Socceroos Prepare for World Cup Amid US Criticism
Connor Metcalfe has had enough.
As the Socceroos fine-tune their World Cup plans on American soil, the Australian midfielder has fired back at a wave of dismissive commentary coming from the United States, with former USA players lining up to write off Tony Popovic’s side before a ball is kicked.
“I've seen all the US stuff and I'm just sick of it, to be honest,” Metcalfe said in San Diego, where Australia will face Switzerland in a key warm-up. “Let's just wait for the game. Whatever happens, happens. It's just so much rubbish, honestly. I'm just sick of it.”
Those comments land squarely in the direction of Alexi Lalas, the outspoken former USA defender, who recently branded Australia “an average team by any measure”. It’s not an isolated view. Landon Donovan has already taken aim at Popovic, calling the Socceroos coach “smug” and tipping Australia to finish bottom of their group.
Inside the Australian camp, the rhetoric is clearly starting to grate. Outside, it is feeding the narrative that the Socceroos are in the United States merely to make up the numbers.
Dress rehearsal in San Diego
Australia’s response will not come in a press conference, but in a pair of midday kick-offs that will define their tournament. The first is the friendly against Switzerland in San Diego, scheduled for lunchtime to mirror the 12pm showdown with the USA later in the group stage.
For Popovic, this is not just another tune-up. It is a dry run for everything.
“It's actually a good dress rehearsal for us, with travelling, with food, with training, with our meetings,” the coach said, outlining a plan that treats the Swiss clash as a full simulation of matchday conditions.
The Socceroos arrive on the back of a 1–0 defeat to Mexico, a result that exposed some rust but also underlined how tight the margins will be at this World Cup. Against Switzerland, Popovic will rotate, test combinations, and crucially, unleash a new – and already polarising – face in green and gold.
Volpato set for first Socceroos minutes
Cristian Volpato, the Sassuolo winger whose decision to switch allegiance from Italy to Australia stunned many in Europe, is set to make his first appearance for the Socceroos in San Diego.
Popovic confirmed the 20-year-old will finally see the pitch after sitting out the loss to Mexico while he built up fitness.
“He hasn't played a lot of football and he had eight to nine days off before he joined us,” Popovic said. “Comparing [him] to the group, he's probably at the bottom in terms of his conditioning right now. He's working hard, he's trying to get up to speed and we've seen some good inroads in the last couple of days.”
The decision to fast-track Volpato into a World Cup squad has sparked debate among fans, some of whom have not forgotten a social media post he made when Australia lost to Japan. That history has followed him into camp, but inside the dressing room, the mood is far calmer than the online noise suggests.
Metcalfe brushed off any notion of tension.
“It's been pretty smooth sailing. I mean, he's come in, he's a really nice, relaxed guy,” he said. “We see it online and we know the past and what's been done, but we're not here to talk about that. Whatever's said is done, so it's fine.”
For Popovic, the Switzerland match offers the ideal platform: low stakes on the scoreboard, high value in minutes and rhythm. For Volpato, it is a first chance to turn controversy into contribution.
Swiss disrupted by Embolo visa drama
On the other side of the halfway line, Switzerland’s build-up has taken a sharp and unexpected detour.
Breel Embolo, the powerful forward who has become a central figure in the Swiss attack, was initially barred from travelling with the squad due to a visa issue. Hours before the team was due to depart, US officials informed Embolo that he could not board the flight after his ESTA – the automated travel authorisation used by visitors to the United States – was rejected because of a criminal conviction.
The disruption threatened to strip Murat Yakin’s side of a major weapon just days before the tournament. Embolo has scored 23 goals in 85 games for Switzerland and offers a focal point few teams can easily replace.
The impasse did not last. After meeting with US officials during the week, Embolo received approval to travel and will now link up with his teammates in time for the World Cup. The scare, though, underlined how fragile preparations can be, even for seasoned tournament sides.
Australia, by contrast, have their squad intact, their grievances sharpened, and a clear sense of who they are up against – both on the pitch and in the court of American opinion.
The talking in studios and podcasts will continue. The Socceroos’ answer now has to come under the midday sun, with the United States watching to see whether those “easy beats” bite back.
