<\/p>\n
Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Foxe cited a cautionary tale from four years ago as to why Australia should not be getting ahead of themselves after defeating Turkiye 2-0 in their World Cup opener on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Tony Popovic\u2019s side effectively have one foot in the knockout rounds courtesy of having three points in the bank and the new World Cup format.<\/p>\n
UFC 329: McGregor v Holloway 2 | SUN 18 JULY 11AM AEST | Conor McGregor is back. The Irish superstar takes on the always dangerous Max Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n The expansion to 48 teams means the top two from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third finishers will advance to the Round of 32.<\/p>\n If Australia can pick up more points against the United States in their next game on Saturday morning as well as against Paraguay in their final group game next week, it could give the Socceroos their best chance yet of winning a World Cup knockout match for the first time.<\/p>\n While fans in green and gold in the stands in North America and back home in pubs, at Federation Square or in living rooms dare to dream, Foxe insists the squad are not getting ahead of themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one game, and you winning the first game doesn\u2019t dictate where you go in the tournament,\u201d he told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a good example of Saudi doing that in the past tournament, they beat Argentina first game, and we\u2019re talking about Saudi \u2013 \u2018how fantastic\u2019 \u2026 which is great.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s a memorable moment, but you forget Saudi didn\u2019t then get through the group stage. They lost their next two games against Poland, Mexico \u2013 out of the tournament. <\/p>\n \u201cSo you can\u2019t just focus on that win. Fantastic win against Turkey. Memorable, great. Enjoy that moment. Great, excellent. <\/p>\n \u201cNow that\u2019s gone. Now we move on to the US.\u201d<\/p>\n Argentina, of course, went on to win that World Cup and that is proof that is very much early days in this tournament.<\/p>\n Despite that fact, the talk surrounding the Socceroos has intensified after the win against Turkiye.<\/p>\n Australians are understandably excited, while mouthy American pundits are nervously retracting or doubling down on their negative comments towards the Socceroos.<\/p>\n Turkiye\u2019s captain Hakan Calhanoglu lit the fuse on the eve of their meeting with Australia by saying his side \u201cwill dominate\u201d because they are \u201cmore talented\u201d.<\/p>\n His teammate Arda Guler poured more fuel on the fire in the tunnel before kick off as the Real Madrid star made sure the Australians could hear him say \u201cwe are much better than them\u201d.<\/p>\n Countless pre-tournament predictions had Australia finishing last in Group D, while Mike Grella led the chorus of American pundits disrespecting the Socceroos as he said Popovic\u2019s team was a \u201clay up\u201d for the Americans.<\/p>\n He also said that we had no good players and made fun of Nestory Irankunda for being our X-factor player.<\/p>\n Socceroos turn attention to USA clash | 03:28<\/p>\n Irankunda, who scored the opener against Turkiye, said post-game that the comments were used as motivation by the team, and the coaching staff are not going to change that this week in the lead-up to meeting the USA in Seattle.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t baby them. They\u2019re their own selves, we want them to be their own selves,\u201d Foxe said.<\/p>\n \u201cSocial media\u2019s out there, they\u2019re aware of media and the comments and what\u2019s being said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we\u2019re concentrated on us. They\u2019re old enough and mature enough to understand what gets said and what doesn\u2019t get said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf anyone makes any comments, you do get emotional,\u201d Foxe added.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of it\u2019s how you control it \u2013 and they\u2019re doing a very good job controlling their emotions, and talking with their actions, which is fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the make-up of Australia\u2019s starting XI for the next game, Foxe dismissed concerns about striker Mohamed Toure as he pulled up shortly before being subbed off in the second half against Turkiye.<\/p>\n \u201cJust cramp,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just because of the workload and how much they were working and running in behind and stretching, and then coming back to defend.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got a small cramp in the end but he\u2019s OK.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffHero Roos captain was just axed at WC. Here\u2019s what we know\u2026 and a murky theory<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n World Cup LIVE \u2014 50k to 2m! 40yo hero goes viral as minnows stun Euro champions<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018S**t\u2019s hilarious\u2019: US pundit doubles down \u2014 then gets brutal smackdown from Socceroos icon<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Cape Verde hold Spain to 0-0 draw | 02:01<\/p>\n ROCK SOLID SOCCEROOS READY FOR US<\/b><\/p>\n One of the standout features of Australia\u2019s win on Sunday was the calmness and composure of the back five.<\/p>\n Turkiye dominated possession and had 20 more shots, but were unable to penetrate the dogged Socceroos defence.<\/p>\n Centre back trio Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati and Cameron Burgess were too big and strong for their Turkish opponents, dominating aerial contests.<\/p>\n While wing backs Jordan Bos and Jacob Italiano used their electric pace to repel attacks and launch counter-attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery game like that, every nation here has their own threats,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re playing against a host nation with some tremendous talent in their squad – obviously only faced them a few months ago.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna have to be ready for what they can bring, and I guess the same goes for them, they\u2019re gonna have to be ready for we can bring.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s gonna be a hard fought game, both teams coming off a win as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re ready to go to battle, and I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be the exact same, it\u2019s going to be a pretty big spectacle, hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n The Socceroos last met the USA in Colorado last October.<\/p>\n The hosts prevailed 2-1 on that occasion with Bos opening the scoring before Haji Wright\u2019s brace secured victory for the Americans in the friendly.<\/p>\n The two sides looked remarkably different in their World Cup openers, however.<\/p>\n Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s USA stunned Paraguay with a three goal first half blitz in a 4-1 win that was set up by their repeated ability to get out the back of the South American nation\u2019s defence with serious pace.<\/p>\n But speed is something the Socceroos have in spades.<\/p>\n Across the opening four days of the tournament, five Australians were in the top ten for top speed with Italiano being the fastest player so far as a result of hitting 35.4km\/h against Turkiye.<\/p>\n Burgess, who returned to the starting line up in place of talented teenager Lucas Herrington after playing every minute of the English Championship season for Swansea City, believes the Socceroos\u2019 defence is well-placed to handle whatever the Americans throw at them.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re going to come aggressive and front foot, and we learned that from when we played them before,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a good few days now to analyse it and be ready for what they\u2019ve got coming, as we did with Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n At 30 years of age, Burgess was the oldest member of Australia\u2019s starting XI in Vancouver.<\/p>\n Seven of the starting side against Turkiye are aged 23 or under, but Burgess is not concerned by a lack of experience among the exciting group.<\/p>\n \u201cAt some point you look around and you have Beachy (Patrick Beach) behind me, Bossy (Jordan Bos) to my left, Paulie Okon in front and Nestor in front of that on my left side,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a young group, but the training we do here and the belief they have in themselves – they\u2019re ready to go, there\u2019s nothing they really need to lean on me for.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously I might have to do that, and I believe that\u2019s a big part of my role in the team – to be the experienced one, and to calm things down at times, and just be a voice as well.<\/p>\n \u201cBut those guys are on a good trajectory in their careers, and they showed that (against Turkey) what they can do.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n WC Daily \u2014 AFL star fumes over Socceroos clash; coach faces sack after 90 mins<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Aussie ref\u2019s staggering explanation over WC hand gesture as FIFA responds to ugly fallout<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n