Australia
Low on stars, high on heart β they just shocked trendy dark-horse Turkey with an 8-save debut keeper.
Team rating
- Attack71
- Midfield74
- Defense78
Next matches
- Next upvs ParaguayLevi's Stadium, Santa ClaraJun 25
The read
The 'Socceroos' are the ultimate scrappy overachievers β short on superstars, long on heart β and they just pulled off the upset of the group: a counter- 2-0 win over a fancied Turkey, anchored by an eight-save debut from a 22-year-old goalkeeper and a goal from a teenage wonderkid. They have no business being level with the host USA, which is exactly why they are fun to adopt.
The fanβs readThe ultimate plucky overachievers β low on stars, high on heart β who just pulled off the upset of the group with an eight-save debut keeper and a teenage wonderkid. Pure adopt-me energy.
Live storylines
- Australia stuns the dark-horse darlings (Turkey)
Turkey, back at a World Cup for the first time since 2002 and widely tipped as everyone's trendy dark horse (GΓΌler, YΔ±ldΔ±z, ΓalhanoΔlu), got humbled on day one. The upset reset the Group D pecking order and reminded everyone the bracket is chaos.
Australia 2-0 Turkey (June 13) β one of the cleanest shocks of the group stage. Turkey dominated the ball and shots but couldn't finish. The Socceroos sit level with hosts USA on points; they meet June 19.
The cast
- Tony PopovicAustralian; a former Crystal Palace defender who built Western Sydney Wanderers into Asian champions, appointed Socceroos boss in September 2024.manager
- Nestory Irankunda β Became Australia's YOUNGEST-EVER World Cup goalscorer β a Bayern-owned teenager with frightening pace.ClubBayern Munich (youth/loan)
- Connor MetcalfeScored the second goal that killed off Turkey β the quiet midfielder who decides games.ClubFC St. Pauli
- Harry SouttarA 6'6" defensive giant whose late blocks preserved the clean sheet vs Turkey.ClubSheffield United
- Patrick BeachMade EIGHT saves β the most of any keeper so far β on his competitive debut to beat Turkey.ClubAustralian / debutant
Key moments
- 20062006 β robbed by ItalyAustralia reached the round of 16 in 2006 and were eliminated by eventual champions Italy on a hugely controversial penalty in the final seconds β a national grievance to this day.
- 20222022 knockoutsAustralia beat Tunisia and Denmark to reach the round of 16 in 2022, where they lost 2-1 to Lionel Messiβs Argentina.
- 1974Sixth straight World CupFirst appearing in 1974, Australia have now qualified for six consecutive World Cups (2006β2026) β a model of consistency for a nation without elite stars.