Socceroos v New Zealand LIVE updates: Irankunda, Toure start as Australia aims to retain Soccer Ashes

The Socceroos have just kicked off proceedings in Auckland. A very interesting 90 minutes ahead - let’s see if they respond to Popovic’s call for more positivity, boldness and energy from the outset.

Looks like a good crowd at GO Media Stadium for a Tuesday night.

New Zealand 0-0 Australia, 1 minute

The players are out there, lined up for the national anthems.

Kick-off is just a few short minutes away.

It’s one thing to earn selection in one of Tony Popovic’s Socceroos squads. But as many of those in it are finding out, it’s quite another to actually get on the field.

Just ask goalkeeper Paul Izzo, who had to wait four long years (and four camps run by Popovic, his former club coach at Melbourne Victory) to finally get his maiden cap in Friday night’s 1-0 win over New Zealand.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.Credit: Getty Images

Or Max Balard, who was called up for the first time in November, overlooked in March and June, told to go away and work on a few things, did so, and then was given a run … for five minutes. At least he made it count by scoring the decisive goal.

Or Nectarios Triantis, who was picked in March, described it as an honour, declared “my time will come”, then withdrew from a training camp two months later and subsequently declared himself available for Greece instead.

Of all the virtues Popovic wants to see in his players, patience might be the most important. He won’t experiment for experimentation’s sake on the road to the 2026 World Cup.

“Coming to camp is the recognition for what you’ve done at your club,” he said.

“But that doesn’t also necessarily equate to getting a cap. We’re not going to go through the list and say, ‘OK, these players are remaining now that haven’t got a cap – let’s just put him in.’ It doesn’t quite go that way.”

Read the rest of the story from yesterday’s press conference here.

… which tells you something about how crazy people are for this kid, and how disappointed they are that he’s not in today’s squad.

I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago about his Socceroos prospects. You can read that story here.

Adrian Segecic has made a terrific start to life in England with Portsmouth, but couldn’t get a start for the Socceroos.Credit: Getty Images

We’ve just heard from Tony Popovic on the Paramount+ coverage, and he was asked about the decision to hand the captaincy to Alessandro Circati:

It’s obviously a fantastic honour and he’s just a player that I admire in terms of what he’s doing so far.

I know him as a young kid in Perth, training with the first team, 15, 16 year old. Just watching him grow and mature, and I think he’s a player for the future and I think he has those leadership skills.

Tonight’s a great moment for him and his family, but I just want Ale to be himself.

And on the decision to start Irankunda and Toure, he said he wants more of what they gave the Socceroos off the bench in Canberra:

That’s what we hope to see - a little bit more dynamic in the front third from the outset.

They both trained really well. They’ve got over the travel from playing at the club side and then travelling over. They looked fresh and last night they both trained really well.

I’m hoping they can just transfer that into the game and just enjoy themselves and make a real impact up front.

Tony Popovic in Auckland.Credit: Getty Images

I’ve just had it confirmed from Camp Socceroo that there will be no extra time if scores (on aggregate) are level at the end of today’s 90 minutes.

However - in that instance, we’ll go straight to a penalty shootout, and the winner of that will take home the prized Soccer Ashes trophy.

FYI, there are no away goals. A goal is a goal is a goal when it comes to trans-Tasman football.

And, if you’re wondering what on earth the Soccer Ashes trophy is, or why it’s even called that when England aren’t involved … well, please have a read of this. The story behind Australia and New Zealand’s long-time football rivalry, and the prize on offer, is genuinely excellent, and I’m not just saying that because I wrote it.

The prized trophy was sitting in a garage for half a century.Credit: Football Australia