![\"Jordan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2ef405cb38ebde73f7f2b65766790df267d6eb91.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThe streak is over, but the optimism remains. For the first time under Tony Popovic, the Socceroos have had their colours lowered. Though the 2-1 defeat to the United States will sting, more crucial steps forward were taken by his ever-evolving team.<\/p>\n
A sensational individual effort from Jordan Bos was cancelled out by a pair of strikes from Coventry City\u2019s Haji Wright, either side of half-time on Wednesday (AEDT), bringing to an end Australia\u2019s seven-game winning streak and 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic.<\/p>\n
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Jordan Bos.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The good news, if you can call it that, is that both goals conceded were preventable. It wasn\u2019t as if the USA carved them open at will. They were the result of momentary switch-offs, the likes of which the Socceroos rarely have under Popovic \u2013 particularly the second, which came after a contentious free kick was taken quickly, catching their defence on the hop, just seven minutes after half-time.<\/p>\n
And while they couldn\u2019t find an equaliser, the search was conducted in an encouraging manner. In the second half, they generated eight shots to the USA\u2019s four; with some better finishing, a draw or better was eminently possible.<\/p>\n
All in all, not a bad effort for a group still coming to terms with the demands of not only international football, but Popovic\u2019s elite demands \u2013 and against a side ranked No.16 in the world, featuring many players seeing regular minutes at top European clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of the result, it\u2019s not what we wanted,\u201d said skipper Maty Ryan. \u201cBut within the performance, there was lots of positives to take \u2013 and the boss wanted to make sure that that message was clear also.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is an Australian side with a level of attacking weaponry unseen since the days of the golden generation. The sheer dynamism of bustling wing-back Bos, who created his 19th-minute goal from basically nothing, and the electricity of Nestory Irankunda, a second-half substitute, will be a handful for any opposition trying to contain them on the counter-attack.<\/p>\n
The way Popovic\u2019s attacking players executed their high press troubled the Americans \u2013 but, in turn, his players, particularly the younger ones, were troubled by the high-altitude conditions, which left them gasping for air and unable to repeat their efforts as they ordinarily would.<\/p>\n
For a beaten manager, Popovic was upbeat in his post-match press conference, describing the performance as better than the one that delivered victory over Canada at the weekend, coming against an even better side.<\/p>\n
With only four days to acclimatise to the conditions after travelling from Montreal, the experience will hold them in good stead should they be exposed to the same thing in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally good learning curve for us,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve learned that we will be competitive, and we can compete. We went out there with a real positive mindset, and I thought the players showed a lot of bravery, and they were really courageous at times on the ball to try and play through them and created some good moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, this window marked the discovery of another strong World Cup option in Jacob Italiano, the Austria-based right-back who was a late inclusion in Popovic\u2019s squad but started both games, and more than held his own.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully there\u2019s a lot more to come,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n
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Nick D\u2019Agostino, who has struggled for game time with his club in Norway, also threw himself about up front in his usual battering ram style. Mohamed Toure is the clubhouse leader as the Socceroos\u2019 top striker, but the race to be his back-up is hotting up, putting pressure on veteran Mitch Duke, who came on late for his 50th cap, but too late to affect the game.<\/p>\n