Down but not out: Socceroos take heart from positives in defeat to USA | Jack Snape

T he Socceroos are down, but they are not out. The 2-0 defeat to the USA was a sudden comedown after the glories of the previous week, a deflating diversion from a previously promising North American adventure. Forty-five minutes, however, does not ruin a promising World Cup campaign. The second half revival in Seattle, when the Socceroos matched and pressured the hosts – even if their opponents might have eased off the accelerator – provided a blueprint for the Socceroos ahead of their match against Paraguay in San Francisco on Thursday (Friday AEST). If there was doubt about Nestory Irankunda’s importance to Australia, it has been dispelled. The 20-year-old was player of the match against Turkey, and changed the game in the second half against the USA. His aggression and appetite for contact set the tone of the Australian advance. Many were surprised by his omission from the XI in Seattle. The man himself was disappointed. “I would have preferred to start, of course. For me, it was the biggest game. It was the game that I looked most forward to,” he said. “I would have loved to play from the start and create some things and score some goals, but obviously the coach decided different. He wanted to approach the game differently, which is fine with me, you know. I play for the team, not for myself, so I’m really happy.” Irankunda alone cannot shoulder the hopes of Australia at this tournament. …