Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has dismissed concerns about the fitness of teenage star Nestory Irankunda ahead of Australia’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bahrain on Thursday night.
Irankunda was on Friday named in a 24-strong national squad for next week’s clash on the Gold Coast and the September 10 battle with Indonesia in Jakarta, with overseas players to travel to Australia after completing weekend duties around the world.
However, the 18-year-old winger seemingly sent a midweek scare through the Socceroos camp when he was left screaming in agony and clutching his ankle after being tackled by Joao Palhinha during a training session with their German club Bayern Munich.
He was transported from the training field in a golf-style buggy but was later seen leaving Bayern’s training complex on foot.
“I spoke to him yesterday, it was a surprise to me to see that type of article because Nestory didn’t mention to me any type of injury,” Arnold said in playing down the severity of the issue.
Arnold said he was “excited” about seeing the former Adelaide United star’s improvement when he arrived in camp.
“Training with those types of players (at Bayern), he’s just going to improve, so I’m really excited to see (his progress) … not only physically but technically as well.”
Irankunda is among a host of wingers named by Arnold in a squad that also includes other wide men Awer Mabil, Craig Goodwin, Sammy Silvera and Martin Boyle.
“I have gone for more wingers this time than I did previous times and less number nines (centre-forwards),” Arnold said.
“In these two games especially we’re going to need that type of (wide) player.”
The three centre-forwards selected were Mitch Duke, Kusini Yengi and Adam Taggart, who was one of just two A-League players, along with left-back Aziz Behich, named in the squad.
“Probably they’re not getting selected on form, they’re getting selected on reputation,” Arnold admitted when explaining the decision to choose Perth Glory’s Taggart and Melbourne City’s Behich despite the new A-League season not having started yet.
“I know what great professionals they are and I know what they can bring,” he said.
“Those two players can maybe not be at their best fitness-wise but the adrenaline rush will get them through.”
Among those not selected was Cardiff City midfielder Alex Robertson, who remains eligible for senior football for England, Scotland and Peru despite having played two friendlies for the Socceroos.
“He’s coming back from a very heavy injury. He hadn’t played a game since January, he’s at Cardiff now and he’s started playing, getting some game time and settled into the club and getting match fit,” said Arnold, who added he would be “disappointed” if Robertson chose to represent another nation in the future.
“We’ve had him in other camps and he’s had a bit of game time … I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t lining himself up to play for Australia.”
Socceroos: Keanu Baccus, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Thomas Deng, Cameron Devlin, Mitchell Duke, Joe Gauci, Craig Goodwin, Nestory Irankunda, Jackson Irvine, Paul Izzo, Awer Mabil, Connor Metcalfe, Lewis Miller, Joshua Nisbet, Aiden O’Neill, Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan, Sam Silvera, Harry Souttar, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi.
Socceroos goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan has no intention of playing second fiddle at his new club Roma after arriving in Italy ahead of his move to the Serie A outfit.
Ryan, 32, parted ways with AZ Alkmaar last month after a year-and-a-half at the Dutch club.
The former Brighton and Arsenal gloveman has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with Roma, with an option of two more seasons.
Following the departure of veteran Portuguese gloveman Rui Patricio from Roma, Ryan will challenge Belgium-born, Serbian international Mile Svilar for the first-choice custodian’s spot at the club.
“Forza Roma,” Ryan said to photographers on his arrival in Rome.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said Ryan had gone to Roma to be the club’s “number one” keeper.
“He’s not going there to be a second keeper at all,” Arnold said.
“They’ve got a young keeper (Svilar) at this moment in time, and they wanted a top experienced goalkeeper, so Maty’s going there.
“He’s got a strong belief in himself, and he’s expecting to go there and play.”
Arnold said Roma’s busy schedule should ensure Ryan remained sharp.
“A club like Roma, they’re going to play 60-odd games this (season) with (Europa League), and obviously the Serie A and Cup competitions,” he said.
“Then in this (2024-25 season), we (the Socceroos) have got 10 international games, so that’s 70 games.
Teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda will have free rein to torment Bangladesh’s defence when he makes his Socceroos debut in Dhaka on Thursday night.
Having impressed national coach Graham Arnold on and off the training field in Socceroos camp, the Bayern Munich-bound winger will definitely be given game time in Australia’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Bengal Tigers whether it’s as a starter or off the bench.
And once Irankunda’s on the park, the Socceroos will fit around him rather than the former Adelaide United star being forced to adapt to a certain structure.
“I’m not going to try and control him and get him to do things that are not his specialty,” Arnold said.
“What he’s very, very good at is doing what Nestor does and we will fit that into our style of play, and also in our system.
“There’s just a couple of little things around his defensive side of things, but that’s why we need the senior boys on the field, some of them to help coach and lead those younger boys to make them feel comfortable on the pitch.”
Arnold said 18-year-old Irankunda had fit into the Socceroos’ culture “extremely well”.
“He’s been very good. He’s hanging around a lot of the senior boys which is good to see, and he’s been training very, very well,” the Socceroos boss said.
“I’m excited and happy that everyone is talking about the kid.
“He is a great talent but it’s not always just about talent. It’s also about where your career is going.
“He’s going to Bayern Munich, but it’s also about how much hard work he puts in, and how much belief he has in himself to go to that next level.”
Nestory Irankunda will have the chance to bamboozle Bangladesh’s defence. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Arnold has also been impressed with former prodigy Daniel Arzani, who has the chance to make his first Socceroos appearance since the 2018 World Cup.
“He’s brought in some energy. Everywhere he sits everyone’s laughing which is great, but on the training pitch has been very good as well,” he said of the Melbourne Victory attacking weapon.
“You can see he has the real commitment and the hunger to get back and be with us on the long journey ahead.”
While Arnold would not confirm his full starting team, he said Aston Villa’s third-choice goalkeeper Joe Gauci would start ahead of the Victory’s Paul Izzo and Western Sydney’s Lawrence Thomas in the absence of long-time custodian and skipper Mat Ryan, who has rested from the clash with Bangladesh and next week’s battle with Palestine in Perth.
“It’s a good opportunity for us again to look at Joey, but he hasn’t played since he’s been at Villa, so (it’s about) getting him on the pitch and making sure that he’s working extremely well with the other two keepers and (goalkeeper coach) John Crawley,” Arnold said.
“I’m having a few (selection) headaches, but they’re good headaches with the depth that we’ve created and built over the last few years.
“When I look at the squad list, there are 10 to 13-14 players that aren’t here through injuries or other reasons, but it shows that we’re getting stronger and stronger, which is exciting.”
The Asian Cup has ended and the Socceroos are back at their clubs – although for some of them, the January transfer window saw them secure major transfers.
Now, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold can turn his full focus to World Cup qualification, with the Aussies resuming their road to the 2026 tournament next month.
Here’s the situation for every Socceroo – and a couple of other guns who are knocking down the door for international selection.
This mega Roo Radar begins with Socceroos who featured in the Asian Cup squad sorted by position, before including a number of other notable names.
