Live updates: Socceroos vs USA international friendly, Road to 2026 FIFA World Cup

- with AAP

Nestory Irankunda is no doubt a sublime talent, as he is continuing so show for both the Socceroos and in the Championship with Watford.

But his spicy temper may need a cool, guiding hand to manage if he is to stay on the pitch.

Alessandro Circati told press this week that the Socceroos will do all their can to keep everyone calm in heated confrontations, as was the case at the end of the 1-0 against Canada on Saturday.

"I told the boys — specifically Nestor, because he was probably the most involved — to keep a cool head and, most importantly, not get sent off," Circati said.

"And then obviously the boss made the right decision in taking him off to possibly avoid that because there was a bit of heat and heads were starting to get a bit fiery.

"But in that sense, we just had to stay calm. They were quite aggressive, and we were as well and that's part of the game. That's how the game ended up folding out.

"So most importantly is [keeping] 11 men on the field."

Popovic embraced Irankunda when he substituted him, and later praised him both for scoring against Canada, and for not backing down when confronted.

Circati is confident that the 19-year-old winger will learn to manage those experiences, but for now his teammates will look after the teenager.

"For sure, also his way of playing can irritate players. With his speed, he can take you one-v-one, put it in space, maybe you're forced to foul him. That irritates players.

"He's still very young. He's still got a lot of football ahead of him, lot of things to learn and lots of maturity to take in and lots of experience.

"So I think slowly, slowly, he will understand everything and he'll be able to do it all alone.

"But for the moment, I think everyone's backing him, and everyone's willing to help him."

There could have been some eyebrows raised when Paul Izzo got the nod to start between the sticks for the Socceroos against Canada last time out ahead of skipper Maty Ryan.

But any questions that it was wrong to replace the squad captain with the Randers FC stopper were halted thanks to the 30-year-old's sensational performance.

That was Rizzo's third appearance for the Socceroos, his second clean sheet and the second time he has been named player of the match.

Not bad.

So is it a mistake to drop him?

Tony Popovic has been speaking on Paramount+.

He is asked about the team changes says he needs to look at other players in the squad.

"A couple to have a look at, just to see what they can do after being with us a week," he says.

"The other part of it is to freshen up [after] a short turnaround."

On swapping out Paul Izzo for Maty Ryan.

"That's what we want. We got what we hoped for, another goalkeeper who can be competitive," he says of Izzo's performance against Canada.

"Maty is our captain and we'll looking forward to his leadership."

And on starting Nick D'Agostino up front.

"He's an all-action player. He'll be aggressive, he'll be quick. He'll stretch the line," he says,

"I'm hoping, for him, he has a really good game and sets us up for the second half."

Perhaps just 45 minutes for D'Agostino then?

Morning Simon. No Irankunda or Toure in starting line up is incomprehensible imho. Goals win matches and that’s what these blokes do !

- Phillip

Hi Phillip.

You make a very good point.

I guess the thought process is that Tony Popovic has limited time with his team and these matches are welcome free hits with which to experiment.

But there could be a lack of goals in this line up.

Nicholas D'Agostino is yet to score in six Eliteserien matches for Viking FK this season.

Martin Boyle has only scored one goal for Hibs in the Scottish Premiership this year in seven games (but did score three in four during the club's Europa League qualification campaign).

Other than that, there are no natural goal scorers with goals under their belts this season in this starting XI.

Hello folks and welcome to the ABC Sport coverage of the Socceroos latest international friendly against the good ol' US of A at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado.

My name is Simon Smale and I am here to talk you through all the action as it happens over there in the mile high city, as the Socceroos look to extend their winning run to eight-straight games.

As ever, get in touch with all your comments and questions and I'll do my best to answer.

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