{"id":247062,"date":"2026-06-06T22:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T22:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/06\/sick-of-it-us-handed-reality-check-as-socceroos-fire-back-at-greats-rubbish-world-cup-swipe\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T22:57:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T22:57:00","slug":"sick-of-it-us-handed-reality-check-as-socceroos-fire-back-at-greats-rubbish-world-cup-swipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/06\/sick-of-it-us-handed-reality-check-as-socceroos-fire-back-at-greats-rubbish-world-cup-swipe\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Sick of it\u2019: US handed reality check as Socceroos fire back at great\u2019s \u2018rubbish\u2019 World Cup swipe"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The USA\u2019s war of words with Australia might be coming back to bite them, while England set off alarm bells with an unconvincing display against New Zealand in their final World Cup warm up game.<\/p>\n

Plus, a major blow to another of the Socceroos\u2019 Group D rivals as Iran learn their fate in their US visa saga. <\/span><\/span>MORE IN WORLD CUP DAILY! <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u2018SO MUCH RUBBISH\u2019: USA BEATEN AFTER SOCCEROOS DIG<\/b><\/p>\n

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Perhaps the USA should be focusing on their team.<\/p>\n

After several American pundits have teed off on the Socceroos, the tournament co-hosts suffered a 2-1 loss to Germany in Chicago in their final warm-up game before the tournament kicks off next week.<\/p>\n

Former USA men\u2019s player Alexi Lalas was the most recent to fire barbs at Australia ahead of the two nations\u2019 Group D meeting, saying Tony Popovic\u2019s side was \u201can average team by any measure\u201d.<\/p>\n

Before assisting Tete Yengi\u2019s debut goal to give the Socceroos an equaliser against Switzerland<\/a>, Connor Metcalfe told reporters in San Diego: \u201cI\u2019ve seen all the US stuff and I\u2019m just sick of it, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just wait for the game. Whatever happens, happens,\u201d the St Pauli midfielder continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just so much rubbish, honestly. I\u2019m just sick of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s Group D rivals Paraguay also suffered a significant blow on the eve of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Paraguay forward Julio Enciso is now in doubt for the World Cup after the 22-year-old was stretchered off during a 4-0 win over Nicaragua.<\/p>\n

Paraguay will meet the US in their tournament opener likely without the former Brighton, now Strasbourg attacker, who left the field in tears.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n

\ufeffSocceroos bolter\u2019s big statement as Aussies take it to Euro rival in final World Cup audition<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\ufeffFrance toppled by African nation in WC warm-up as Arnie\u2019s Iraq stun European champs<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\ufeff\u2018Extremely disappointed\u2019: 23-year first as Matildas on the wrong end of 92nd minute dagger<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully it\u2019s nothing serious and just the result of an impact, and that we can keep him and get him back to full fitness,\u201d Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe suffered a double injury: first to his side and then to his lower back, which affected his quadriceps.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe got scared and he had to come off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane powered four-time World Cup winner Germany to victory despite a remarkable Antonee Robinson strike from outside the box to level the game for the US.<\/p>\n

\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

A packed 64,000 Chicago crowd began the afternoon in boisterous mood, with expectations sky high. Having dispatched Senegal 3-2 last weekend, US coach Mauricio Pochettino picked a close-to-first-choice line-up.<\/p>\n

His side got off to a nightmare start.<\/p>\n

Tyler Adams conceded a free kick just outside the box. Joshua Kimmich curled a perfect cross onto the head of Havertz, who nodded it into the net with just two minutes gone.<\/p>\n

Both US centre-backs were at fault, with 38-year-old captain Tim Ream too slow and Miles Robinson — auditioning to start in place of the injured Chris Richards — left flat-footed.<\/p>\n

It nearly got much worse for the hosts. Havertz had the ball in the net again from a Sane cross, but it was ruled offside.<\/p>\n

Germany continued to slice through the US lines with ease, Sane rampaging down the right. Havertz almost turned provider in the 10th minute, flashing a dangerous ball across the goal, but the flag was raised again.<\/p>\n

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Antonee Robinson of United States celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the international friendly match between United States and Germany.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But after the early carnage, the US midfield anchored by Weston McKennie and Adams found their footing and exerted some control in the centre.<\/p>\n

Sergino Dest, playing right wing, began to ask questions of Germany\u2019s defence, nearly latching onto a Folarin Balogun cross, and then blasting over minutes later.<\/p>\n