The Socceroos skipper recovered from a fractured cheekbone in time to play in all five of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup games and was a calming presence throughout.
With Ryan between the sticks the Socceroos conceded just three goals all tournament long, one of which was a penalty and another an unstoppable free-kick from South Korean star Son Heung-Min.
Ryan kept up his trend of clean sheets in his first game back for AZ Alkmaar as they drew 0-0 with Almere City.
Ryan needed to wear a face mask for some Asian Cup games after surgery on a fractured cheekbone.Source: Getty Images
Joe Gauci
Gauci travelled to Qatar as the clear back-up to Ryan but he did earn a start in the final warm-up match against Bahrain which the Socceroos won 2-0.
Despite not playing, Gauci generated plenty of headlines in Australian football after he completed a switch from Adelaide United to Premier League outfit Aston Villa for up to $2.5m
Emi Martinez, the latest recipient of the Yashin Troph for the best goalkeeper in the world, is Villa’s clear number one as Gauci will compete with Swedish veteran Robin Olsen for the back-up role.
Gauci has already been heavily involved at the Birmingham outfit and was a part of the warm-up drills prior to his new side’s fixture against Manchester United at Villa Park.
The 23-year-old has also been registered in Villa’s squad for the remainder of the Europa Conference League.
Could we see Gauci in the Premier League this season?Source: Getty Images
Lawrence Thomas
Although Thomas didn’t see a single minute of action for the Socceroos, he was thrust straight back into action for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Thomas was included in the Wanderers’ extended squad for the fixture against Macarthur on February 4 but came on at halftime in place of Daniel Margush.
Unfortunately for Thomas, there was little he could do to prevent Valere Germain’s winner in the 93rd minute as Macarthur sealed a highly controversial 4-3 victory that sparked a furious rant from Wanderers boss Marko Rudan in his post-match press conference.
DEFENDERS
Nathaniel Atkinson
The 24-year-old right back made three Asian Cup appearances for the Socceroos, but faces a tough task to regain his place in the starting XI for Scottish side Heart of Midlothian. Hearts signed 20-year-old Jamaican talent Dexter Lembisika on loan from Premier League side Wolves in mid-January, and he’s impressed in six appearances since the move. Atkinson came off the bench to replace Lembisika in a Cup game on the weekend but will be desperate to earn his place back in the starting side.
Aziz Behich
33-year-old Behich sealed a massive loan move to Saudi club Al-Nassr – joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo – after playing every minute of the Socceroos’ five Asian Cup matches at left back. He debuted in an Asian Champions League clash, playing the full 90 minutes, in a promising sign he’ll be in the starting XI for the Saudi giants for the remainder of the season.
Behich in the yellow and blue of Al-Nassr.Source: Getty Images
Jordy Bos
The supremely talented 21-year-old locked down the left wing-back role at Belgian club Westerlo this season after joining from Melbourne City last July (for a fee that was at the time the Australian record). Since returning from the Asian Cup, where he made five appearances (three starts) and scored a goal off the bench against India, he’s immediately regained his starting spot at club level.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold prefers to use him as a left winger, but Bos has typically been used as a fullback by Westerlo who sit 11th in the Belgian Pro League.
Cameron Burgess
The Scottish-born 28-year-old is right back in English Championship team Ipswich Town’s starting XI after returning from the Asian Cup, where he started one game and came off the bench in the quarter-final defeat.
Ipswich sit fourth in the Championship with a game in hand as they chase promotion to the Premier League, and Burgess looks set to add to his 24 league appearances already this season – remarkably, he has never been substituted in those matches.
He plays alongside Aussie midfielder Massimo Luongo, who turned down an Asian Cup call-up and retired from international duty to focus on the club’s promotion push.
Thomas Deng
The 26-year-old didn’t get onto the field in the Asian Cup – and hasn’t played for the Socceroos since March last year – but he’ll be eagerly anticipating the start of the new J-League season next weekend. The versatile centre-back started most matches for Japanese top-flight club Albirex Niigata last season as they finished tenth, and he’ll hope to retain his role this time around.
Gethin Jones
The 28-year-old is back in the starting line-up at League One club Bolton Wanderers after three starts for the ‘Roos in Qatar – and he’s even worn the captain’s armband in both games since his return. And this week, the right-back scored his first league goal of the season with a looping set-piece header in a 2-1 win for the third-placed side. With games in hand, Bolton are well in contention for automatic promotion that would see Jones reach England’s second tier.
Lewis Miller
The 23-year-old right back played less than 50 minutes across two Asian Cup games, but he’s another Aussie to return straight to the starting line-up at club level. Miller made his 16th start of the Scottish Premiership season (plus one bench appearance) in Hibernian’s 2-1 defeat to heavyweights Celtic, then backed up on the weekend with another start in a cup win.
All up, he’s played 41 times for Hibs since joining in July 2022, and shows plenty of promise as a long-term Socceroos prospect despite struggling in the Asian Cup.
Kye Rowles
Rowles started every single league game for Hearts (in Scotland) before the Asian Cup, and came right back into the side in a cup win on the weekend. The 25-year-old was a standout in the Asian Cup, playing every minute in four of the five matches, and is contracted with Hearts until 2028 – showing just how much they value the cool, calm, and collected centre-back.
Harry Souttar
Souttar is in a dire position at his Championship club Leicester, with the 200cm centre-back in virtual exile. He’s played just four appearances (two starts) this season for a total of 188 minutes. A strong Asian Cup performance put him in the shop window in the January transfer window, with Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic both interested in a loan move – but a deal to join brother John at Rangers fell through on deadline day. Saudi side Al-Nassr were also interested.
Souttar has vowed to fight for minutes at Leicester, but is unlikely to feature unless a starting centre-back is injured.
“I know obviously to continue to be in the national team, I’ve got to be playing club football – but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” Souttar told AAP during the Asian Cup.
“He’s got to sort out his club career, he really does,” coach Graham Arnold told AAP. “This can’t go on forever.”
For now, Souttar will be waiting desperately for the season to end and the next transfer window to offer him a way out of his nightmare.
Souttar kept up his incredible scoring record by pitching in at the Asian Cup.Source: Getty Images
MIDFIELDERS
Keanu Baccus
After playing all five matches at the Asian Cup, Baccus returned to Scottish club St Mirren with a half-hour bench appearance before a 90-minute effort against Celtic in the Cup. He’s started most games this season – and come off the bench in the handful where he’s started from the pine – and looks a crucial player in St Mirren’s run home. 25-year-old Baccus is also off-contract at the end of the season, so the next few months will be crucial for his future.
Jackson Irvine
The midfield maestro is back at German second-tier club FC St Pauli, where he wears the captain’s armband – but missed out on playing on the weekend after being “quite sick” and having a “really bad week”. He’s back at training with the team now, who are three points clear at the top of the table despite suffering their first league loss since April 2023. 19-year-old Aljoscha Kemlein (on loan) has been excellent in filling in for Irvine in recent weeks, but the 30-year-old Aussie is nailed-on to get back into the starting team and push for promotion to Germany’s top flight in the next few months.
