Santa Clara: Defender Jacob Italiano has been ruled out of the Socceroos’ World Cup clash against Paraguay and is expected to miss the rest of the tournament, further exposing the lack of available depth in what has been the team’s long-term problem position.
In a sizeable blow to Australia’s hopes, Italiano injured his groin at training on Monday (local time) and is unlikely to play any further part in their campaign, according to sources with knowledge of his fitness status.
Coach Tony Popovic confirmed the news on the eve of their Group D showdown with Paraguay, saying the extent of the 24-year-old’s injury was still to be determined by scans in the coming days.
It is the second forced change Popovic will need to make to his starting line-up with Mathew Leckie (hamstring) also unable to back up from Australia’s 2-0 defeat to the United States.
Italiano’s absence leaves a big hole on the right side of Australia’s defence. Wing-back is arguably the most demanding and tactically critical role in Popovic’s 3-4-2-1 system, with the players on either side expected to carry out both attacking and defensive responsibilities, requiring high levels of stamina and concentration.
Italiano has been a revelation at right wing-back since being blooded by Popovic in a friendly against Canada last year. The Perth Glory product immediately looked comfortable at international level, emerging as a genuine alternative in the position for the Socceroos – and then, after an Achilles injury to the incumbent Lewis Miller, an automatic starter.
There are no perfect options to replace him. Jason Geria is an experienced right-back but doesn’t offer as much going forward – which wing-backs are expected to do – while the versatile Kai Trewin was played there in the warm-up friendly against Switzerland but had a difficult game, and is more suited to central positions. Aziz Behich, a natural left-sided player, is a wildcard option.
“I’m always considering all possibilities because we’ve always shown faith in every player that’s here,” Popovic said. “Since we started this journey, every player that’s in our squad knows that he has a chance of playing, and that’s no different for tomorrow.”
Though both teams are expected to make it through to the new round of 32 phase, there is still a lot at stake. The Socceroos need a win or draw to secure a more favourable path through the knockouts: the team that finishes second in Group D will travel to Dallas to take on the second-placed team from Group G, while the third-placed side will likely face a shorter turnaround and a tougher opponent in four-time world champions Germany.
Popovic said his players had taken “great lessons” from their recent friendlies against South American teams; matches against Colombia and Venezuela last year were arranged specifically so they could be exposed to the resilience and unpredictability typical of CONMEBOL nations.
“We know that every moment, every challenge, every duel, every detail will be important against them because they are so focused, concentrated and disciplined,” Popovic said. “I feel that we’ll be able to match that in this game.”
The Socceroos have a poor overall record against South American countries, winning only nine times in 50 games – and none of those victories came in competitive matches.
They will have to negotiate that challenge with three players – defenders Jordan Bos, Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati – walking a yellow card tightrope, facing suspension in Australia’s next match if they receive another caution.
Popovic said he was buoyed by the reaction he has seen from his players to their disastrous first-half performance against the USA in Seattle, which coaches have framed this week as the one poor half they have played at this World Cup from four.
“They’re growing day by day, even quicker than I anticipated,” he said of his squad, having named two of the youngest starting XIs in the tournament thus far.
“These young boys are learning on the go. It’s very quick education and lessons that we are learning. I’m seeing them grow as young men, I’m seeing them grow as players, I’m seeing them mature. I’m seeing them enjoying and embracing the greatest challenge of all, which is the World Cup. It doesn’t get greater than this.
“We know nothing is given to you at a World Cup. We’ll have to earn everything tomorrow night. We expect that, we actually want that. That’s how it should be.”
Popovic’s final match as a player for the Socceroos was against Paraguay in a friendly at the old Allianz Stadium in 2006, a few months after that year’s World Cup.
He even headed in a Mark Bresciano free kick to score a rare goal at international level in the 88th minute – something Popovic was keen to remind reporters about in his pre-match press conference, and even Alessandro Circati, who was sat beside him.
He was then subbed off to a hero’s reception – but the player who replaced him, Michael Beauchamp, conceded an own goal minutes later, and it ended in a 1-1 draw. Nearly 20 years on, a repeat of that result would still be plenty good enough for what they need right now.
