<\/p>\n
The Socceroos\u2019 day of World Cup destiny is about to arrive with Tony Popovic\u2019s team finalising their preparations for their Round of 32 meeting with Egypt in Dallas, Texas.<\/p>\n
Awaiting the Australians is their best chance yet to make national history and win a men\u2019s World Cup knockout game for the first time.<\/p>\n
UFC 329: McGregor v Holloway 2 | SUN 12 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 Such a feat could open the floodgates for Popovic\u2019s exciting, young squad, but first the nation waits in anticipation to once again see what surprises the manager has in store at the selection table.<\/p>\n Several of the Socceroos\u2019 superstars are surely certain starters against Egypt and have a golden chance in front of them to prove to big European clubs that they are worthy of big money moves in the future.<\/p>\n While all eyes have been on the fitness of Egypt\u2019s greatest ever player with their coach revealing a big update in his pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n It might be another Premier League star that the Australian defenders will be most worried about, however.<\/p>\n Here are the biggest talking points ahead of the Socceroos\u2019 clash with Egypt!<\/i><\/p>\n Socceroos prepared for penalties | 01:44<\/p>\n WHY THIS IS THE SOCCEROOS\u2019 BEST CHANCE YET<\/b><\/p>\n The Socceroos have undoubtedly never had a better opportunity to win a World Cup knockout game than this.<\/p>\n That statement comes with no disrespect to Egypt, but when you look at Australia\u2019s history beyond the group stage, it is simply a fact.<\/p>\n When Guus Hiddink took the Socceroos to the Round of 16 in 2006, Australia\u2019s golden generation met eventual champions Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Four years ago, when Hiddink\u2019s former assistant Graham Arnold replicated his mentor\u2019s feat, an unheralded Australian side met eventual champions Argentina.<\/p>\n FIFA\u2019s change to a 48-team tournament has given the Socceroos the chance to avoid a powerhouse of world football in the knockout stage.<\/p>\n In the past, a second-place finish in the group meant a titan awaited in the next game.<\/p>\n Now, a second-place finish most likely leads to a meeting with another second-place finisher as it did for Tony Popovic\u2019s side.<\/p>\n SOCCEROOS\u2019 FULL WORLD CUP PATH<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n And Egypt presents a massive opportunity.<\/p>\n The Pharaohs possess the likes of Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah and Manchester City\u2019s Omar Marmoush in attack.<\/p>\n They were unbeaten in the group stage, drawing with Iran and Belgium and defeating New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re tough … They know each other, they\u2019ve been together for a long period of time, so they play as a team, as a unit,\u201d Australian assistant coach Hayden Foxe said of the Egyptian side the day after the drew with Iran to finish second in Group G.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a tough opponent \u2014 someone that we\u2019ve been watching quite closely, especially last night and during the group stage.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be an almighty game, an exciting challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Why the f***?\u2019: The alleged match-fixing, \u2018personal\u2019 score to settle in Socceroos\u2019 dark Egypt history<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffSix-nation chaos; $8 trillion sky stadium: If you thought this World Cup was crazy, see the next two<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n LIVE \u2014 VAR controversy strikes again as giant banishes World Cup hoodoo in scary statement<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Even with such firepower and a good record so far, they are in uncharted territory.<\/p>\n Egypt had never made it out of the group at a World Cup before this year.<\/p>\n They had never even won a game at the global showpiece event until they overcame our friends across the ditch in their tournament opener.<\/p>\n Former Socceroos and Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes the pressure firmly sits on the shoulders of the North African country because of that lack of history.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, everything\u2019s kind of a bonus for us in some ways, even though I believe this team can go further,\u201d he said on the Football360 podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I believe this team can be the first ever Socceroos to win a knockout stage game.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they have to go out and do it, right. Deal with the pressure. Deal with the scenario.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I feel that because we are underdogs, the pressure is less on us than it is on Egypt. <\/p>\n \u201cAll of those things come into play.\u201d<\/p>\n Bos reveals ruthless WC mentality | 01:58<\/p>\n WHY THIS MIGHT BE THE START FOR SOCCEROOS<\/b><\/p>\n While the Socceroos are on the cusp of World Cup history, this could also just be the beginning.<\/p>\n Manager Tony Popovic has made it no secret that his young squad was not built for this World Cup, but for what they can accomplish in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cWill they be better in four and eight years? Without a doubt,\u201d Popovic said at his press conference announcing his 26-man World Cup squad last month. <\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s not to say they\u2019re not good enough now. If they weren\u2019t I wouldn\u2019t play them and I wouldn\u2019t have him in the squad. <\/p>\n \u201cSo, I don\u2019t need anyone to dampen the expectations. They should believe, they should love to see these boys play and have the mix of the experience and the youngsters.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s quite clear that in time and maturity when they get mature as a footballer, get the experience of playing in big games, it\u2019s natural that you will get better as a footballer. And I had that in our generation, you know, I experienced that we had an eight-to-ten-year cycle. We lost against Uruguay and were really bullied in the second leg.<\/p>\n \u201cThat same group played four years later and didn\u2019t get bullied. That\u2019s maturity, that\u2019s maybe another 100 to 200 league games under your belt at the highest level.