Cristian Volpato’s eleventh-hour selection in the Socceroos’ World Cup squad is the most contentious in its lengthening history at the tournament, tearing straight at the values of loyalty, mateship and ‘earning it’ that Australians traditionally want to see in their national teams.
The highly-rated Western Sydney boy – still only 22, playing at Sassuolo – had made no secret of his desire to play for Italy, the nation of his parents’ birth who he has represented at underage levels. In 2022 he turned down selection in Graham Arnold’s squad in Qatar, and has resisted further Australian overtures since. He now finds a place, arriving in camp as four committed Socceroos miss out.
But whatever the ethical merits of his about-face, most pertinent now is the exhilarating potential he brings to the squad. With very few players currently in top-five leagues – let alone those that are attack-minded – and without the injured Riley McGree, Tony Popovic simply can’t afford to be choosy with top-end talent.
‘It was a bombshell, but a great boost to the World Cup buzz for Australia to drop a story like that on the eve of the squad announcement. I think it’s the biggest squad twist we’ve ever had close to a World Cup,’ Daniel Garb told Box2Box.
‘It’s a soap opera in a way; there’s so much to digest. There are certainly questions that are justified in terms of off-field impact. There is some grey area in this, and discussions have been going on for years. I’ve seen it first hand, direct correspondence from him to Football Australia declaring his keenness to play for Australia.
‘Now, there are known to be influences around him that have muddied the waters, be it family, be they mentors in Italy, be it his club. Whatever the case, his own personal preference to play for Italy has become a very complicated situation.
‘Let’s not forget he ridiculed Australia after a result against Japan, but he was only a teenager. We’re dealing with [still] a very young man, so I think we need to give a bit of leeway there.’
Victim of Volpato’s selection has been Martin Boyle, the 33-year old Scotsman who switched his allegiance to Australia in 2018 through his Sydney-born father and has played 41 times with boundless enthusiasm. When a last-minute injury cruelly cost him his place in Qatar Arnold kept him on as ‘chief vibes officer’, such was the cultural value he was seen to provide to the group.
Injury also cost him the 2019 Asian Cup, meaning of the four major tournaments he could have played for Australia, he’s managed just the 2024 Asian Cup. His omission is not solely due to Volpato, with Nishan Velupillay and the resurgent Awer Mabil also preferred.
‘You do really feel for someone who’s been a wonderful contributor to the culture of Australia, such a fantastic bloke. But unfortunately, you have to take the sentiment out to assess this, and I don’t think he was in line to start, and I don’t think his form right now is strong enough.
‘Then you look at his ability to contribute off the bench, at 33 with his pace waning. Could he have been an impact player? I think there are others who are justifiably ahead of him in that. Unfortunately, he makes way.’
Volpato and Tete Yengi are the two uncapped players in the squad, with both a chance to debut in Australia’s final pre-tournament hit-out against Switzerland on Saturday. If either fails to take the pitch, they’ll be the first uncapped Australian to head to a World Cup since Bailey Wright in 2014.
No Australian player has ever debuted at a World Cup; Ivo Rudic and goalkeepers Allan Maher and Jim Milisaviljevic were also taken as uncapped players in 1974, but did not take the field. The selection of Yengi has echoes of Josh Kennedy’s selection in 2006; the beanpole striker scored on debut against Lichtenstein just four days before Australia’s opener against Japan, in which he also featured.