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AAP
AAP
Sport

SOC:Socceroos boss defends selections after US loss

Connor Metcalfe Nestory Irankunda Tony Popovic United States Australia Mathew Leckie Nishan Velupillay The United States

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has defended his decision not to start Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe in Australia's 2-0 World Cup loss to the United States despite lamenting a sluggish and lethargic showing.

Australia's hopes of progression and sealing a top-two berth will come down to their final group match against Paraguay on June 25 (June 26 AEST) after a nightmare afternoon at Seattle Stadium on Friday.

Popovic's call to bench Irankunda and Metcalfe, who scored in Australia's opening 2-0 win over Turkey, for Nishan Velupillay and Mathew Leckie, backfired as the US dominated.

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