Penalty Shootout Looming: Socceroos Rely on Experience and Preparation
As Australia gears up for its Round of 32 clash against Egypt in Dallas, the possibility of a penalty shootout is a distinct reality. Two of the five completed World Cup knockout games have already been decided from the spot, with Paraguay stunning Germany and Morocco defeating the Netherlands in a shootout after a thrilling encounter in Monterrey.
Ajdin Hrustic, a midfielder for the Socceroos, acknowledged the need to be prepared for all scenarios. "You've got to be ready for that 90th-minute winner and you've got to be ready for a penalty shootout," he said. "That's what it takes to get through to the next stage."
Hrustic is no stranger to high-pressure penalties. In the 2022 Europa League final, he came on as an injury-time substitute for Eintracht Frankfurt and successfully converted his penalty to help the club beat Rangers. Later that year, he also scored a penalty as the Socceroos beat Peru in a shootout to qualify for the Qatar World Cup.
Despite his experience, Hrustic is keeping his approach under wraps. "I'm not giving nothing away, but I'm calm," he said. "If it [penalty shootout] comes, I'm ready. The boys will be ready and I'm sure the keepers will be ready too."
Australia has started preparing for the eventuality of a shootout, but Hrustic wouldn't be drawn on what that looked like. "Ask the boss," he said. "That's for us, right? That's something we will definitely be ready for."
Hrustic has been restricted to just 32 minutes so far in this World Cup, coming on as a second-half substitute in the nil-all draw with Paraguay. Despite limited opportunities, he remains focused on contributing when called upon.
Assistant coach Mile Jedinak brings a wealth of penalty-taking experience. Only five players in history have successfully converted more World Cup penalties (excluding shootouts) than Jedinak, who scored three—one in 2014 and two in 2018. His total puts him level with Cristiano Ronaldo and behind the likes of Harry Kane and Lionel Messi.
Jedinak, a former Socceroos captain, emphasized the mental aspect of taking penalties. "For me it was very simple. I was always focused on what I had to do, and what I had to do was put the ball in the back of the net," he said. "It was as simple as taking the moment, controlling obviously the situation with the ball, trying not to focus on anything else. I was fortunate enough to be able to do it a few times for the country."
Jedinak acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for shootouts, noting that players often lack experience in taking professional penalties. "You need to allow the individuals to figure their process out. And you only do that by repetition," he said. "It's hard to constantly do it in a game if you're not getting penalties. It's the familiarity of it and understanding what makes you feel in that moment the right way, that you have the right solution."
Hrustic is the only player left in the squad who took a penalty in the shootout against Peru which sent Australia to the 2022 World Cup. Jedinak stressed the importance of incorporating penalty practice into training while balancing regular game preparation. "There's obviously a bigger picture here. There's normal game prep, and I think you have to give it some attention," he said. "You have to prepare for the possibility."
With 17 squad members being World Cup debutants, the experience of players like Hrustic and the guidance of Jedinak could prove crucial if the match against Egypt comes down to penalties.