Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Put the trash talking aside – the Socceroos don’t need to have it laid out how important their World Cup clash with the United States is.
One sentiment came up multiple times ahead of the blockbuster at Seattle Stadium on Friday (5am Saturday AEST): this match is seriously “high-stakes”.
Australia will want to silence the American pundits who have been lining up to have a crack at them – but there are bigger things on the line.
After shocking Turkey 2-0 first up and snagging three points, the Socceroos have earned themselves a golden opportunity.
Beat the US and they’ll almost certainly top group D before even playing Paraguay.
Even a draw should at least guarantee progression, depending on how Turkey and Paraguay fare in their clash.
There is plenty to gain from finishing top of the group for the Socceroos, who are out to win a knockout match for the first time at this World Cup.
The group winners will play a best third-placed team from one of groups B, E, F, I or J and get to stay on the west coast, with their round-of-32 game in Santa Clara, round-of-16 in Seattle and quarter-final in Los Angeles.
The runners-up hit the road to Arlington, Texas, for a clash with the group G runners-up – either Belgium, Iran, New Zealand or Egypt.
Were the Socceroos to get through as one of the best third-placed teams, things get complicated and much more daunting.
Australia could land in Foxborough and face group E winners – widely expected to be Germany – or head to New Jersey to face the group I winners, likely France or Norway.
The third option is a date in Kansas City with the winners of group K – probably Portugal or Colombia.
With so much on the line, coach Tony Popovic will be ticking off every detail in a bid to snatch a result against the US.
Popovic shocked Australia when he dropped captain Maty Ryan and vice-captain Jackson Irvine for Patrick Beach and Paul Okon-Engstler, respectively, against Turkey, while also starting Nestory Irankunda.
All three big calls paid off in spades.
But whether Popovic sticks with an unchanged line-up or throws it out the window altogether, nothing would now surprise.
“You saw the changes the boss made. He could make them again. He might not,” defender Alessandro Circati said this week.
“I’ve actually got no idea. It’s all up to him.”
Either way, the Socceroos coach has earned the right to be backed in.
“I don’t think you’re going to show all your cards in the first game of the group stage,” defender Kai Trewin said.
One card Popovic is yet to play at the World Cup is winger Cristian Volpato, who only defected from Italy last month.
Australia will train at their Oakland base before flying to Seattle on Thursday.
From a US perspective, all eyes will be on playmaker Christian Pulisic, who is battling a left calf injury.
