{"id":150173,"date":"2026-07-03T08:33:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T11:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/socceroos-enter-unfamiliar-territory-with-chance-to-make-history-against-egypt-australia-national-football-team-socceroos\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T08:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T11:33:31","slug":"socceroos-enter-unfamiliar-territory-with-chance-to-make-history-against-egypt-australia-national-football-team-socceroos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/socceroos-enter-unfamiliar-territory-with-chance-to-make-history-against-egypt-australia-national-football-team-socceroos\/","title":{"rendered":"Socceroos enter unfamiliar territory with chance to make history against Egypt | Australia national football team \u2013 Socceroos"},"content":{"rendered":"

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D<\/span>ead ahead, the Socceroos stare at a destination they have never been to before. No, it\u2019s not the gargantuan silver tortoise shell called Dallas Stadium, under which their last-32 World Cup<\/a> clash against Egypt will be played on Friday (Saturday 4am AEST). Rather, it is victory in a World Cup knockout match, something that has eluded them on the two previous occasions they have progressed beyond the group stage.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s coach, Tony Popovic, is aware of the stakes. \u201cIf we perform very well, we have a chance to make history, that\u2019s what we\u2019re working towards,\u201d he said at the pre-match press conference. \u201cThe players are ready, they\u2019re relaxed. Tomorrow, we put on a top performance and it gives us a chance to make that history as a side.\u201d<\/p>\n

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From the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the Socceroos departed deflated. This was a team who needed a penalty shootout victory over Peru just to make it to the World Cup, but had gone on to win two games at the tournament for the first time. Their optimism was quashed in the knockout rounds, however, when they went down valiantly 2-1 to Lionel Messi\u2019s Argentina, the eventual champions. Garang Kuol\u2019s late saved shot remains a nagging what-if, four years later.<\/p>\n

Further back, in 2006, Socceroos\u2019 hearts were less deflated than broken. The golden generation had Italy \u2013 again, the team that would go on to lift the trophy \u2013 where they wanted them, as they headed towards extra-time with an extra player on the pitch and two fresh substitutes ready. But Fabio Grosso went down in the penalty area, and that was that.<\/p>\n

The good news is that in 2026 no one thinks Egypt is going to win the World Cup, with or without their striker Mo Salah<\/a>. An Australian knockout victory \u2013 to break new ground, to launch into unfamiliar territory \u2013 is closer than it has ever been.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>The Socceroos train in Dallas.<\/span> Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But Popovic\u2019s team are not getting ahead of themselves. \u201cWe can\u2019t overthink that and be caught up by the occasion, we have to really stay in the moment,\u201d he said. \u201cThe history gets made after the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

While much of the focus this week has been on Salah\u2019s hamstring, the Socceroos are not without their own selection quandaries. A new-look right flank of Jordy Bos and Cristian Volpato impressed against Paraguay but right-sided players such as Jason Geria or Kai Trewin could provide a more orthodox look.<\/p>\n

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