Irvine was devastated after Australia’s Asian Cup exit.Source: AFP
Riley McGree
McGree started six of the first ten Championship matches for Middlesbrough (and came off the bench in the other four) before suffering a foot injury that ruled him out for two months.
He returned for just a handful of bench appearances before jetting off to the Asian Cup, where he made two starts and three substitute showings. Those handy minutes put him in good stead upon his return to club football, where he came back with a bench appearance before playing the full 90 minutes yesterday – but at attacking midfield rather than his usual left wing role. That’s because Middlesbrough signed 23-year-old talent Finn Azaz from Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle in early January. He had seven goals and five assists before the move, and has nabbed a goal and an assist in five appearances for his new club since then. McGree has a tough battle on his hands to unseat Azaz, but could be
Connor Metcalfe
The 24-year-old has appeared in every match for the Socceroos since the start of 2023, and continued that run with three starts and two sub appearances at the Asian Cup. Since then, he’s returned to FC St Pauli alongside Irvine, and played 28 minutes off the bench upon his return. Overall, he’s made 21 appearances this season with 12 starts and nine substitution efforts – so will be looking to press his case for a locked-down starting berth in the final months of the season.
Aiden O’Neill
The defensive midfielder has been sensational for Belgian club Standard Liege this season, and took things to another level last weekend with a sensational goal in a 1-0 win over OH Leuven.
On the edge of the area, O’Neill chested the ball down before slamming a half-volley into the net, his first goal for the club after joining last July.
“To be honest, there is a bit of luck in this goal,” the Aussie told DH Les Sports+. “I was in a good position and I said to myself ‘why not take my chance?’.
“I had already dreamed of scoring a goal like that but, to succeed in doing it, especially in such an important match, is something else. It means a lot.
“I had already scored goals from outside the box but, yes, I can say that this one is probably the best of my career. And it brings three super important points for the team.”
O’Neill had started six-straight league matches before the Asian Cup and looks to be back in the first team.
Aussie returns from Asian Cup in style | 00:41
FORWARDS
Martin Boyle
Having missed the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2022 World Cup through injury, Boyle finally got to represent the Socceroos at an international tournament.
The 30-year-old winger even got his first tournament goals, scoring a penalty against Uzbekistan and one of Australia’s four against Indonesia.
Boyle has wasted little time in returning to form for club side Hibernian since returning, scoring once and assisting another in the club’s 3-1 win over Inverness CT in the fifth round of the Scottish FA Cup.
He also played the full match as a right winger in a 2-1 defeat to Celtic on February 7 as Hibernian remain in eighth in the Scottish Premiership.
Sammy Silvera
Since moving to Middlesbrough from the Central Coast Mariners last summer, Silvera has largely been used as an impact substitute, coming off the bench 13 times prior to the Asian Cup.
Silvera enjoyed a similar role for the Socceroos in Qatar whenever Arnold sought out a fresh injection of pace and trickery but struggled to find his groove.
The Aussie youngster has once again reprised his role as an impact sub upon returning to Middlesbrough, coming off the bench in Boro’s last three Championship fixtures against Sunderland, Bristol City — where he scored a 91st-minute consolation goal — and Preston North End.
With 15 game left in Middlesbrough’s season, Silvera will hope to earn some regular starts as he looks to prove he belongs at the Championship level.
Bruno Fornaroli
Fornaroli entered the Asian Cup on the back of some scintillating form for Melbourne Victory, scoring 13 goals in 10 games.
A first start in Qatar for Fornaroli didn’t arrive until the Round of 16 clash against Indonesia as a result of Mitchell Duke’s injury-enforced absence, with the Victory man consigned to cameos off the bench in the Socceroos’ other games.
Fornaroli fired a blank in his first game back for Victory (1-0 defeat to Macarthur), when he suffered a fractured hand – but still played the entire game. He has since undergone surgery but could still play this weekend, and it’d be silly to bet against the 36-year-old enjoying another rich vein of scoring form.
After all, he’s still tied first for the golden boot race alongside Newcastle’s Apostolos Stamatelopoulos despite missing five games.
’El Tuna’ may be 36 years old, but he’s in vintage scoring form.Source: Getty Images
Kusini Yengi
Yengi took major strides in staking his claim to be the Socceroos’ next long-term option up front, starting the group stage clash against Uzbekistan in place of an injured Mitchell Duke, with Arnold describing his performance as “outstanding.”
He may not provide the same relentless pressing as Duke does up top, but Yengi’s physicality and ability to hold the ball up certainly caught the eye.
Yengi earned his call-up thanks to a strong debut season for League One promotion hopefuls Portsmouth with seven goals in 17 appearances prior to the Asian Cup.
And the former Western Sydney Wanderers man didn’t need to wait long to make an impact on his return at Fratton Park, scoring the first of Portsmouth’s three in a win over Cambridge United.
Marco Tilio
Having secured a dream move from Melbourne City to Celtic last summer, Tilio’s endured a Glaswegian nightmare.
The 22-year-old had clocked 28 minutes all season long under Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers but was still included in Arnold’s Asian Cup squad due to his ability to “bring that bit of difference as an impact player” and to “get that smile back on his face.”
Tilio appeared just once for the Socceroos in Qatar — five minutes off the bench against Uzbekistan — but has since secured a loan move to Melbourne City for the remainder of the season.
He made his return in the 5-1 humiliation against Brisbane in a 32-minute appearance off the bench and one would imagine it won’t be long before he’s back starting games again.
It is a loan move that must work out for Tilio in a bid to force his way back into Rodgers’ Celtic plans.
Otherwise his time with the Hoops could be over as quickly as it began.
Mitchell Duke
Duke remains Arnold’s first choice at striker, although the two group stage fixtures he played in didn’t exactly play to his main strengths of stretching opposition backlines.
The 33-year-old also had a golden chance to send Australia into the semi-finals against South Korea but flashed his header wide.
Duke is now gearing up for the 2024 J1 League season with Machida Zelvia having helped the team achieve promotion last year.
At his age, it’s likely Duke has just one more World Cup cycle left in him as Arnold must eventually turn to the next generation.
But as long as Duke has plenty of running left in him, he won’t give up his starting spot without a fight.
Craig Goodwin
Goodwin continues to age like a fine wine and richly deserved his spot in the AFC’s Asian Cup 2023 team of the tournament.
However, Goodwin cannot let his performances for club or country dip knowing Jordan Bos is breathing down his neck as his replacement at left wing, even though the latter has made his name predominantly as a left back.
The 32-year-old last featured for Saudi Pro League side Al-Wehda on December 31 before the league took a brief pause, but has started 13 of the 14 league games he’s played in this season.
Goodwin will most certainly have a vital part to play in the Socceroos’ road to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and will hope to feature at the tournament.
Goodwin’s outstanding performances at the Asian Cup saw him named in the team of the tournament.Source: Getty Images
John Iredale
Iredale represented somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Arnold’s Asian Cup squad, although the Aussie boss revealed the forward was a player he’d “admired for a long time.”
