- Bold claim from Socceroos winger Nestory Irankunda
Nestory Irankunda has turned heads after boldly declaring the Socceroos can ‘go all the way’ and win the World Cup this year.
Irankunda, 20, is coming off an encouraging debut season with Watford in the Championship, where the winger finished with four goals and four assists in 40 appearances.
He has attracted reported interest from Premier League clubs, but his immediate focus is performing for coach Tony Popovic in the first World Cup group game against Turkey on June 14 in Vancouver.
‘I feel like we can go pretty far,’ the former A-League prodigy told 10 News Adelaide.
‘I feel like we can go all the way… we have a strong, talented squad, with young players who have done well at the top level.’
Irankunda was joined on the plane to the US on Tuesday for a training camp by his good friend Mohamed Toure, who was an instant hit in the Championship after joining Norwich in January.
Nestory Irankunda has turned heads after boldly declaring the Socceroos can ‘go all the way’ and win the World Cup this year
Watford star Irankunda, 20, pointed to ‘a talented national squad, with young players who have done well at the top level’
In Group D at the World Cup, Tony Popovic’s men tackle Turkey (June 14, 2pm, AEDT), followed by the USA (June 20, 5am AEDT) and Paraguay (June 26, 12pm AEDT)
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He scored 10 goals in 12 games before a groin injury left the striker fearing he would miss the World Cup.
The Socceroos’ pre-World Cup training camp is in Sarasota, on the west coast of Florida.
Tony Popovic’s squad will then relocate to Los Angeles at the end of May for a pre-tournament friendly against Mexico, before then shifting to their World Cup base camp in Oakland, California.
Their final hit-out is against Switzerland (June 7, 5am AEDT) before the Group D clashes against Turkey (June 14, 2pm, AEDT), followed by the USA (June 20, 5am AEDT) and Paraguay (June 26, 12pm AEDT).
Meanwhile, the enormity of coaching Australia at the biggest sporting event on the planet isn’t lost on Popovic, who played at the 2006 World Cup under Guus Hiddink.
‘It doesn’t get more real than this,’ he told Football 360.
‘I’m really excited for the wonderful group of young men that want to be the best they can be on the ultimate stage.
‘We will be resilient, competitive, and show the belief we have in ourselves.
‘Ultimately, we want to do the country proud.’
