Source : ABC NEWS
As emotions spilled over for both Australia and Egypt, Jackson Irvine spoke with Lucas Herrington.
The 18-year-old had just missed his spot kick, and watched as Egypt’s Hossam Abdelmaguid converted to end the Socceroos’ World Cup dream.
“There’s not many words you can say to a player in that moment,” Irvine said.
“It’s a team first and it’s not about any one player in any moment.
“For him to step up in that moment takes incredible steel.”
Lucas Herrington (No.25), at just 18, took Australia’s final penalty. (MB Media/Getty Images)
Australia had gone into the match with a belief it could finally win a knockout stage game, and enjoyed periods of dominance, but couldn’t find a decisive goal.
The pain of the defeat was apparent across the ground as Egypt’s players celebrated, and the Socceroos embraced.
Irvine was confident the experience, however difficult it felt in the aftermath, would make Australia better.
“You’ve got to allow yourself to feel it. It’s the hardest part. To feel it all,” Irvine said.
“The hurt, the disappointment, the heartbreak, all the effort and hope that goes into today.
“That’s what will drive you forward. Not wanting to feel the same way again.”
The Socceroos were devastated after losing on penalties to Egypt, as their World Cup came to an end. (orbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
An emotional Irvine praised his teammates.
“They’re a fantastic group of players, professionals, the ones that are here, some that aren’t,” he said.
‘We’ve set the bar’
Aziz Behich has been to three World Cups and has now experienced the pain of elimination in the first knockout round.
In 2022, his last-ditch effort was denied by a lunging tackle from Lisandro Martinez of Argentina. In 2026, he watched as his teammates failed to convert two penalties, and Egypt went through.
“I think now we’ve set the bar,” Behich said after the loss.
“Two World Cups in a row; we’ve reached the knockout stages.
Aziz Behich has twice made the knockout stages, but never won one. (MB Media/Getty Images)
“No-one else has set the bar for us. That’s us as a squad and as players and staff.
“We’ve done that from the way we’ve worked and the way we’ve played to get ourselves in this position.
“So I think that’s got to be the standard from now on, getting out of the group and hopefully next World Cup we’ll be knocking on the door and getting out the knockout stages.”
With the talent on show and the age profile of the squad, Australia appears on the cusp of a new generation of stars, and of winning a World Cup knockout game.
“I’ve got no doubt that there’s players in that dressing room that will be the ones that go and take that next step,” Irvine said.
But they’ll have to wait until 2030.