The 24-year-old, who plies his trade with 2. Bundesliga side Wehen Wiesbaden, didn’t see a minute of action in Qatar but earning a call-up is no easy feat.
In his return to action for Wehen Wiesbaden, Iredale came off the bench against FC Nuremberg for a brief cameo.
However, should Iredale start to receive more regular starts, expect him to figure in the conversation for Socceroos inclusions for several more international windows to come.
OTHERS — NON ASIAN CUP
Calem Nieuwenhof
The 22-year-old centre midfielder (well, he turns 23 tomorrow!) was one of the standouts in the last A-League season before moving to Scottish club Hearts in July. Since then, he’s come along in leaps and bounds – so much so that his coach is confident he’ll lace up his boots for the Socceroos soon.
After a slow start to the season, Hearts are third in the league with eight wins in a row in all competitions, and their Aussie foursome of Nieuwenhof, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and fellow young midfielder Cameron Devlin have been crucial to their success.
He’s played 25 times in all competitions, scoring two goals in his last five games and picking up an assist. His most recent goal was an absolute stunner.
Crucial to his rise has been an increased physicality and toughness in the midfield scrap – with the Scottish league the perfect place for the youngster to grow in that regard.
“The character he is, he’s a reserved person and is really chilled out,” coach Steven Naismith told The Scotsman. “That probably went against him in his first few months when he was finding his feet, but in training you can see his quality – his calmness in possession, his understanding of the game, his range of passing, and he is a goal threat as well.
“He’s one of the fittest players at the club. What he brings on and off the ball is really important. He’s consistently improving and becoming more dominant in games, which is why we signed him. We knew he was a good player, he’s a really good player.
“He’s got a desire to get into the international team and I don’t think that’ll be too far away if he continues in the same vein of form.”
Nieuwenhof said his manager was ‘not wrong, for sure’ about being chilled out – but added: “You need to go into every game with that mindset that you are going to have to get stuck in and get involved. Cammy’s great to learn from. He’s a real dog and a really aggressive player. For sure that is something I can take from his game. That’s something I have really learned across the last few months and brought it into my game and just trying to get consistency into that side of my game, the physical aspect.”
For now, he looms as a crucial member of Australia’s Under-23 Olyroos squad who will compete in the U-23 Asian Cup in April-May in a bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. But he’s building a compelling case to join the Socceroos’ stacked midfield ranks.
Two-cap Socceroo Cameron Devlin, meanwhile, was ruled out for around six weeks after an ankle injury which cost him a place at the Asian Cup. The 25-year-old has been on the bench for the last two games for Hearts but has not yet played.
Alessandro Circati
Circati’s stock continues to rise with every game for Serie B side Parma and it’s only going to strengthen the case for his inclusions in future Socceroos squads.
The 20-year-old was left out of the team that went to the Asian Cup as Arnold felt it was better for his development to keep playing at club level rather than warm the bench in Qatar.
Since Serie B resumed from the winter break, Circati has started three of the five games, with one draw and two wins in that time with Parma losing one of the games he was benched for.
Circati has plenty of years on his side and, crucially, the benefit of regular game time.
Additionally, Parma are six points clear at the top of Serie B and are no doubt the favourites for promotion, meaning Circati could very easily be lining up in Italy’s top flight next season.
If Parma go up and Circati starts Serie A games, the noise will only grow louder for his inclusion in Socceroos line-ups – and the rumours of Premier League interest will only grow stronger.
Ajdin Hrustic
Hrustic has rapidly fallen from his status as one of the Socceroos’ key creative outlets to the international wilderness, but a January switch could provide the spark needed to get his career back on track.
The midfielder’s move from Frankfurt to Serie A side Hellas Verona has been an unmitigated disaster, failing to even make the bench for any of their league games this season.
But Hrustic sealed a loan switch to Dutch side Heracles Almelo and earned a start in just his second match, helping the club to a 3-2 win over Vitesse. It was his first top-flight start in over a year.
It’s a much-needed move for Hrustic if he is to force himself back into Arnold’s thoughts ahead of World Cup qualification.
Hrustic has not appeared for the Socceroos since a 45-minute showing in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Argentina in China last June.
Given the Socceroos’ struggles when it came to unlocking deep-lying defences at the Asian Cup — a problem the Aussies will encounter throughout the road to the 2026 World Cup — Hrustic’s return would be a welcome one.
Hrustic finally ended a year-long nightmare at Verona.Source: Getty Images
Cristian Volpato
Until Volpato makes his international future clear, there’s still a chance he could be capped for the Socceroos in the not-too-distant future.
Speaking to ESPNprior to the Asian Cup, Arnold revealed he had been in constant communication with Volpato but the talented midfielder “wants to just focus on his club career” for now.
Since moving from Roma to Sassuolo last summer, Volpato has largely been consigned to appearing off the bench and only just made his first start of the season against Bologna.
But Volpato made full use of the opportunity, scoring a stunning goal to give Sassuolo a 2-1 lead in the 34th minute as they went on to record a 4-2 victory.
With the 2026 World Cup cycle about to begin, could Volpato’s interest in international football be piqued?
Nestory Irankunda, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil
And what of the Socceroos’ attacking trio of Nestory Irankunda, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil?
Mabil has been a mainstay of the Socceroos set-up and loomed as a likely inclusion for the Asian Cup squad, but he picked up an injury in Grasshopper’s 1-0 win over Basel on December 10 and has not been sighted since.
Prior to the injury, Mabil had been in solid form throughout the season and started eight out of 12 games he appeared in, with four goals and three assists to boot.
At 28 years of age, expect Mabil to be in and around Socceroos squads for the next World Cup cycle.
Popular figure Awer Mabil missed the Asian Cup with injury.Source: Getty Images
On the other end of the age spectrum is Kuol and Irankunda.
Kuol burst onto the scene for the Central Coast Mariners and earned a move to Premier League side Newcastle United, but from there his club journey hasn’t gone as he’d have hoped.
He moved to Eredivisie side FC Volendam on a season-long loan but they sit in 17th place, nine points away from safety.
Kuol himself has struggled to hold down a starting spot as well, clocking just 55 minutes of action since December.
It’s important to remember he is just 19 years of age and there’s plenty of time on his side, but as it stands, he’s behind in the pecking order of Socceroos’ wingers.
Garang Kuol scored his maiden Socceroos goal last March.Source: Getty Images
Then there’s Adelaide United winger Irankunda, who recently turned 18 and is headed for Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
The teenage sensation turned heads with blistering power in his shots and silky runs down the right, breezing past defender with ease.
However, since his move was announced, Irankunda has often cut a frustrated figure on the field and Adelaide coach Carl Veart even said he doesn’t “see enough happiness” from the prodigy.
Irankunda was brought into the Socceroos fold as a train-on player for the friendlies against Ecuador in March last year and has also featured for the Joeys.
Should Irankunda continue his remarkable upward trajectory with Bayern, a full Socceroos call-up is not out of the question and he could loom as a major game-changer for the upcoming World Cup cycle.
