Volpato, Irankunda to start as Socceroos make mass changes
Cristian Volpato and Nestory Irankunda will start against Paraguay, headlining six changes the Socceroos have made for their huge World Cup clash.
Socceroos dynamos Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato will start Australia’s crunch final World Cup group match against Paraguay, headlining six blockbuster changes.
Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has gone all in on a dynamic attack, calling upon Irankunda, Volpato and Connor Metcalfe, plus midfield stalwart Jackson Irvine and defenders Aziz Behich and Lucas Herrington
Irankunda has replaced Mohamed Toure as the starting striker, while vice-captain Irvine comes in for Paul Okon-Engstler.
Volpato and Metcalfe are playing as the wingers – after the trio impressed off the bench together in Australia’s 2-0 loss to the US – instead of Nishan Velupillay and injured veteran Mathew Leckie.
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Behich replaces the injured Jacob Italiano, with Cameron Burgess dropped for 18-year-old Herrington, who makes his World Cup debut as the Socceroos’ youngest ever starter at the tournament.
With a win or draw at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Thursday (12pm Friday AEST), Australia will finish second in group D, and face the Group G runners-up – one of Belgium, Egypt, Iran or New Zealand – in Dallas.
Defeat would mean a nervous wait, but Popovic’s side would still likely progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
AUSTRALIA’S STARTING XI
Patrick Beach (goalkeeper); Aziz Behich, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar, Lucas Herrington, Jordan Bos; Aiden O’Neill, Jackson Irvine; Connor Metcalfe, Cristian Volpato, Nestory Irankunda.
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