‘He’s got the quality – now it’s time for him to show it’:Socceroos coach throws down gauntlet to Irankunda

Six weeks ago,he was deemed too mentally fragile to play for Australia’s under-23s – but Nestory Irankunda’s response to his Olyroos disappointment proved he was ready to play for the Socceroos,according to Graham Arnold.

The Bayern Munich-bound teenager will begin what will hopefully be a long and prosperous international career next week,after being picked in Arnold’s 25-man squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine.

Irankundawas a train-on player with the Socceroos for last year’s March window,but this represents his first proper senior call-up – and it has not come without drama.

Despite being arguably the most potent and dynamic attacking player in the A-League this past season,the 18-year-old was overlooked by Olyroos coach Tony Vidmar for their failed Paris 2024 qualification campaign. The omission was not because he wasn’t good enough,but because Vidmar said to select Irankunda could risk causing him “damage”, and amplify the hurricane of hype swirling around him. Vidmar believed that it was in the broader interests of Irankunda and the Australian game that he remained with Adelaide United.

Irankunda and his minders were miffed by his non-selection,but he unleashed his frustrations on the field,setting up two goals in a blistering performance days after Vidmar’s comments.

Asked what had changed regarding Irankunda’s maturity,Arnold said:“Probably his reaction to that. His reaction after that was very good.

“He’s got the quality,he’s got the ability,and now it’s time for him to show it.”

Arnold said he was surprised byIrankunda’s veiled threat last week that he would consider playing for Tanzania or Burundi if the Socceroos didn’t come calling soon – because he had already told Irankunda and his agent that he would be selected,and that he had flown to Melbourne to watch him play for the A-League All Stars to monitor his physical condition.

“But the major point of that was that he said his dream was to play with the Socceroos,” Arnold said. “And when I spoke to him last week,that was his dream – and his dream will be fulfilled.”

Irankunda is one of several headline inclusions in Arnold’s squad,along with a recall for Daniel Arzani,the former whiz-kid who hasn’t played for the Socceroos since his three eye-catching appearances off the bench at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

While his career hit the skids straight afterwards – Arzani had a rough,injury-plagued stint on Manchester City’s books,and was farmed out to five different clubs on loan – the 25-year-old has recaptured some of his previous form at Melbourne Victory this season and was arguably their best player inSaturday night’s grand final defeat to the Central Coast Mariners.

“I think he’s had a very good season under Tony Popovic,” Arnold said.

“I think Tony Popovic has got the best out of him,and you can see his work rate defensively has improved out of sight. He still has that action,and what I have been impressed with is his final ball or his final pass or his end product,and that has stepped up a level,which is great.”

Alessandro Circati,the 20-year-old central defender,is also back with the national team after helping Parma win promotion to Serie A. He is another long-term hope for Australia.

But while this window will be a new beginning for players such as Circati,Irankunda and Arzani,others will arrive into camp at a personal crossroads.

Harry Souttar,the defensive hero of Australia’s 2022 World Cup,is facing an uncertain future at club level after playing just four times for Leicester City as they were promoted to the Premier League. The coach who continually snubbed him,Enzo Maresca,is reportedly set to become Chelsea’s new manager – so it’s unclear if Souttar’s best move in search of regular game time is to leave or stay,depending on who is appointed as his successor.

Either way,Arnold said Souttar’s limbo had gone on “a bit too long”,especially as other centre-backs like Circati are thriving at club level and could soon overtake him in the pecking order.

All up,Arnold has made 11 changes to the squad that beat Lebanon twice in March to seal qualification for the next round,effectivelyturning these matches against Bangladesh and Palestine into dead rubbers. While that has given the coach room to experiment,he is still eager to win both games to boost the Socceroos’ FIFA ranking and secure the best path possible to the 2026 tournament in the US,Canada and Mexico.

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Irankunda is one of three uncapped players in the squad,along with Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo and Newcastle Jets striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos,who had a career-best 17-goal campaign in the A-League. Josh Nisbet,this year’s Johnny Warren Medal winner,has retained his spot after playing a leading role in the Mariners’ treble success.

Socceroos skipper Maty Ryan has been rested due to a slight knee niggle,withAston Villa’s Joe Gauci set to don the gloves in his absence. Saudi Arabia-based winger Craig Goodwin is also sidelined due to injury.

The team will train in Thailand before flying into Bangladesh the day before Thursday night’s clash,and then head immediately after the match to Perth,where they will meet Palestine at HBF Park on June 11.

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