Socceroo Joe Gauci is ready for the challenge of unseating the “number one goalkeeper in the world” at English Premier League club Aston Villa.
Former Adelaide United gloveman Gauci earlier this month signed a four-and-a-half year deal – initially worth almost $2.5m in transfer fees – with Villa, whose first-choice keeper is World Cup winner, Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez.
“The Premier League is the pinnacle of world football and that excites me – the opportunity to work with world-class players and the number one goalkeeper in the world,” 23-year-od Gauci said on arrival at Villa’.
“He (Martinez) is someone who’ll be fantastic to learn from. There are a lot of positives and at my age it’s the right time for me to make this jump.
“I’m ready for the challenge. I’m going to give myself every opportunity to succeed.”
Gauci, the Socceroos second-choice goalkeeper behind skipper Mat Ryan, was impressed by the scouting work Villa had done before offering him a contract.
“The level of detail that they went into about my game, I could really tell how much they’d analysed me as a goalkeeper and as a person as well,” he said.
“The areas they went into about how I can improve as a goalkeeper were really detailed. I feel like I can come here and take my game to a different level.
“I’m still learning and developing, and accepting that I’m making mistakes and trying to improve on them.
“There’s no excuse here as a professional to not reach your highest level.”
In his first appearance without his protective mask, Socceroos skipper Ryan was colossal.
Ryan was rarely called into action during the first half but in the second, he made vital saves to keep South Korea at bay.
He bravely put his body on the line to thwart Lee Jae-Sung in the 78th minute too given he was coming back from a fractured cheekbone.
Unfortunately there was little the skipper could do to prevent South Korea’s two goals, with one coming from the penalty spot and another being an unstoppable free kick from Son.
Even after the Socceroos’ hopes had all but vanished, Ryan still popped up with superb stops deep into extra time.
Nathaniel Atkinson – 6.5
Had a very difficult task in trying to nullify star winger Hwang Hee Chan, but Atkinson stood up to the task.
Korea did try and target the space in behind the Aussie right back, yet he remained wary.
Atkinson’s driving runs forward also provided a vital outlet for the Aussies and it was he who delivered the crucial assist for Goodwin’s goal.
Came off in the 73rd minute for Lewis Miller.
Kye Rowles – 7
An assured performance from Rowles at the heart of defence, rarely putting a foot wrong.
Operating as the left-sided centre back, Rowles was solid alongside Souttar and distributed the ball well.
Harry Souttar – 8
Souttar was once again at his brilliant best throughout, thwarting several South Korean attacks with his gangly legs and snuffing out crosses with excellent blocks.
Unsurprisingly he made several headed clearances to give the Socceroos some breathing space at the back.
The Leicester City man ended the game up front as the Socceroos chased the equaliser that never came.
Had the Aussies made the semi finals, Souttar would have missed it having picked up a booking during first half stoppage time.
Souttar made countless blocks to deny South Korea. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP
Aziz Behich – 7
It was a gutsy performance from Behich who formed a solid partnership with Goodwin on the left.
Behich delivered an all-action display, flying up the touchline and providing a useful outlet.
He also performed his defensive duties with aplomb, with one big moment coming in the 51st minute as he made a crucial clearance to deny Korea at the back post while they chased an equaliser.
Behich put in an incredibly gutsy shift at the back end of the contest as well, defying severe cramp to play until the final whistle.
Keanu Baccus – 7
Knowing he’d be tasked with stopping South Korea’s forays into the final third, Baccus had to be on point with every tackle and pass he made.
The St. Mirren man had a few shaky moments and helped spring Korea’s counter attacks when he lost a handful of individual battles.
However, Baccus made several crucial interventions to deny Korea’s stars from making the impact some outsiders anticipated they would have made.
Came off in 70th minute for Aiden O’Neill.
Jackson Irvine – 8
He may not have found himself on the scoresheet, but this was one of Irvine’s best games for the Socceroos.
The St. Pauli man was here, there and everywhere in the middle of the park to break up play and drive the ball forward.
His passing was on point, switching the play at the perfect time to advance the Socceroos into dangerous positions.
Even deep into extra time, Irvine showed off plenty of heart to keep running until the final whistle and should be proud of his performance.
Connor Metcalfe – 6
Metcalfe wasn’t as anonymous as he had been in the group stage fixtures and helped out his teammates with intelligent positions to present himself as a passing option.
He had the first shot of the game in the 18th minute but could only drag his effort wide of the post.
Metcalfe also could and perhaps should have scored the opener for the Socceroos when a rebound from a Craig Goodwin shot fell straight to him, but it was an awkward chance to bury on his weaker foot.
Came off in the 70th minute for Riley McGree.
Metcalfe missed a golden chance to give the Aussies the lead. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP
Martin Boyle – 6
The industrious Boyle flew up and down the right flank as he largely was forced to help out Atkinson with defensive duties.
Boyle’s rapid speed was a major aid in helping Australia transition from defence to attack.
He’ll be frustrated not to have gotten on the scoresheet when a Behich cross found him unmarked at the back post, but Boyle could only direct his header straight at the goalkeeper.
Even when the rebound fell straight to his feet, he couldn’t find the back of the net.
Came off in the 87th minute for Cameron Burgess.
Mitchell Duke – 6.5
Despite carrying a hamstring injury, Duke managed to play the entire period of regular time but had it not been for his misfires, the Socceroos could have saved themselves an extra 30 minutes of effort.
Duke volleyed wide over the bar from just a few metres out early in the second but his worst miss was yet to come.
A cross from Bos on the left took a deflection and popped up into the air, but Duke steered his header wide of an open goal.
Although he fired a blank in front of goal, Duke’s off-ball work was heroic to the Socceroos’ efforts, constantly chasing lost causes and harassing opposition defenders.
Came off in 93rd minute for Bruno Fornaroli.
Craig Goodwin – 9
There’s a reason why commentator Andy Harper described Goodwin’s showing as “superb” and “one of the great Socceroo performances.”
The left winger earned a recall to the team after scoring a goal and assisting another in the space of four minutes against Indonesia and he was by far the Aussies’ most dangerous outlet.
Goodwin fashioned space to fire off a strike that almost led to the Socceroos’ first goal, but Metcalfe fired the rebound wide.
However, Goodwin would make no mistake when he thumped home a floated cross from Atkinson to hand the Aussies the lead.
Goodwin also showed off his remarkable engine, tracking back when the Socceroos didn’t have the ball.
Came off in the 73rd minute for Jordan Bos.
Goodwin was the Socceroos’ best. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SUBSTITUTES
Riley McGree – 5.5
Came on in 70th minute for Connor Metcalfe.
McGree had a chance to score Australia’s second when he tried to lob the goalkeeper with a first time effort, but it went over the bar.
That was perhaps McGree’s most notable contribution to the game as he struggled to find the pockets of space in which he has been so dangerous previously for the Aussies.
McGree did show some needed hustle during extra time, using his pace to help track back and defend for the Aussies despite being a goal down.
