FOLLOW SOCCEROOS V USA LIVE ONLINE IN OUR LIVE BLOG<\/a><\/p>\n FEATURE: Inside the Miracle of Mat Leckie & the \u2018biggest risk\u2019 that saved his World Cup dream<\/a><\/p>\n It is a great indication as to the approach today, picking two tactically astute players with pace, mobility and a work ethic to press and work aggressively against a match that could be a bruising encounter and one in which many tip the hosts to come out of the blocks. <\/p>\n That will leave the likes of Irankunda, Cristian Volpato, Metcalfe, Ajdin Hrustic and Awer Mabil as difference makers if Australia needs to change the game in the second half. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n Irankunda\u2019s omission might surprise fans new to the Socceroos, given his exploits in Vancouver. But the 20-year-old put in an enormous shift and in a match where Mauricio Pochettino promised his side will push the physical boundaries right until the edge, Popovic has opted to leave the youngster out of the furnace, to come on and cause havoc when there\u2019s a bit more space in the game. He was caught in the centre of the combustible atmosphere in the October friendly in Denver, as well, which the USA won 2-1 and Pochettino revealed yesterday was a catalyst for him telling his side to muscle up physically after they\u2019d been pushed around by the Socceroos in that first-half. <\/a><\/p>\n In his place he has two players he trusts implicitly; Leckie a player he expedited into the squad as soon as he proved his fitness, a player with high tactical IQ and who has thrived at this level, scoring against Denmark in Qatar. He is not the explosive winger he once was, but is a player that should help the Socceroos keep their composure on this stage. Velupillay, meanwhile, is a player Popovic has mentored at Victory and promoted into the Australian set-up since, and brings a robust, physical, disciplined and athletic solution. <\/p>\n \u201cWe always call him like a bit of a hybrid because he plays well between the lines but he also likes to run in behind where you have to when it\u2019s a high line. You have to try and penetrate in behind,\u201d Popovic said when announcing his squad. <\/p>\n \u201c(He\u2019s) a player that can get much, much better, of course, but we saw some very good signs last night.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m pleased to see him keep developing now and very delighted for him and his family because I obviously know him from the Melbourne Victory days and I saw him as a very skinny young kid with no muscle, no power.<\/p>\n \u201cI look at him now and I think\u2026 a strong young man, a lot of belief in himself and I\u2019m very happy that he\u2019s made the cut.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Lucas Herrington and Irvine, two players mooted as potential inclusions, will remain on the bench, with no changes through the spine of the XI.<\/p>\n The line-up split the pundits working on Australian television, with Harry Kewell backing Popovic, while former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng saying it showed Popovic\u2019s defensive mindset, failing to seize the moment. <\/p>\n \u201cPopovic knows what he\u2019s doing,\u201d Kewell said on SBS.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were shocked from the first starting line-up when they played against Turkiye, and we were questioning him then, and now everyone seems to be questioning his line-up now. I think it\u2019s the right decision.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been watching them all week, the lead up to it, he knows what the USA can bring, he may want a little bit more security in and around those areas, and I believe that these Leckie and Velupillay can bring that.\u201d<\/p>\n His SBS co-panellist, former Ghana World Cup star Kevin-Prince Boateng, had a very different take on the selection calls.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry Harry, we agree on a lot of things, but I need to disagree with that,\u201d Boateng said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have this massive game, you have a possibility to get another three points, have six points, be top of the group, going through with that win, and you take out your biggest threat? I think that\u2019s showing again, \u2018I want to play defensive\u2019 against a team that is the same level.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see those Americans as so dangerous. They have some three or four good players, but I would go out with my biggest fireworks against their biggest fireworks, and we see which fireworks are bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2280562770.webp\")
Mathew Leckie, ready for a fourth World Cup. Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/074A3643_cropped-scaled-e1781892295745-1024x577.webp\")
Australia\u2019s Nishan Velupillay. Photo: Aleksandar Jason.<\/p>\n
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