US talisman Christian Pulisic, also growing into the game, created the equaliser in the 37th minute. His turn and rampaging run from the US half led to a corner which he took.<\/p>\n

Germany failed to clear and it fell to Robinson just outside the box, who blasted a first-time thunderbolt into the net.<\/p>\n

The Fulham defender\u2019s left-footed strike sailed straight down the middle of the goal but was struck so cleanly that keeper Oliver Baumann couldn\u2019t get a finger to it.<\/p>\n

The remaining few minutes of the half featured wave after wave of US attacks, with Dest and Pulisic again coming close, and Germany seemingly nullified.<\/p>\n

– \u2018Resilience\u2019 –<\/b><\/p>\n

Neither team made any half-time changes, and the US picked up where they had left off. Baumann made a great double save from Pulisic before a flag was raised for offside in the build-up.<\/p>\n

Moments later Matt Freese made his first good save of the game, low and to his left from Jamal Musiala.<\/p>\n

Sane put Germany back in front in the 57th minute, finishing off a smart team passing move around the edge of the US box with a low shot from a Havertz assist that deflected past Freese.<\/p>\n

Both teams made multiple changes from the hour mark, hooking star players with their World Cup openers just a few days away. Robinson departed with a limp that was later described as cramp.<\/p>\n

Substitute Nadiem Amiri came closest to adding to Germany\u2019s tally, a thumping effort from outside the box flying just beyond the left post.<\/p>\n

Brenden Aaronson, also from the bench, forced a fine save from Baumann. \u201cTo concede that early in a game like this is always going to make it difficult, but the character we showed, the energy, the resilience,\u201d said Adams.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, guys were going at it like it was a World Cup final, and I think that\u2019s what we wanted to see.\u201d The US will begin their World Cup on Friday in Los Angeles against Paraguay, before clashes with Australia and Turkey.<\/p>\n

Germany kick off their tournament Sunday against unfancied debutants Curacao, with further group games against Ivory Coast and Ecuador.<\/p>\n

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Last-minute dagger hands Tillies defeat | 01:48<\/p>\n

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KIWIS GIVE POMS SCARE<\/b><\/p>\n

Harry Kane\u2019s 79th international goal edged England to a 1-0 win over New Zealand as the Three Lions\u2019 World Cup preparations got off to an underwhelming start in the Florida heat on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Kane flicked in Djed Spence\u2019s cross in first half stoppage time as England laboured to victory against a side 81 places below them in the world rankings.<\/p>\n

New Zealand were thrashed 4-0 by Haiti on Wednesday but Thomas Tuchel\u2019s men found clear-cut chances far harder to come by in their first experience of the brutal conditions Stateside.<\/p>\n

Tuchel named two entirely different sides for each half, but there was little to read into his team selection ahead of England\u2019s opening game of the World Cup against Croatia on June 10.<\/p>\n

Marcus Rashford flashed a good opening wide from the edge of the box. Kane typically made the breakthrough from an in-swinging cross by Spence, who impressed at left-back.<\/p>\n

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Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Kobbie Mainoo during the international friendly match between England and New Zealand<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ivan Toney replaced Kane among the 11 changes made by Tuchel at the break. Toney thought he had won a penalty only for New Zealand to be rescued by a marginal offside call against the Al Ahli striker.<\/p>\n

England dominated possession but could not add to their lead with the Kiwis happy to keep the score down.<\/p>\n

Despite not having won a major tournament for 60 years, England go into the World Cup among the favourites having reached at least the quarter-finals in their last four tournaments.<\/p>\n

They also face Ghana and Panama in Group L.<\/p>\n

New Zealand will face Iran, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.<\/p>\n

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Volpato speaks out after AUS switch | 01:27<\/p>\n

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RED CARDS AS PUNCHES THROWN IN WILD CLASH<\/b><\/p>\n

Portugal and Belgium both won in front of their home fans on Saturday ahead of their latest attempts at World Cup breakthroughs.<\/p>\n

Portugal beat Chile, who are not going to the World Cup, 2-1 in Oeiras, near Lisbon.<\/p>\n

Belgium cruised to a 5-0 victory over fellow World Cup qualifiers Tunisia in Brussels.<\/p>\n

Although the games were notionally friendlies, there were red cards in both. Portugal started Cristiano Ronaldo.<\/p>\n

