Socceroos ready to seize chance to shock the world

Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda could be leaving England for Portugal in a mega-money move. Photo: AAP
Young, exuberant and with talent to burn, a new-look Socceroos are ready for their own chance to shock the world.
Australia will kick off their World Cup campaign against Turkey on Sunday afternoon AEST at Vancouverās BC Place.
The Socceroos are underdogs against the world No.22, whose captain Hakan Calhanoglu only on Friday said he expected Turkey to dominate as they are āmore talentedā.
But Jackson Irvine believes thereās no ceiling on this group, with 17 debutants and eight players under 23.

Australia takes on Turkey in Vancouver on Sunday afternoon. Graphic: AAP
Attackers Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Cristian Volpato are dynamic and Paul Okon-Engstler adds midfield drive.
Defender Alessandro Circati could be anything while 18-year-old centre-back Lucas Herrington is already attracting attention from Barcelona.
āThe level of hype around this group has probably never been (this high). In my 10 to 12 years, Iāve never experienced what Mo and Nestor and Ale are probably having now,ā midfielder Jackson Irvine told AAP.
āBut theyāve got that because what their ceiling is, and how high they can go, and what theyāre doing already compared to where it can lead them, it is so exciting.
āIf you werenāt excited as an Australian football fan, youād be getting it all wrong.
āItās the time to be excited.ā
Coach Tony Popovic will carefully balance that youthful enthusiasm with experience from the likes of Irvine, Harry Souttar and Mathew Leckie.
āWeāve seen what the youngsters can do, and weāve also seen what experienced players with maturity and understanding what it takes at the highest level can offer, and weāre just trying to get that balance right,ā Popovic said.
Midfielders Irvine and Aiden OāNeill will need to take control and dictate terms from the beginning.
Against Mexico and Switzerland, Australia were dominated until the first drinks break, conceded early then fought their way into the game.
āItās obviously something weāve spoken about, improving from the start,ā OāNeill said.
āI need to take more charge in that, in terms of dominating the ball from the get go. Itās something that Iām gonna try to implement.ā
Popovic will become the first Australian to both play and coach at a World Cup, having featured for the Socceroos in 2006.
āI know tomorrow will be a special moment when that national anthem is playing, and then Iām sure after that Iāll be present and in the moment and ready to support the team and help the team any way I can,ā Popovic said.
There are expected to be thousands of Australian fans in the stands.
āI hope theyāll be proud after the gameās initial 20 minutes are over,ā Popovic said.
āAnd theyāll see an Australian team that has once again shown what they can do in football on the world stage.ā
The United States already beat Paraguay 4-1 in the Group D opener.








