Three members of Australia's World Cup squad are facing a personal challenge in their upcoming knockout match against Egypt, aiming to avenge a previous tournament defeat. The encounter, scheduled for Saturday at 4 a.m. AEST in Arlington, Texas, holds particular significance for midfielders Connor Metcalfe and Cameron Devlin, and defender Harry Souttar. These three were part of the Australian Olympic team that suffered a 2-0 loss to Egypt at the Tokyo Games, a result that ended their campaign.
Metcalfe described the past Olympic experience as a "blur" but recalled Egypt as a "big, physical team" playing in hot and humid conditions. "They ruined our dream," Metcalfe said. "So, yeah, I guess you could say it's a bit of a revenge, personally."
This time, the Socceroos will face a different Egyptian side, notably with the presence of talisman Mohamed Salah, who was controversially absent from their Olympic squad. Metcalfe and his teammates have been observing Egypt's World Cup performances, including their draw with Iran, to prepare for their approach and mentality on and off the ball.
Despite the threat posed by Egypt, Metcalfe believes Australia's counter-attacking style could be an advantage. "It could suit us, the way we set up. I think we're pretty good off the counter, so I think that could shock them a little bit," he stated. Australia's World Cup journey included an upset 2-0 victory over Turkiye in their opening match, setting them up for qualification to the knockout rounds.
Metcalfe also commented on the team's comfort in the underdog role. "We thrive as being the underdogs, I feel like we always have, but I mean whatever the odds are - it doesn't bother us," he said. He also noted the team's ability to control possession, referencing their performance against Paraguay as a highlight. "It was probably our best performance with the ball, and we were calm, and looking forward, I think we'll be aiming to do the same thing."
