Bold decisions lead to bold statement by Australia

Australia 2-0 Turkiye

VANCOUVER, BC–Turkiye’s captain Hakan Calhanoglu made a bold statement prior to Saturday’s match at BC Place saying that his team would ‘dominate’ Australia because “we have more qualities and a more talented team,” Australia head coach Tony Popovic made two bold decisions with his lineup starting Patrick Beach in goal in place of veteran and captain Matt Ryan and Nestory Irankunda in midfield in place of Jackson Irvine. In the end, the bold decisions made the boldest of statements as the Socceroos defeated Türkiye, 2-0.

Australia win their third successive group stage match at the World Cup having defeated Tunisia and Denmark four years ago. It is also the first time the Socceroos have won by multiple goals since defeated Japan, 3-1, in 2006 in Kaiserslautern.

Patrick Beach earned just his third ever cap for Australia and earned a lot of plaudits for his play. He would make eight saves on the evening. One of the saves would lead to the first goal in the 27th minute. After stopping Arda Guler’s shot, Beach would distribute the ball to Paul Okon-Engstler, who then sent an arching ball to Irankunda who outpaced his defenders and beat Ugurcan Cakir near post.

Australia played five in the back for the match and were stellar throughout helping Beach maintain a clean sheet. Harry Souttar, who had spent the better part of the last 16 months injured, anchored the back line.

The Turks continued to press and press Beach’s goal, but to no avail. Indeed, Türkiye would be poached on the counter once again in the 75th minute as Connor Metcalfe made a run in midfield and then scored from 25 yards out to double Australia’s advantage.

“When I saw that ball go in, the feeling that went through my body – I can’t explain it,” Metcalfe told Australian broadcaster SBS. “For it to be my first World Cup, my first game – and to score – it couldn’t have gone any better.

“Honestly, I wasn’t even really thinking. I just took the ball, I didn’t even look at anyone else, I just looked up and seen the goal and I just shot. and luckily it was perfect placement.”

After that, it was a matter of preserving the clean sheet which Australia would do and make a bold statement in this World Cup. Though the teams were just four places apart in the FIFA Rankings, some consider this result an upset, but not to Popovic.

“They were maybe shocks for a lot of people, but not shocks within our main group or staff, because we’re all working together every day,” said Popovic. Indeed, there are still detractors for Australia who don’t believe the Socceroos can get out of Group D.

“We’ve beaten a big nation, we’ve beaten them 2-0, so maybe that changes things slightly but we’ve still got work to do,” said Popovic.

“We’ve got to move on to the US game. Tonight’s special for Socceroos fans, and I’m sure back home watching in the afternoon it is quite special and unique.

“I’m glad we’ve made it a very happy time because they saw a team fighting throughout the whole game.”

Australia now shift their sights on the USA and Friday in Seattle. Kickoff is at noon PT (Fox/Telemundo). Meanwhile, Türkiye will look to rebound against Paraguay in Santa Clara on Friday (8pm CT, Fox/Telemundo).

Follow us on bluesky

Follow us on Twitter