.
“Ask the boss,” he said.