‘The ref was having a stinker’: Nestory Irankunda takes aim after Socceroos loss

1 hour ago 1

Vince Rugari

Seattle: It’s not only frustrated Socceroos fans who want to see the team play with a little bit more attacking intent. The players do, too.

They, of course, do not blame coach Tony Popovic. They mostly blame themselves – including Nestory Irankunda, who was more concerned with the opportunities he says he wasted against the United States, rather than complaining about the ones he didn’t.

Nestory Irankunda reacts to a decision by the referee.Getty Images

But Irankunda was not happy with referee Felix Zwayer, who let numerous potential fouls go on him and his teammates during their surge in the second half.

Metcalfe also had a penalty shout waved away while Popovic was perplexed with the decision to award the USA’s second goal, in which goalkeeper Patrick Beach appeared to be interfered with by an offside player.

“The ref was having a stinker today,” Irankunda said. “But it is what it is. He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but, at the same time, there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways. And he didn’t do that today.”

As the team began to digest their 2-0 defeat in Seattle, few players could offer an explanation as to why they couldn’t adequately respond to the USA’s phenomenal intensity in the first half, which forced them onto their heels.

But they knew what they needed more of: aggression, enterprise, fearlessness. And they knew who had just given it to them, off the bench.

Collectively, their comments painted a compelling case for a more positive approach to be taken in their next game against Paraguay, and for specific individuals to be at the centre of it.

“That’s what happens when you dare to go forward and be on your front foot,” said striker Mohamed Toure.

“You can make chances, and that’s what we changed in the second half.”

Connor Metcalfe was excellent off the bench.Getty Images

Toure was referring to the half-time introduction of Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, the two goalscorers against Turkey who were dropped to the bench by Popovic, who preferred Nishan Velupillay and Mathew Leckie instead.

While Popovic’s controversial selections last week worked out, these simply did not.

Velupillay was subbed off at the interval after struggling for impact, while Leckie appeared to succumb to injury 15 minutes later, which was always a chance given the veteran’s recent fitness record.

In contrast, Metcalfe’s creative eye and the raw pace and power of Irankunda immediately provided the Socceroos with what they had been missing. Together, they changed the game in the second half, although they could not change the result.

Irankunda, 20, said he was happy to know there was a debate raging back home over Popovic’s call to bench him, but respectfully deferred to his boss on the matter of his role.

“I would have preferred to start, of course,” Irankunda said.

“For me, it was the biggest game ... the game that I looked most forward to. I would have loved to play from the start and create some things and score some goals. But obviously, the coach decided different. He wanted to approach the game differently, which is fine with me. I play for the team, not for myself. I just try to give my best every game that I play.

“I still tried my best to give something for the team and also for the nation. But, in the end, I didn’t do that, so I’m not too happy with myself and I’m not too happy with how we performed. But we go again.”

Cristian Volpato’s competitive debut for the Socceroos was impressive.Getty Images

The question now for Popovic is whether he can afford to leave Irankunda out again, given he poses a danger to the opposition that no other Australian player can equal.

Midfielder Aiden O’Neill summed up Irankunda’s presence on the field thus: “He’s such a threat in behind with his pace. When we win the ball back, you can see the fear in defenders’ eyes.”

Meanwhile, Cristian Volpato came on for Leckie and mounted his own case for a bigger role against Paraguay, completing more dribbles (five) in his half-hour on the pitch than any other player in the match – immediately showcasing the coup Australia have pulled off by winning his allegiance from Italy.

He played Irankunda through on goal with a brilliant pass off his first touch of the ball but was left to rue his own missed attempt later in the second half.

“I’m a player that loves to take the risk,” Volpato said.

“I feel in football you have to take the risk to get a reward. I thought I could have scored there, but that’s what I try to do: I try to help the team, lift the spirits.”

Volpato’s display received thoroughly positive reviews from his teammates. “I thought he had a really good performance, it made a big difference,” said defender Jason Geria.

“He imposed himself on the game. It was a perfect scenario for him to come on and express himself. He likes to dribble and get in between the lines. Hopefully we can see a bit more of him throughout the rest of the tournament.”

As for what happened in the first 45 minutes, nobody could put their finger on it.

“It looked like everything was dropping their way,” said midfielder Jackson Irvine.

“They were obviously super aggressive early on in the game, as you expect them to be at a home game and home World Cup. We probably just didn’t find quite enough to match them. It just felt that the momentum was with them and we struggled to find that switch.

“It’s learning. It’s part of football at this level. These young players, they just bounce back. They’ll be ready to go and put it right next week.

“They won’t be dwelling on this, they’ll just be thinking, ‘Right, next one, point to prove again.’ And that’s when they show their best stuff sometimes, in those most difficult moments.”