In Brief
- Jedinak defended Popovic's defensive lineup in the first half of the match against the USA.
- The Socceroos are gearing up to face a "determined" Paraguay on Friday.
Socceroos assistant coach Mile Jedinak has hit back at critics after Australia's national team were outclassed by a superior USA in a 2-0 loss on Saturday.
"You guys are entitled to your opinion. That's absolutely fine," he told the press on Monday morning AEST.
"You're never going to make everybody happy. We understand that."
Facing the home team in a full stadium of nearly 70,000 USA fans in Seattle, the Socceroos floundered in the first half and conceded two goals — including an own goal in the 11th minute from defender Cam Burgess.
Jedinak, himself a former Socceroos captain from 2014 to 2018, bristled at the suggestion that coach Tony Popovic's strategy was relying too much on defence at the expense of attack.
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"Who's the pundits talking then? Tell me. Go on. Who's saying that then?"
"It's easy to be a pundit."
Defence of Popovic
Australians were surprised to wake up on Saturday morning to find Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe absent from the starting lineup.
Both were goalscorers in the 2-0 win against Türkiye in the Socceroos' World Cup opener the previous Sunday.
Popovic was criticised for his decision to focus on a defensive strategy.
Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster questioned Popovic's decision to bench Irankunda after his standout display in the opening match.
"He was so brilliant in the first game. And the importance of the game against Türkiye was we went one-nil up instead of one-nil down," he told SBS.
"That's critical when you have a defensive style of play. So, you know, I think that decision has probably cost him. He's come on now in the second half to try and chase the game again. That's the most difficult position to be in."
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said: "The game was over before it even started."
"Very rarely in any sport — and let alone football — that two goal-scorers from one of the greatest wins in Australian football history are left out of the next game. And I think it upset the whole balance."
In comments to the media after the match, Popovic said: "I'm not sure how much the personnel made a difference in that first half."
While Jedinak said that it's "never nice" to lose a game "at any level, let alone at the World Cup", he defended Popovic's approach.
"Each coach brings their own style to them as individuals, and it runs true to them," he said.
"The decisions have to be taken. It's never easy."
Jedinak said the Socceroos were learning from the loss, while pointing out the unique pressures of facing a strong USA side on their home turf.
"They [the Socceroos] deserve a tremendous amount of credit," he said.
"We expected a fast start. We didn't quite deal with it the way we would have wanted to.
"What's more encouraging was the way we played in the second half, we take the positives from that, and we try and learn from the opportunities, and we use that going forward."
No 'magic formula' against Paraguay
Jedinak said Australia was fully focused on "preparing for what lies ahead" as the Socceroos face their final match of the Group stage against Paraguay on Friday at midday AEST.
"Any time watching Paraguay, they're determined," he said.
"They're very well-organised and disciplined."
The Socceroos will go through to the knockout stage if they draw or win against Paraguay, while a loss would leave their success dependent on the outcome of Group D's remaining matches.
Paraguay will be missing star midfielder Miguel Almiron after he received a red card for breaking FIFA's new rule of banning covering your mouth during a confrontation.
Australia's Jackson Irvine voiced his support for the new rule, telling a press conference, "If you can't be seen saying it, then it shouldn't be said".
Jedinak said Almiron, who spent six years with Newcastle United in the English Premier League, was a "pivotal contributor" to Paraguay's game.
"He's obviously a huge part of what they do. Obviously, he's spent a lot of time playing in the UK, and he's brought a lot of energy for them."
Jedinak said they expected to face a passionate Paraguay side determined to "fight to the nail for every opportunity".
"So it's about how we can then impose our own style whilst also counteracting what they're going to do to us as well," he said.
"There's no magic formula to all of a sudden change and things fall into place."
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