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.
Velupillay struggled and Leckie only had moments before hobbling off on the hour mark, while the co-hosts battered Australia on and off the ball.
But Popovic said his team had been overawed by the occasion, believing even if Irankunda and Metcalfe had played from the start it wouldn't have changed how the poor first half played out.
