How Socceroos will reboot for high-stakes Paraguay game

Anna Harrington | June 21, 2026

The Socceroos are adamant they have learned from wilting under a physical barrage from the United States as they plot a swift response from the get-go against Paraguay.

Plenty of the post-mortem from Saturday’s 2-0 loss in Seattle centred around coach Tony Popovic’s call to bench last-start goal scorers Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.

But Popovic also talked about being sluggish out of the blocks and struggling to go with the US physically in the first half.

Midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler described the US loss as the most physical match of his career and expected a similar match against Paraguay.

“We didn’t come out of the blocks strong, and I think that that put us on the back foot in the first half,” Okon-Engstler said.

Fellow midfielder Jackson Irvine watched the first half from the bench.

“Probably the main thing that we have to get better from the first half is just being able to come into the duels and arrive in the physical side of the game a little bit better, and ride through those difficult moments,” Irvine said.

“… I don’t think in the first half we really managed to drag ourselves out of those difficult moments. And then the second half, we came out and we looked much more front foot, much more aggressive.

“We were arriving into tackles and winning second balls and it looked like a totally different kind of performance. 

“So I think if we can do that from the beginning, or at least find a way to change that momentum a little bit within the half, then it’ll give us a much better chance of being competitive from the beginning.”

Irvine was adamant the slow start wasn’t a fitness issue, but conceded there could be “a little bit of a mental factor”.

Popovic took pride in Australia’s second-half response which Irvine believes was a combination of substitutions and mentally resetting at the break.

“We spoke after the game and the boss said something that resonated pretty true,” Irvine said.

“Which is sometimes when you come on in a game like that, it’s a little bit easier to come on and be on the front foot.

“But the boys who were out there in the first half and then managed to come out and flick the switch in the second half, that’s a real testament to them – to be able to come back out and improve their own performances and be more on the front foot, because that’s sometimes more difficult.”

There will clearly be a watch on whether Popovic trusts Irankunda and Cristian Volpato to try to put Australia on the front foot against Paraguay.

Irvine noted that pair’s quality and speed and felt Australia’s attackers could have an impact in a potentially more open game.

Paraguay eliminated Turkey with their gutsy 1-0 win.

The Socceroos will finish second behind the US in group D and head to Dallas if they secure a draw or win in Santa Clara over Paraguay on Thursday night (Friday AEST).

Defeat, though, will consign Australia to third spot and a nervous wait to see if they are one of the eight best third-placed teams to go through – and face a tougher round-of-32 opponent.

Mathew Leckie (hamstring) limped off on the hour mark, though as yet there has been no update on the injury-plagued veteran.

“He’s here, he’s with the boys and we all hope for the best for him,” Irvine said. 

“I’ve got no idea what the situation is, but he’s such an important part of the group, and we hope that he’s able to be here and be amongst it for as long as possible.”