Aiden O’Neill – 4
Came on in 70th minute for Keanu Baccus.
O’Neill looked solid at first when replacing Baccus, but things quickly unravelled in extra time as he had a yellow card upgraded to a red in extra time for a nasty challenge on Hwang Hee Chan.
Lewis Miller – 2
Came on in 73rd minute for Nathaniel Atkinson.
Miller earned the ire of many when deep in second half stoppage time, he decided to go to ground in an effort to win the ball off of Heung Min Son.
However, Miller collected none of the ball and all of the man, giving the referee an easy decision to award a penalty which Hwang Hee Chan converted.
Miller’s second brainfade ultimately led to the winner as he fouled Chan on the edge of the box, leading to a free kick for South Korea.
Son made no mistake with the set piece and compounded Miller’s woes even further.
Jordan Bos – 6
Came on in 73rd minute for Craig Goodwin.
Bos made important clearances not long after entering the contest as the Aussies looked to clear their lines.
He should have had an assist late in the second half, but Duke fired his header from Bos’ cross wide.
Bos ended up having to play a dual role as the left winger and left back when Behich struggled badly with cramp.
The former Melbourne City man desperately tried to link up play with his teammates but it was to little avail.
Cameron Burgess – 5
Came on in 87th minute for Martin Boyle.
Thrown on late with the pure intention of keeping South Korea out, there was little Burgess could do when Miller brought down Son.
He remained at centre back in extra time as Souttar got thrown forward, but the Ipswich Town star soon joined the towering defender up top in a desperate late gamble from Arnold.
Bruno Fornaroli – N/A
Came on in 93rd minute for Mitchell Duke.
As much as Fornaroli tried to find his feet in the game, he ultimately had little impact as the 10-man Socceroos chased an equaliser.
The Socceroos are through to the Asian Cup quarterfinals after a 4-0 win over Indonesia on Sunday night. The scoreline may have flattered the Australians who struggled at times, but there’s no doubting the excellent performances of some players.
Here’s how every Aussie performed in our Player Ratings!
Faced just one shot on target in the match (and that was a simple catch), but nevertheless had a busy afternoon. Ryan was often called into action to rush out and stifle long balls, while he was often passed back the ball under pressure. But he never panicked and distributed the ball well.
Gethin Jones: 4.5
Produced an inch-perfect cross for Martin Boyle’s headed goal to double the advantage on the stroke of halftime. It was just reward for Jones’s tireless attacking runs up the line … except he gave away the ball too often by running straight into packs of defenders. Made a few dubious decisions in defence, especially in the first half. And Jones almost lost his head when he lashed out at an opponent after being fouled. If the incident had been any worse, he would have seen a red card instead of yellow – but he lasted just three more minutes anyway before being taken off with an apparent groin injury.
Harry Souttar: 7
It was a sloppy start, and he was guilty of misreading a long ball into the box in the 16th minute that could have proved costly if not for some smart work from Ryan. But Souttar calmed those early nerves and was reliable from there out, before capping off the win in the 91st minute with a trademark header. He won all of his aerial duels in another commanding performance.
Kye Rowles: 5.5
He’s often overshadowed by his centre-back partner in the green and gold (literally as well as figuratively). But he made a number of crucial interventions to stifle the Indonesian forays into the area including a team-high four clearances and was an assured presence at the back.
Aziz Behich: 5
Had a nervy start but settled into the game. The Socceroos needed calm heads in the second half and he contributed to a more stable, disciplined defensive unit after the break. No Aussie touched the ball more, and he passed well, but couldn’t find a target on any of his crosses.
MIDFIELD
Jackson Irvine: 7
Irvine has been excellent so far this tournament, and he continued his strong run of form with another influential performance. No Socceroo was up for the fight in the early minutes as much as Irvine, who set up the opening goal with a barnstorming run past a pair of defenders. He wasn’t at his best in terms of passing – completing a lowly 63% of his passes – but Indonesia’s hard-pressing defence deserves credit for breaking up so many attacks. He won’t get that opening goal credited to his name, since it was a cross deflected into the net, and he was also extremely unlucky not to score the third Socceroos goal – which was well saved but fell straight to Craig Goodwin to finish off.
Keanu Baccus: 5
Baccus was overrun in the midfield in the first half as Indonesia dominated that area, but he worked as hard as ever and made a number of tackles and interceptions. Improved markedly after the break and became more influential with his passing. Taken off in the 86th minute.
Riley McGree: 3.5
McGree and Bruno Fornaroli were meant to provide the creativity and attacking impetus that the Socceroos have lacked so far this tournament, but it was another very quiet performance. He couldn’t build the kind of connected, smooth-flowing passing moves that he often orchestrates at his best, gave the ball away frequently, and was subbed off after 61 minutes.
ATTACK
Martin Boyle: 7
Boyle was switched on from the opening kick-off, and was willing to take on defenders from the first minute until the last. Boyle’s dangerous dribbling was on full display, completing six of seven dribbles (a game-high). He also won a remarkable 10 of his 11 ground duels, which are battles for the ball with a defender. His goal sums up everything we love about Boyle – a well-timed run that caught out a defender, followed by a desperate body-on-the-line dive for the ball. It was his second goal in as many games.
Jordan Bos: 5
Graham Arnold sees Bos as a winger rather than a left-back, but this was not the young gun’s best attacking performance by some distance. He played just one ball into the final third, despite getting into some excellent positions and showing off great technical ability. The potential is clearly there for him to be a dangerous attacking threat, and Arnold praised him after the game, but he lost possession in good positions when he could have done more to create effective chances. Defensively, however, he tackled well and made five recoveries.
Bruno Fornaroli: 5
The 36-year-old was brought in for his ability to control the ball in tight areas and create chances – an especially valuable skill against packed defences.
And he started well, fighting hard for the ball and even attempting an acrobatic bicycle kick that instead earned him a yellow card.
He didn’t have the kind of creative input Arnold would have hoped for, made some poor tackles and lost the ball a bit too frequently, but there were promising signs.
He faces a tough battle on his hands to retain the position for the tough quarter-final ahead, with Arnold often preferring Mitch Duke in big games. Fornaroli was replaced after 61 minutes.
SUBSTITUTES
Mitch Duke: 4
Like Fornaroli, he struggled to get on the ball, but made a number of good runs off the ball to create space. He made a horrible mess of a great opportunity to chip the keeper and seal the game when it was 2-0 soon after coming onto the park. It was a quiet day for the dependable veteran, but he’ll be buoyed after getting through half an hour on his return from a minor hamstring niggle.
Connor Metcalfe: 4
He hardly saw the ball in his half an hour on the pitch, and started slowly before settling into the rhythm of the contest. There were no major mistakes, so it perhaps seems harsh to give him just a four – but there was also little of note from the talented midfielder, besides a couple of nice driving runs into space.
