Australia’s heartbreaking World Cup exit has sparked a furious backlash after fans accused senior Socceroos players of leaving teenage defender Lucas Herrington to shoulder the burden of one of the biggest moments in Australian football history.
The Socceroos crashed out of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Egypt ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat, with captain Harry Souttar and 18-year-old Herrington both missing from the spot.
Herrington’s miss ended Australia’s hopes, but online criticism focused on the senior players and staff who let him take the crucial kick.
One supporter wrote: ‘Some of them Australian players are cowards, how you letting an 18 year old kid take a penalty when there’s grown men on the pitch? Feel bad for him.’
Another said Herrington deserved admiration rather than blame.
‘Fair play to Lucas Herrington for having the courage to step up and take that penalty. He deserves credit for that.
Lucas Herrington, 18, missed Australia’s decisive penalty in heartbreaking fashion against Egypt on Saturday
The 18-year-old defender was praised for his courage but fans questioned why senior players did not step up
Fans accused experienced Socceroos stars of leaving Herrington exposed in one of Australian football’s biggest moments
‘He missed, but he willingly put himself in the firing line. He accepted the pressure when plenty of others have hidden.
‘But here’s the bigger question: how is an 18-year-old centre-back taking a penalty in a World Cup shootout for Australia?
‘Where were the senior players? Where were the experienced heads meant to carry that responsibility?’
A third supporter questioned how Australia’s leadership group had allowed the situation to unfold.
‘Huge credit to Lucas Herrington for having the confidence to step up and take a penalty at the age of 18.
‘My question though is how have the rest of the team and the coaching staff allowed an 18 year old to be put in that situation?
‘How is nobody else in the team stepping up to take that so he isn’t having to take that responsibility?’
Another fan added: ‘Letting 18 year old Centre Back Lucas Herrington with 6 National caps to his name shoot such an important Penalty at the #WorldCup Round of 32… Bruh.’
Others focused on the character Herrington showed despite the devastating outcome.
‘Lucas Herrington, 18, missed for Australia in the shootout against Egypt. Showed tremendous belief to put himself in that position in a World Cup match – the kind that will allow him to bounce back.’
Former Scotland captain Scott Brown also questioned Australia’s penalty order during the BBC’s coverage, noting that two centre-backs had been entrusted with spot kicks in the shootout.
The penalty sequence began badly when Harry Souttar failed to convert Australia’s opening attempt before Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil both scored.
Herrington then stepped forward knowing he had to score to keep Australia’s hopes alive, but his effort sailed over the crossbar before Egypt sealed a 4-2 shootout victory.
Despite the criticism, Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine quickly defended both teammates after the match.
‘We said from the beginning we have a champion team. Our strength is in the team. It’s not about any player. We are a unit. We do everything together. We win together, we lose together – everything.
‘So, yeah, the boys, as I said, they have been immense, the two of them, throughout this tournament, to step up and take a penalty is not easy. They have all the boys’ support.’
Tony Popovic refused to blame either player after Australia’s World Cup campaign ended in Dallas heartbreak
The Colorado Rapids defender has enjoyed a rapid rise after coming through Brisbane Roar’s youth pathway
Coach Tony Popovic also refused to dwell on the missed penalties.
‘I’m extremely proud for them. I haven’t even thought about the player whose missed the penalties. Unfortunately we go home and the World Cup ends for us.’
Even American sports commentator Skip Bayless weighed into Australia’s dramatic exit, focusing on Popovic’s decision to substitute goalkeeper Patrick Beach into the match shortly before the shootout.
‘Wow. Whoa. Australia went with its co-goalie after going 1-1 to the shootout … and lost to Egypt. That move will be second-guessed for years Down Under.’
Herrington entered the tournament as Australia’s youngest-ever World Cup starter and had earned widespread praise for his composure throughout the group stage.
His World Cup nightmare came after a stunning rise that had already made him one of Australian football’s most exciting young talents.
The 18-year-old was born in Australia after his parents moved from Zimbabwe in search of a better life.
He attended Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane, where coach Scott MacNicol first spotted his ability when Herrington was still a nine-year-old playing for Brisbane City.
‘I saw him when he was about nine for Brisbane City, he was playing against my club at Rochedale, and you saw a talent in him back then,’ MacNicol said.
‘You just saw his football intelligence was amazing back then, he had a presence about him and calmness that is still shown today.
‘He was such a good technical player, and what you see now is what he was back then – a fantastic player on the ball, and nothing fazed him.’
Herrington later became a key figure at Churchie, helping the school reach the final four of the Bill Turner Cup before anchoring their GPS premiership-winning side.
Despite already being on a professional pathway, he continued playing school football whenever available and never missed training.
Once he joined Brisbane Roar’s youth system, mentor Sekou Jomanday said Herrington quickly stood out for his composure and ability on the ball.
‘The first thing I noticed about him was how good he was on the ball for a centre back, you don’t see that often,’ Jomanday said.
‘The passes he’s doing now, he was doing it back then, and you thought “woah, how is he doing this?”‘
Herrington only left Brisbane Roar six months ago, joining Colorado Rapids in a club-record deal worth about $1million, and has already been linked with Barcelona.
