Popovic’s benching – Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater say Tony Popovic’s decision to bench Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe helped doom Australia against the USMNT, pointing to their World Cup form and calling it a selection gamble that left the Socceroos “lambs to the slaughte
The shock wasn’t just the 2-0 scoreline against the USA in Seattle. For Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater, it began earlier than kick-off—when two Australia goal-scorers were named on the bench.
Bosnich. speaking to Stan Sport. said Tony Popovic’s team selection for the World Cup match against the USMNT effectively condemned the Socceroos before the ball was even played. He was blunt about what bothered him most: Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe didn’t start. despite both having starred as Australia opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Turkey.
“Very rarely, in any sport, let alone football, [would] two goal-scorers from one of the greatest wins in Australian football history [be] left out,” Bosnich said. “I just think the game was over before it started.”
Robbie Slater echoed the anger at the selection backflip. He said he didn’t understand why Irankunda and Metcalfe—both delivering goals in Australia’s opening World Cup victory—were left out of the starting XI. Slater described it as a decisive factor in the defeat.
“I just don’t get why we left two goal-scorers out of the starting XI,” Slater said, adding: “It was like lambs to the slaughter waiting to get beat.”
Australia’s players have now shifted focus to what comes next. The Socceroos are adamant they’ve learned from suffering under a physical barrage from the United States as they prepare to respond against Paraguay. A win against Paraguay would secure them a berth in the first knockout stage of the tournament.
Still, the post-match conversation in the wake of the Saturday 2-0 loss wasn’t only about personnel. Popovic also addressed how sluggish Australia were out of the blocks and how they struggled to deal with the US physically in the first half.
Midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler called the US loss the most physical match of his career and said he expects a similar test against Paraguay. He pointed directly to the start.
“We didn’t come out of the blocks strong, and I think that that put us on the back foot in the first half,” Okon-Engstler said.
Jackson Irvine watched much of that first half from the bench. He said the clearest improvement needed is in the duels—arriving quicker into the physical battles and pushing through the difficult moments.
“Probably the main thing that we have to get better from the first half is just being able to come into the duels and arrive in the physical side of the game a little bit better. and ride through those difficult moments. ” Irvine said. “… I don’t think in the first half we really managed to drag ourselves out of those difficult moments.”.
Irvine said the second half looked entirely different: Australia started arriving into tackles and winning second balls, and the tempo changed.
“We were arriving into tackles and winning second balls and it looked like a totally different kind of performance,” he said.
Asked whether fitness played a role, Irvine insisted it wasn’t a physical issue, though he conceded there could be a mental element.
“Irvine was adamant the slow start wasn’t a fitness issue, but conceded there could be ‘a little bit of a mental factor’.”
Popovic took pride in the way Australia reacted after halftime. Irvine believes that lift came from a combination of substitutions and a mental reset at the break.
“So I think if we can do that from the beginning, or at least find a way to change that momentum a little bit within the half, then it’ll give us a much better chance of being competitive from the beginning,” Irvine said.
For Bosnich and Slater, though, the selection decision remains the spark that set the tone. They see it as the moment Australia’s balance—and ultimately their chances—shifted before the match even began.
Socceroos World Cup USA vs Australia Tony Popovic Mark Bosnich Robbie Slater Nestory Irankunda Connor Metcalfe Paul Okon-Engstler Jackson Irvine Paraguay
So they benched the guys who scored and acted surprised??
I didn’t watch but the headline already sounds like coaching malpractice. Lambs to the slaughter?? Like come on, just play your best players.
Wait, I thought Popovic was the one who brought the energy though. If Irankunda and Metcalfe were on fire vs Turkey then why bench them. Also the 2-0 score feels like it could’ve been closer… unless the defense just gave up early.
This is why I don’t trust “selection gambles.” World Cup form should mean something, not vibes. Next game vs Paraguay is gonna be the same story unless they start the goal scorers again… but knowing Australia they’ll bench someone else and everyone will act shocked again.