Nathaniel Atkinson: 6
Having lost his spot to Gethin Jones after replacing him for the Uzbekistan game, Atkinson was forced into action when Jones went down with injury in the 69th minute. Atkinson showed good intent with a couple of nice dribbles and a long-range shot that drifted wide. He also delivered an excellent cross into the box to set up the third goal. Didn’t need to do much defensively, but Arnold will trust he can replace Jones for the next match if the new recruit can’t overcome what looked like a groin injury.
Craig Goodwin: 9
Goodwin delivered one of the all-time cameos off the bench, scoring then assisting in the space of just over two minutes. His volley was clinical and coolly-taken, before he delivered a perfect set piece ball for Souttar to head home in the 91st minute. His set pieces were very poor in the opening game of the tournament – and he hadn’t played since then – so it was the perfect reminder to Graham Arnold of what he can do.
Aiden O’Neill: N/A
Only had a handful of minutes and didn’t have much of an impact.
A returning star proved what the Socceroos had been largely missing while a new face showed what he’s capable of as Australia held on for a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan in their final Group B encounter at the Asian Cup.
Foxsports.com.au analyses EVERY Aussie in Socceroos Player Ratings!
The Socceroos weren’t at their best but did enough to seal top spot in Group B. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Mat Ryan – 5
Once again, Ryan had very little to do with his hands but couldn’t keep out Uzbekistan’s goal, a header from point blank range.
Aziz Behich – 4.5
Unfortunately Behich isn’t blessed with the height of his defensive partners and it cost him dearly after he was easily outjumped by Azizbek Turgunboev for Uzbekistan’s goal.
The left back also got outmuscled off the ball far too easily at times and his crossing was largely ineffectual, although his forward runs helped attract markers to free up his teammates.
Harry Souttar – 5
It certainly wasn’t Souttar’s finest game for the Socceroos.
The gangly giant passed a ball straight to the feet of an Uzbekistani midfielder which lead to an immediate breakaway but Souttar managed to get back in time and deliver a perfectly-timed sliding tackle.
He was booked in the 50th minute for a collision on the outside of Australia’s box, although it looked as if he had simply stood his ground when trying to make the challenge.
Kye Rowles – 6
Rowles was the more composed of the centre back pairing, distributing the ball well to his teammates.
The Hearts man was never forced to make any drastic defensive actions either.
Nathaniel Atkinson – 5
Making his first start of the tournament, Atkinson certainly did enough to show he deserves to retain his spot, although it would have taken something extremely dire for Gethin Jones to return to the squad assuming he is fully fit.
Atkinson led the team with five tackles although he was at times caught out of position and failed to close down the cross that led to the equaliser
Came off in the 94th minute for Lewis Miller.
Atkinson showed enough to warrant a spot in the starting lineup for the Round of 16 game. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)Source: AFP
Keanu Baccus – 5
Returned to the lineup in place of Aiden O’Neill, Baccus was perhaps a little bit off compared to his impressive showings against India and Syria.
He gave away a team-leading three fouls but also won three fouls, highlighting the tightrope he walks when playing in terms of discipline.
Gave away a needless foul midway through the second half out of frustration which almost led to an Uzbekistan goal as the Aussies were saved by the offside flag.
Came off in 84th minute for O’Neill.
Jackson Irvine – 4.5
Unfortunately for Irvine his goalscoring streak at the Asian Cup came to an end against Uzbekistan.
It wasn’t the midfielder’s finest showing, sometimes turning into trouble, trying to thread the needle in low-percentage plays or taking too long to pass the ball and allowing Uzbekistan players to swarm Irvine’s intended passing target.
Irvine did make some key challenges and provided a box-to-box presence but ultimately he didn’t have a major impact on the contest.
Riley McGree – 7
Having impressed off the bench in the first two games, McGree was handed a starting berth several pundits and fans had clamoured for.
The Middlesbrough man should have got on the scoresheet but he dragged his shot wide after Kusini Yengi found his feet with a perfect cutback.
He was certainly the Socceroo most capable of delivering a moment of magic and attempted to spark the team into action with some driving runs towards the Uzbekistani defenders.
McGree certainly did enough to retain his sport in the starting lineup although he picked up a needless yellow card in the 70th minute.
Came off in 84th minute for Bruno Fornaroli.
McGree finally made his first start of the Asian Cup. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Jordan Bos – 6.5
Starting over Craig Goodwin at left wing once again, Bos showed plenty of positivity with the ball at his feet.
He looked to whip in crosses when he had space out on the left and had Yengi to aim for but also wasn’t afraid to take on his opposite marker.
Came off in 94th minute for Marco Tilio.
Kusini Yengi – 7
Handed the tall ask of replacing workhorse Mitchell Duke up front, Yengi showed promise that he could be the Socceroos’ solution once Duke eventually exits the international stage.
The Portsmouth man offered a solid physical presence up top but struggled with his bounce passes, as a heavy touch gifted the ball back to Uzbekistan on a number of occasions.
It was also Yengi’s silky footwork that resulted in the Socceroos’ goal, even if it was a little contentious.
Martin Boyle – 6
Boyle finally got his first tournament goal for the Socceroos, stepping up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time.
His rapid pace almost led to Umar Eshmurodov being sent off for potentially denying Boyle a goalscoring opportunity.
Outside of those moments and a handful of times when he cut in off the right flank, Boyle didn’t offer a massive attacking spark.
Came off for Connor Metcalfe in 72nd minute.
Boyle scored his first goal of the Asian Cup. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
SUBSTITUTES
Connor Metcalfe – 5
Came on for Martin Boyle in the 72nd minute.
Metcalfe tried to stretch the Uzbekistan backline but couldn’t work his way into the game.
Bruno Fornaroli – 5
Came on in 84th minute for Riley McGree.
Completed just two passes in his time on the field, although he did his best to work hard off the ball.
Aiden O’Neill – 5
Came on in 84th minute for Keanu Baccus.
Tasked with helping the Socceroos see out the game, O’Neill did the job.
There wasn’t much else to his performance.
Marco Tilio – N/A
Came on in 94th minute for Jordan Bos.
Tried to show some attacking endeavour in the final stages of the contest but had little impact.
First-choice Socceroos striker Mitch Duke’s Asian Cup campaign is in jeopardy due to a hamstring injury that will rule him out of Australia’s clash with Uzbekistan on Tuesday night.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold revealed that Duke suffered the hamstring strain in Australia’s 1-0 win over Syria last Thursday in Doha.
While the 33-year-old centre-forward didn’t seem hampered when he was replaced in the 78th minute by veteran marksman Bruno Fornaroli, scans later revealed what Arnold described as a “small strain”.
“It’ll be one game at a time for him, but we’ll see where that lands over the next week,” Arnold said in announcing Duke’s injury.
“He had a scan, and he’s got a small strain, so he’ll be out (of the game against Uzbekistan), so that’ll be an opportunity for me to have a look at other players as well, and against good opposition, it’ll be a great test.”
Mitch Duke has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Fornaroli, the 36-year-old Uruguay-born forward who been in scintillating form this season for Melbourne Victory, seems likely to come into the starting team, having twice come off the bench during the tournament to replace Duke.
