The best way for the Socceroos to shut down the trash-talking US at the World Cup? Beat them.
Australia will let their actions do the talking at this month's World Cup, while Socceroos great Mark Schwarzer takes on proverbial blows from his American counterparts.
Drawn in Group D with Paraguay and Turkey, former American footballers and US media pundits have already written off Australia.
Landon Donovan labelled Socceroos coach Tony Popovic as "smug", while CBS pundit Mike Grella described the Australia fixture as a "lay-up" for Mauricio Pochettino's world No.16 American side.
Retired international Alexi Lalas has added more fuel to the fire, labelling the Socceroos as an "average team" after the 27th-ranked side's 1-0 loss to Mexico.
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Schwarzer, who has already taken Grella to task after both appeared on CBS in May, believes the US can underestimate Australia at their peril.
Australia will face Switzerland on Sunday morning (AEST), before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Turkey on June 14 in Vancouver.
Popovic's side then take on co-hosts USA on June 20 in Seattle - the first time they have played a host nation since 1974 in Germany.
"An AVERAGE team by any measure." 😲
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) June 3, 2026
Former Team USA player, Alexi Lalas shared his thoughts on the Socceroos. The stakes just went up!! This could be a spicy one on June 20th 🍿
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup | June 12 - July 20 | Every Match on SBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/KTV9bPFDPK
"These are players or ex-footballers who are very opinionated," Schwarzer said at a Sportsbet press conference in Sydney.
"We see Alexi Lalas come out and say in the last couple of days that we're a very average football team.
"I don't care, really. I don't care what they think. It's all about what we deliver, what we do on the stage.
"And I always just think in the back of my mind that if we go there and perform, the best way to silence them is just by beating them."
If anything, Schwarzer would be surprised if the Socceroos fail to exit the group stage.
Popovic has selected 17 potential debutants alongside the likes of veterans Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie, who are heading to their fourth World Cup.
Schwarzer, who etched himself into Australian sporting history after his heroics in the iconic 2005 penalty shootout win against Uruguay, said it was up to Popovic's new generation to keep raising the bar.
"That's got to be our minimum goal," Schwarzer told AAP.
"If we don't, is that a failure? No, but for me, if we don't get out of the group stage, I'll be really disappointed.
"I'll feel like we didn't do enough and we let that one slip by."
