The Socceroos have silenced US football great Mike Grella after he wrote off their World Cup campaign before their stunning win over Turkey on Sunday.
Grella, 39, slammed Australia’s chances and poked fun at 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda in the lead-up to the Aussies’ first match of the tournament, where they are in Group D along with the USA.
But he’s been forced to eat his words, after Australia’s stunning 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver.
‘I think their best player is Irankunda… Irankunda,’ the former Leeds United player told CBS with a sarcastic look at the camera.
‘I look at their team and I don’t recognise any players in the team.
‘I’m not kidding though when I say this, what are they (Australia) drinking over there, because they have no shot of doing anything at the World Cup?
Mike Grella (pictured) has been left with egg on his face after the Socceroos defeated Turkey at the World Cup
Grella said the Aussies are the ‘weakest team’ in their group before the Socceroos stunned the tournament by downing the highly fancied Turkish side
‘They are the weakest team in the group.’
‘With all due respect… Irankunda…,’ Grella added in a mocking tone.
Irankunda responded by becoming the youngest Socceroo to score a goal at a World Cup with a blistering first-half strike.
He claimed man of the match honours before taking a shot at Grella after the victory.
‘At the end of the day, you’ve got to let these people talk – and it was the same with these lot here [the Turkish team],’ Irankunda said.
‘They came, they did their talking, but they couldn’t back it on the field, and we got the win.
‘People can talk all they want – but if they’re not going to put a performance out there on the pitch, then there’s no point in talking.’
Former US midfielder Benny Feilhaber and defender Jimmy Conrad – both of whom are now pundits on American World Cup coverage – weren’t impressed with Grella’s statements either.
Nestory Irankunda (pictured) had a dig at Grella over his comments after his man of the match performance
Connor Metcalfe is pictured celebrating after he scored Australia’s second goal
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‘Grella’s going to be hired as their [Australia’s] pre-match motivational speaker at this point,’ Feilhaber said.
‘Everybody keeps discounting Australia and that seems to be not the right thing to do. So thanks, Grella, we appreciate that,’ Conrad added.
Socceroos fans also slammed Grella online.
‘Mike Grella, WHERE ARE YOU,’ one wrote on X.
‘All these Socceroos have won more than Mike Grella ever has at a World Cup,’ another wrote.
‘How is Mike Grella employed as an analyst?’ a third said.
Australia will get their chance to silence Grella when they face the USMNT side at 5am AEST on Saturday.
