Australia may have lost their World Cup warm-up match to Mexico 1-0, but with just two weeks until their first tournament match against Turkey, the Socceroos appear to have found something more important: confidence. A second-half turnaround against Fifa's 15th-ranked side almost secured a draw for the Socceroos, who had three good chances to equalise on Saturday night in California.
Despite a conservative approach, Tony Popovic's side showed resilience and increasing positivity as they took the game to the World Cup co-hosts and 78,479 mostly green-clad fans who filled the Rose Bowl Stadium. The defeat is a reminder, however, that there will be little room for error at the World Cup for an Australian side featuring few elite talents. It also heightens pressure on Popovic to get the selection right for his squad, which is due to be announced on Monday.
Against Mexico, there was no first Socceroos appearance for Cristian Volpato after the weekend shock of his switch of allegiance. The late call-up was left out of the squad, alongside forwards Brandon Borrello and Tete Yengi and goalkeeper Joe Gauci, adding intrigue as Popovic prepares to make his final four cuts. Defender Harry Souttar – who played the entire match – said he didn't want to celebrate his own selection yet, and it will be cruel on whoever is left out.
The game showed the importance to the Socceroos of Souttar and Irvine, veterans who had been under injury clouds ahead of the tournament but now look likely to be in the XI. Alongside Souttar, Popovic delivered a surprise in selecting 18-year-old Lucas Herrington – who produced a mostly accomplished performance – on the left side of the back three, rather than the more experienced Cam Burgess. The coach's decision to deploy the robust duo of Connor Metcalfe and Mathew Leckie in the attacking midfielder roles, leaving Nestory Irankunda on the bench, signalled a cautious approach.
Mexico's goal came from a corner, a relatively feeble glancing header by Johan Vásquez after Aiden O'Neill couldn't stretch for the nodded clearance. The ball squirmed through a crowd of bodies towards Mat Ryan's back post, which it hit then rebounded back across the line. Australia might never be able to play the world's best off the park through pass and move, but there is no reason why they can't be one of the most robust outfits at set pieces. That goal highlighted how nothing can be taken for granted.
When the half-time whistle went, it was 11 shots to three; 396 passes to 132. Just four touches for Australia in the Mexico penalty area. Yet they went into the break having also had the half's best chance. Alessandro Circati launched a long ball towards right back Jacob Italiano, but a Mexican defensive mixup left striker Mo Touré with an opportunity he should have taken. A half-clearance fell to the striker with the goalkeeper out of position, and the bouncing ball asked him to side foot it into the open goal. Slightly unbalanced, he hooked his lob to the left of the goal. But Touré quickly put it behind him in the second half and was central during the Socceroos' best period.