The star had a strike ruled offside just before half-time before he went off amid a raft of half-time substitutions.<\/p>\n

By then both teams were down to ten men after Rafael Leao and Ivan Roman were sent off following a mass scuffle just before the break.<\/p>\n

Goncalo Guedes gave Portugal a 58th-minute lead.<\/p>\n

Premier League player of the year, Bruno Fernandes, who played the full game added the second from long range.<\/p>\n

Lucas Cepeda replied in added time.<\/p>\n

Portugal have a home friendly against Nigeria in Leiria on June 10 before setting off to play DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.<\/p>\n

In Brussels Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin scored for Belgium.<\/p>\n

The last three came after Tunisia\u2019s Ismael Gharbi was sent off for a second yellow card.<\/p>\n

At the World Cup, Belgium will face Egypt, Iran and New Zealand in Group G. Tunisia, managed by Sabri Lamouchi, are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden.<\/p>\n

IRAN VISA SAGA TAKES FRESH TWIST<\/b><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s World Cup squad left Turkey for Mexico on Saturday, taking off under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington after the US refused to issue visas for some of the team\u2019s support staff.<\/p>\n

The dispute erupted just days before Thursday\u2019s kick-off of the 2026 World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n

The Iran team took off around 6:10pm (1510 GMT) for Tijuana in northwest Mexico, where they will be based for the duration of the tournament, on what was expected to be a 20-hour flight, Iranian state TV reported.<\/p>\n

Iran are due to play their three group games on US soil, making this the first World Cup to see a host nation receive the team of a country it is at war with.<\/p>\n

Iran switched their base to Tijuana from their original base in Tucson, Arizona, in late May.<\/p>\n

The team spent nearly three weeks at a training camp in Antalya, using their time in Turkey to apply for visas to travel to Mexico, Canada and the United States.<\/p>\n

On the eve of their departure for Mexico, the players received their US visas, Washington\u2019s envoy to Turkey Tom Barrack said on X late Friday.<\/p>\n

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Iran’s national team players posing at Antalya Airport before boarding a plane ahead of their departure to Mexico for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But Iran\u2019s embassy to Turkey issued a furious response after saying support staff had been denied visas — 15 administrative and management staff are concerned, an Iranian diplomat and state TV said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran\u2019s national football team to its highest level,\u201d the embassy wrote on X on Saturday, calling for world football\u2019s governing body FIFA \u201cto hold the US accountable for violations of its rules.\u201d Adding to the tensions, Iran\u2019s ambassador to Mexico said Saturday the squad had been notified that under the conditions of their visas, the team must enter and leave US soil on the same day as their matches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,\u201d Iran\u2019s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters.<\/p>\n

That went against what the team\u2019s spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi told state TV earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe visas issued for the national team are multiple-entry visas, and the national team will arrive at the match venue one day before the first game and, for the following games, two days prior to each match,\u201d Alavi said.<\/p>\n

FIFA rules for World Cups stipulate that a team\u2019s coach must give a press conference on the eve of the match at the venue where the game will be played.<\/p>\n

AFP has approached FIFA for comment.<\/p>\n

– \u2018Abuse this system\u2019 –<\/b><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Football Federation, whose chief Mehdi Taj was reportedly among those denied a visa, has described the decision as \u201cpolitical interference in sport in its worst form.\u201d In response, a US administration official confirmed that \u201cthe visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued.\u201d Without directly addressing the matter of those whose visas were refused, the official added: \u201cWe will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.\u201d In April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with the Iranian players but \u201csome of the other people (they) would want to bring with them,\u201d suggesting ties to the Revolutionary Guards, a group on the US terror blacklist.<\/p>\n

Taj himself is a former Guards member, Iranian media in the diaspora have reported.<\/p>\n

The Middle East war began after the US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28. An April 8 ceasefire, which largely halted the fighting, has come under strain from recent exchanges of fire by the US and Iran.<\/p>\n

Iran, known as Team Melli, are in Group G and will play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.<\/p>\n

Ahead of their departure, Iran defeated Mali 2-0 in a friendly in Antalya and also beat Gambia in an earlier warm-up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The USA\u2019s war of words with Australia might be coming back to bite them, while England set off alarm bells with an unconvincing display against New Zealand in their final World Cup warm up game. Plus, a major blow to another of the Socceroos\u2019 Group D rivals as Iran learn their fate in their US 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