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you can handle those occasions better. We weren\u2019t poor players four years earlier. We were very good players. We were a great group. But four years later, we\u2019re much better. So these boys will be good now, without a doubt. And I\u2019m very, very happy they\u2019re here. I\u2019m very confident to play them and have them involved. And it\u2019s a pleasure to coach them.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you know, hopefully they can keep growing in their club football. They need to keep playing regularly, they need to get the games, and then let\u2019s hope that in the next four and eight years we\u2019re looking at this core group of players just growing and having more continuity together and getting to know each other better, which can just help Australia keep growing because we want to keep evolving and this is part of that process to keep evolving, getting a new generation into the Socceroos.\u201d<\/p>\n Popovic\u2019s words have become prophetic since his side defeated T\u00fcrkiye and drew with Paraguay to advance out of the group for the third time at a World Cup.<\/p>\n They are also getting Australian fans excited for the future.<\/p>\n Popovic\u2019s starting XI against T\u00fcrkiye was the second youngest Socceroos line-up at a World Cup with seven players aged 24 or younger.<\/p>\n That XI was also the youngest fielded this tournament and the Socceroos have fielded three of the five youngest XIs so far. <\/p>\n Australia\u2019s squad is also the second youngest of any of the 48 teams.<\/p>\n Ange Postecoglou\u2019s XI against Spain in a dead rubber group game at the 2014 World Cup was the only Australian team younger than Popovic\u2019s only the world stage.<\/p>\n Postecoglou\u2019s won the Asian Cup the following year.<\/p>\n Popovic will surely be hoping to follow suit in Saudi Arabia in February.<\/p>\n The Socceroos are the only AFC team left in this World Cup, and they will certainly be trying to maintain that continental supremacy.<\/p>\n Popovic signed an extension to the Asian Cup before this World Cup began.<\/p>\n Beyond that it remains to be scene how things play out, but the hierarchy at Football Australia will certainly be targeting the 2030 for the World Cup for a deep run.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffStar fires back at Poms over \u2018worst game\u2019 swipe; sight Socceroos will fear<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffHollywood Harry? Socceroos\u2019 brick wall eyed off for blockbuster switch<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018Gutted\u2019: Aussies hit with dual injury blow; star responds to hilarious name change<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Volpato speaks on Italy-Australia switch | 02:41<\/p>\n WHAT CHANGES MIGHT POPA MAKE?<\/b><\/p>\n Once again, the big question at Tony Popovic\u2019s selection table is what to do with the front three.<\/p>\n Socceroos fans got what they asked for against Paraguay when Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato started after an eye-catching second half against the USA.<\/p>\n That trio presented a new issue with Irankunda playing up front despite predominantly being a winger.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old battled against three Paraguay centre backs, and it has led to many calls that Popovic needs to tweak the front three once again.<\/p>\n \u201cCould we decide to come out all guns blazing?\u201d the most capped Socceroo ever Mark Schwarzer pondered in a preview article for Football360.<\/p>\n \u201cEither way, for me, I\u2019d be changing the set-up up front.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Nestory Irankunda is asked to play the role, he did so well against Paraguay, I think you lose that unpredictability and pace in behind. You\u2019ve got players up his backside a lot. He\u2019s got to fight, battle and use a lot of energy trying to keep the ball and be an outlet.<\/p>\n \u201cHis best position, for me, is as a wide player able to utilise his pace and his skill on the ball, attacking and running at players.<\/p>\n \u201cThe selection conundrum is a tough one, but a good problem to have.\u201d<\/p>\n Schwarzer believes Irankunda needs to remain in the starting line-up.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old started and scored the opening goal against T\u00fcrkiye but was benched against the USA.<\/p>\n Schwarzer does not want a repeat of that situation for the former Bayern Munich now Watford winger.<\/p>\n But that means Volpato, who impressed in his first World Cup start against Paraguay before being subbed off just before the hour mark, may need to be recast as a super sub.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not averse to starting Volpato, I think he showed enough in that game against Paraguay to warrant that. But I can also see him coming on because I think his impact in the game can be really significant,\u201d Schwarzer added.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, I feel that we need a bit bigger presence up front.<\/p>\n \u201cEither Mohamed Toure or Tete Yengi are mobile and have the ability to run the channels; Irankunda on the left, Connor Metcalfe on the right, and then you bring on Volpato.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could go with Volpato and Irankunda but then you\u2019re slightly more deficient on the defensive element.\u201d<\/p>\n Schwarzer\u2019s fellow former shot stopper Mark Bosnich agreed that there will likely be a change to who will be Australia\u2019s leading man.<\/p>\n At the back, things are set to be more settled following Lucas Herrington\u2019s assured display against Paraguay.<\/p>\n While Patrick Beach is likely to hold his place in goal instead of Mat Ryan. <\/p>\n But Bosnich believes Popovic might be tempted to make a change in the middle of the park despite Aiden O\u2019Neill claiming MVP honours and Jackson Irvine impressing in the last game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe might think about bringing Paul Okon-Engstler back in the midfield,\u201d Bosnich said on SEN.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Awful, horrible decision\u2019: USA fumes as VAR \u2018disgrace\u2019 rubs out key player, mars big win<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffHow \u2018naive\u2019 Poms reacted to near-death experience… and what it\u2019s like in middle of WC hysteria<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n