Rising Stars and Exciting Prospects for the Socceroos
The recent attention on Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda has been a positive development for coach Tony Popovic. The 20-year-old has made a significant impact both internationally and at his club, Watford, where he scored four goals and provided four assists in the English Championship during his first season. This performance has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Everton and Crystal Palace.
Popovic expressed his enthusiasm about the growing interest in Irankunda, stating that such speculation is a sign of the player’s progress. “We’ll see. I mean, that type of speculation is positive, so there’s nothing negative about that,” he said ahead of the team’s pre-World Cup training camp in Sarasota, Florida.
He emphasized the importance of allowing Irankunda to focus on his preparation for the World Cup. “The boy will have a little break now and he’ll come in, and I think we know how talented he is. Exciting young player, he’s a wonderful young man, so I have a good relationship with him, and I don’t want to make too much of it.”
Mohamed Toure’s Impressive Form
Another player who has caught the attention of Popovic is 22-year-old striker Mohamed Toure. The forward joined Norwich City in January and quickly made an impact, scoring 10 goals—including two hat-tricks—and recording three assists despite missing some games due to a groin injury.
Popovic praised Toure’s confidence and performance. “Exciting. Obviously I know that league very well, and I’ve seen a lot of the games that he’s played, and he looks full of confidence,” he said. “His team has really played well in the second half of the year. So they’ve done a great job, and I think that has really helped him to settle in quickly, scoring early, so he’s full of confidence and I look forward to seeing him soon.”
A New Generation of Talent
In addition to Irankunda and Toure, the Socceroos are also looking at other young talents. Paul Okon Jnr, a 21-year-old midfielder from Sydney FC, has shown promise and could be a key player in the future. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Marcus Younis from Melbourne City and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington, a defender from Colorado Rapids, are also part of the emerging group.
Popovic highlighted the potential of these young players. “When you look at these young boys and Lucas Herrington coming through, whether it’s now or in the future, that should be exciting, or Younis whether it’s now or in the future, that should be exciting for Australians.”
He also noted the growth of Paul Okon Jnr, who recently returned to the squad after playing for Benfica under 23. “Paulie should be the future of Socceroos for the next couple of World Cups, and should be the main midfielder there. So there’s a lot of excitement around that.”
Upcoming Friendly Matches
Before the final squad selection, the Socceroos will play a series of friendly matches. The team will face Mexico in Los Angeles on May 31, followed by Switzerland in San Diego on June 7. They will then take on Turkey in Vancouver on June 14, the United States in Seattle six days later, and Paraguay in Santa Clara on June 26 (all dates AEST).
These matches provide crucial opportunities for the players to showcase their abilities and prepare for the challenges of the World Cup. Popovic remains focused on ensuring that the team is in the best possible position to perform on the global stage.
