The Socceroos will be forced into at least two injury-enforced changes for their huge World Cup clash with Paraguay, with defender Jacob Italiano joining Mathew Leckie on the sidelines.
But coach Tony Popovic will keep everyone guessing on whether dynamo Nestory Irankunda starts the game that will determine Australia’s path to the round-of-32.
Veteran attacker Leckie (hamstring) limped off in Australia’s 2-0 loss to the United States, and right wing-back Italiano picked up an adductor injury in training.
With a win or draw against Paraguay at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Thursday (Friday AEST), Australia will finish second in group D, locking in a trip to Dallas to face the group G runners-up.
A defeat would mean a nervous wait, but probably still progression as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Losing Italiano, who started against Turkey and the US, is a blow.
Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda (pictured) will take to the pitch without two of his team’s best players by his side when the Aussies play Paraguay
Australia coach Tony Popovic (pictured) will be under scrutiny for his selections after being criticised for not starting Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe against the USA
‘Jacob unfortunately won’t be available,’ Popovic said on Wednesday.
‘I think it’s an adductor injury. We don’t know the extent of it as yet.
‘We’ll do some further tests in coming days, but he won’t be available for this game.’
Jason Geria, left-back Aziz Behich and Kai Trewin are Italiano’s potential replacements.
Fall-out from the 2-0 defeat to the US centred on Popovic’s decision to drop goalscorers Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe for Nishan Velupillay and Leckie.
Irankunda, Metcalfe and Cristian Volpato all eventually impressed when brought off the bench.
‘Whoever starts tomorrow, I know can build a strong foundation, and whoever comes on can finish what we’ve started,’ Popovic said.
‘So I’m happy with all the players. Each circumstance and situation is very different, and we’re very comfortable with the players we chose against the US. I wouldn’t change that.
Matthew Leckie (pictured) will miss the Socceroos’ final group-stage clash
Jacob Italiano (pictured) will be another badly missed star for the match in San Francisco
‘I’d only change the performance in the first half so that we could match them a bit better.
‘But I’m sure from that experience we’ll be better against Paraguay and, God willing, we get through, we’ll be better again for the next experience, and Nestory plays a big part in that, of course.’
Defenders Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati and Jordan Bos are all carrying yellow cards, which means a booking would result in suspension for the round-of-32.
‘It’s not something that I need to focus on – I’ll think about that after the game,’ Circati said.
‘Obviously, you need to play keeping yourself a bit aware of that.
‘But you can’t let that affect your match, because I’d rather go past the round and get a yellow card than not pass at all.’
Both teams, on three points, would advance with a draw but Paraguay want to leapfrog Australia into second.
‘We know it’s in our hands and we know what a win does for us tomorrow,’ Popovic said.
