<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\ufeffUFC 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><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Sky Sports described the scoreless draw as a \u201clargely forgettable game,\u201d while The Athletic said it \u201cwon\u2019t be remembered as a classic by anyone who watched it\u201d. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, Guardian Football Weekly panellist Barry Glendenning, who is deputy sports editor of the Guardian UK, went further by saying it was \u201cthe worst game of the tournament by a considerable distance\u201d. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, you can\u2019t make everyone happy can you,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s one of the worst games for them, fair enough, but we got our job done and that\u2019s what counts, right?\u201d<\/p>\n SOCCEROOS\u2019 FULL 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP PATH<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Hrustic came off the bench for the first time in the tournament against Paraguay, replacing Cristian Volpato on the right wing.<\/p>\n The World Cup knockouts is not uncharted territory for the 29-year-old, however.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be ready. You\u2019ve got to enjoy it,\u201d Hrustic said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the biggest challenge. You\u2019ve got to enjoy it. You can\u2019t forget to enjoy it.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this is one of the main things for us. You\u2019ve got to enjoy the moment and be ready for match day.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffHollywood Harry? Socceroos\u2019 brick wall eyed off for blockbuster club switch<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/i>WC LIVE \u2014 \u2018On a different planet\u2019: Mbappe throws down gauntlet as wild weather wreaks havoc<\/a><\/i> WC DAILY \u2014 Why this moment in Germany\u2019s penalty shootout nightmare has sparked national outrage<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Haaland strikes to send Norway through | 00:27<\/p>\n The Round of 32 clash will be played at the home of the NFL\u2019s Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s fitness was top notch and ready to meet the demands of an American summer.<\/p>\n Hrustic also noted that he and the likes of Harry Souttar and Jackson Irvine, who were key cogs in Graham Arnold\u2019s squad four years ago, are well versed in playing in scorching heat.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had it in the last World Cup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe played in Doha against the UAE and Peru (in qualifiers) where it was 40 plus degrees in Qatar. You\u2019ve just got to adjust, it\u2019s never going to be perfect, but you\u2019ve got to be ready and switch on. You\u2019ve got to deal with it, right? Because what, we feel, is what they\u2019ll feel.<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel that bad. It\u2019s just different, you\u2019ve got to be prepared and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got and sums us up.\u201d<\/p>\n The Socceroos might not be the only Australians feeling the hurt in the early hours of Saturday morning AEST.<\/p>\n The game will kick off at 4am AEST with watch party sites like Melbourne\u2019s Federation Square set to be heaving.<\/p>\n Hrustic outlined what he believes is the best plan of attack for Socceroos fans to be ready for the game.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone will be out Friday night, leave the club at 3 and be ready for the game at 4am,\u201d he said with a smirk.<\/p>\n Volpato on Roos: “I felt it was right!” | 03:21<\/p>\n LIVERPOOL LEGEND RETURNS TO TRAINING TRACK<\/b><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s first ever World Cup knockout game after sustaining a hamstring issue in Egypt\u2019s thrilling 1-1 draw with Iran in their final group game.<\/p>\n Salah was sent for scans and had been completing rehabilitation exercises away from the squad in recent days.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s meeting with the Socceroos in Dallas.<\/p>\n Socceroos star Jordy Bos\u2019 potential dual with Salah is a mouth-watering proposition.<\/p>\n But Bos told reporters on Wednesday that he is not getting swept up by the chance to do battle with the Liverpool icon.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been at the top for a very long time. We\u2019ll definitely have to look at how we can stop him, and Egypt. We\u2019ve already done a little bit about that,\u201d Bos said.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the field, there\u2019s no respect. It\u2019s just eat or be eaten. That\u2019s how everyone\u2019s going to go in the game, and that\u2019s how I will go in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Netherlands choke in penalty shoot AGAIN | 00:28<\/p>\n AUSSIES PREPARE FOR SHOOTOUT POSSIBILITY<\/b><\/p>\n The World Cup was rocked on Tuesday with Germany and the Netherlands being eliminated by Paraguay and Morocco on penalties.<\/p>\n It was a reminder of volatile a shootout can be and Paraguay\u2019s progression to the Round of 16 past four-time champions Germany shed new light on Australia\u2019s draw with the South Americans.<\/p>\n The Socceroos have never gone beyond the regulation 90 minutes at a World Cup, but penalty shootouts have been a key feature of Australia\u2019s qualifying journey over the years.<\/p>\n So, the players need no reminder that a shootout could be on the cards against Egypt.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be ready for that 90th-minute winner and you\u2019ve got to be ready for a penalty shootout,\u201d Ajdin Hrustic said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what it takes to get through to the next stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Hrustic knows all about penalties.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Melburnian scored his penalty in the playoff qualifier shootout against Peru four years ago.<\/p>\n While he also converted his chance in the 2022 Europa League final\u2019s shootout as his then club Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany defeated Scottish giants Rangers in Seville, Spain.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not giving nothing away, but I\u2019m calm,\u201d Hrustic said of his approach to penalties.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it [penalty shootout] comes, I\u2019m ready. The boys will be ready and I\u2019m sure the keepers will be ready too.\u201d<\/p>\n Hrustic was asked by reporters what Australia\u2019s preparation for penalties looks like.<\/p>\n It has been raised in some circles that given Tony Popovic\u2019s team are defensively-minded, playing with a back five, they might play for a shootout.<\/p>\n But doing so would be a risky move.<\/p>\n