Portsmouth marksman Kusini Yengi is also an option, while SV Wehen Wiesbaden striker John Iredale is the other centre-forward in Australia’s 26-man squad.
“There’ll be a few changes, but I don’t think there’s much difference in the depth of our squad now,” Arnold said.
“If you make changes, the team will still be strong and very strong. I do expect that we’re going out there to win the game.
“Uzbekistan are coming along a lot as a country. They invest a lot of money in football and they’re a good side, but we’ll be ready for them.”
Another likely change to Australia’s team that started against Syria is the inclusion of attacking midfielder Riley McGree, who has impressed as a substitute in the Socceroos’ past two matches in his comeback from a foot injury he suffered in October while playing for his English Championship club Middlesbrough.
“Riley was short of a bit of game time when he came in (to camp), but he’s had two lots of 35-40 minutes and he’s looked very good when he’s come on,” Arnold said.
“He’s sharp, he’s fresh and it’s probably now time for him to have a start, get out there and try to get through 60, 70 minutes and we build for the round of 16.”
Regardless of Tuesday night’s result, the Socceroos are guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages.
However, avoiding a loss to Uzbekistan will ensure the Australians top Group B, which will given them a potentially easier round-of-16 opponent.
“It was our goal right from the start to top the group, and with high expectations, if you don’t reach for the stars, you’ll never achieve anything in life,” Arnold said.
“It’s up to us to get out there with our mindset, our workrate and our commitment and culture that we’ve got to do a great job for all of us.”
AFC Asian Cup
Group B
Australia v Uzbekistan
Tuesday, 10.30pm (AEDT)
Al Janoub Stadium, Doha
TV: Network 10
Possible Socceroos line-up: Mat Ryan, Gethin Jones, Cameron Burgess, Harry Souttar, Jordan Bos, Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Riley McGree, Martin Boyle, Bruno Fornaroli, Craig Goodwin.
Head-to-head
September 10, 2008: Uzkekistan 0-1 Australia (FIFA World Cup qualifier in Tashkent)
April 1, 2009: Australia 2-0 Uzbekistan (FIFA World Cup qualifier in Sydney)
January 25, 2011: Uzbekistan 0-6 Australia (AFC Asian Cup in Qatar)
January 21, 2019: Australia 0 (4) – 0 (2) Uzbekistan (AFC Asian Cup in UAE)
Ange Postecoglou may have finished fifth in the voting for the best FIFA men’s coach in 2023, but a glowing endorsement from a former Tottenham star showed exactly why the Australian boss is hot property.
Postecoglou was shortlisted for the award alongside Pep Guardiola, Luciano Spalletti, Simone Inzaghi and Xavi.
Guardiola took out the award by some margin, with Spalletti and Inzaghi finishing with the second and third-most scoring points respectively.
Coaches would receive five points if they were voted first by the international captain, coach or media member, with second place gaining three points and just the solitary point for those in third.
Tottenham skipper Heung-Min Son, who has flourished under the tutelage of Postecoglou this season, named the Aussie as his first choice for the award.
Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan also named Postecoglou as his first choice.
But the one player who will have raised a few eyebrows with his votes was Bayern Munich star Harry Kane.
Kane, who left Tottenham on the eve of the 23/24 Premier League season for Bayern in a $AUD169 million deal, put Postecoglou third.
Liverpool star Andy Robertson, a boyhood Celtic fan, also displayed his admiration for Postecoglou’s work by naming him as his second choice for the award.
Veteran Portugal defender Pepe included Postecoglou in his votes too, with the Aussie voted as his third choice.
The respect shown by international skippers in their votes for Postecoglou emphasises the regard in which he is now held, especially given the revival he has overseen since joining Tottenham.
And Tottenham’s latest result, a 2-2 draw away to Manchester United, was more evidence to prove just as much.
Postecoglou named two goalkeepers and three outfield players from the academy on his bench for the Red Devils clash, with new signing Radu Dragusin, Bryan Gil and Emerson Royal the only senior outfield players among the substitutes.
Even in the starting lineup, Oliver Skipp and Destiny Udogie had battled illness during the week while Timo Werner was thrust into the starting lineup despite training twice with his new teammates.
First choice centre backs Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven also started, with the former “probably two weeks ahead of schedule” on his injury rehab while Van de Ven hadn’t played in two-and-a-half months.
Ange’s army draw even with Man United | 01:54
Throw in the absence of Son, James Maddison, Ben Davies, Yves Bissouma, Giovani Lo Celso, Dejan Kulusevki and Pape Matar Sarr, who are all absent through international duty or injury, and it paints the sheer scale of Postecoglou’s task at settling on a lineup.
Despite the lengthy list of absences Postecoglou managed to guide his team to a valuable point, although some felt Tottenham could and perhaps should have left Old Trafford with the win.
The draw kept Tottenham in fifth place, but are now equal on points with fourth-placed Arsenal.
It’s a remarkable achievement to be that high when one considers how many injuries Postecoglou has been forced to deal with.
But the fact his players continue to walk head-on through adversity and come out the other side which has the Aussie boss delighted.
“The only reason we’re in the position we are is because we’ve had players who are prepared to put aside whatever adversity we’re going through and give everything they have,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.
Postecoglou has had to deal with a lengthy injury list at Tottenham this season. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“These guys are giving me everything, whoever is out there, whether it’s guys playing out of position, guys who haven’t played in a while, guys coming back from injury, they just give everything.
“It’s not always smooth but there’s no manager on this planet who wouldn’t feel like they’re in the right place when they see the kind of effort these guys are putting in every week.”
Postecoglou’s masterful ability to extract every ounce of effort from his side and have a clear, defined brand of football had pundits purring after the draw against Manchester United.
If anything, the fixture pointed to the staggering difference between Tottenham and the Red Devils, all because Postecoglou has a plan.
“Look at where they’ve been in the last years, it feels like they have a plan now under Postecoglou. They have bought well, brought some good players and they are a good football team.
Postecoglou has Tottenham only a few points off top spot. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
“They are a bit loose at times but they play entertaining football.
“The problem they have, a bit like Man Utd and Chelsea, is they can be inconsistent. They will have a poor result like the heavy defeat at Brighton. But then they can turn things around with a few good wins before another poor result.
“I like the way they play and to me, it looks like they are getting somewhere.”
“He said they were in the title race, that’s refreshing for Spurs fans to hear. So often they’ve never really spoken like that or had that ambition that they should have.
“Right now, with their squad, and I’ve been critical over the last few years of how their style of play is, there’s a difference about them and the manager deserves so much credit for that.”
With Romero and Van de Ven back playing, Maddison nearing a return from injury along with the international stars soon to return, Postecoglou might finally have a full-strength team to pick from in the coming weeks.
Couple that with only the FA Cup to worry about outside of the Premier League and Postecoglou will undoubtedly fancy his chances of guiding Tottenham back to the Champions League.
If he can pull that off, it won’t just be the likes of Kane, Son, Robertson and Pepe voting for him should the Aussie be shortlisted for the best men’s coach again.
