Australian great Harry Kewell has sounded a warning to the current crop of Socceroos that they cannot afford to squander the limited opportunities they have at World Cup level.
It comes after the Socceroos fell 2-0 to USA in Seattle on Saturday morning [AEST] following a lackluster first half.
The second half was a much different story as coach Tony Popovic rang in the changes, with the Aussies repelling the US and preventing them from scoring again.
The Socceroos were also left frustrated as several scoring chances went begging as they tried to chase down the two-goal deficit.
Kewell enjoyed one of the most decorated international careers in Socceroos history, scoring 17 goals in 58 appearances between 1996 and 2012.
He played at three FIFA World Cups [2006, 2010 and 2014] and famously scored Australia’s equaliser against Croatia in 2006, helping the Socceroos reach the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time.
Socceroos great Harry Kewell has criticised Australia’s sluggish start against the United States after their damaging World Cup defeat
Tony Popovic’s decision to bench Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda (pictured) became a major talking point after the defeat
Kewell remains one of only a handful of Australians to score at multiple World Cups, adding another memorable goal against Ghana at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
He had plenty of praise for the US team and coach Mauricio Pochettino.
‘I thought Pochettino got the tactics right,’ Kewell said.
‘He kind of blocked up our two centre backs, kind of occupied them … their connection hurt the Australian team, especially out wide.
‘The tactics for USA were spot on.
Kewell then unleashed on the Aussies for their slow start to the first half which ultimately cost them in the crucial loss.
‘But again, for me, it was just disappointing that we didn’t have this energy in the first half,’ he said.
‘I understand that the USA may have took their foot off the pedal.
Kewell said World Cup opportunities are too rare for players not to attack every moment with maximum intensity
Popovic admitted his side looked sluggish, heavy-legged and second-best in the crucial early exchanges
‘But in moments like this, this is where you need to play constantly at 100 per cent.
‘You need to go for it, this is only a one chance that you get to play in a World Cup. And it’s every four years.
‘You have to go and attack. And I thought when we did that, we looked dangerous.’
Popovic controversially benched Nestory Irankunda and Connor Medcalfe, who both scored in the opening match against Turkey, which led to many questions on why the Socceroos started so slowly.
‘It’s a good question,’ Popovic replied when asked what went wrong in the first half.
‘I don’t know if it was the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy legged, they were quicker, they were more powerful.
‘They won every duel, they won every second ball, and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to gain any momentum.
‘Then we conceded two soft goals.’
Popovic was full of praise for his charges in the second half as they tried to run down the deficit.
‘I thought the reaction in the second half was outstanding,’ he said.
‘But obviously at this level you can’t give away that much in the first [half].’
But he remained tight-lipped on which players would start in the must-win final clash against Paraguay on Friday, June 26 at 12pm AEST.
‘Every game is different,’ he said.
‘We had a lot of fatigued bodies in the first half, physically and mentally it was tough.
‘But an outstanding second half so we’ve got to build on that.’
