Irankunda still buzzing after 'unreal' World Cup debut

[p]The livewire winger put the unfancied Socceroos on their way after 27 minutes in Vancouver on Saturday and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/metcalfe-connor/zqXaHPUa/"]Connor Metcalfe[/a] scored another in the second half to make the game safe.[/p][p]It was a brave but clinical display by a dogged [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] after coach Tony Popovic pulled off a big shock in his starting line-up, dropping experienced captain and goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ryan-mathew/YBLvziIh/"]Mathew Ryan[/a] in favour of rookie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beach-patrick/d6MmYtl5/"]Patrick Beach[/a].[/p][p]Vice-captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irvine-jackson/SvwMecZH/"]Jackson Irvine[/a] was also left out and Popovic's gambles paid off handsomely as Australia made a winning start in Group D.[/p][p]Up next are co-hosts the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/usa-fuitL4CF/?mid=S0aAVubs"]in Seattle on Friday[/a].[/p][embed guid="25fefeac-e1ca-4190-b436-bbd75bb3c61e" url="https://x.com/Sachk0/status/2065675214663602317" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Americans will be particularly cautious of the all-action [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irankunda-nestor/OdWRR5EU/"]Irankunda[/a], who burst through the Turkey backline before firing home.[/p][p]Irankunda, 20, celebrated by sprinting to the edge of the pitch and pretending to box the corner flag, mimicking former Australia skipper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cahill-tim/WzcKlauG/"]Tim Cahill[/a]'s signature goal celebration.[/p][p]"[b]It's unreal,[/b]" Irankunda, who plays in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a]'s second tier for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/watford/UmMRoGzp/"]Watford[/a] after a stint with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a], told Australian broadcasters.[/p][p]"[b]It's a dream come true. We've got the win now, we worked extra hard, we fought till the end, and it's just a moment.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="3a3bee3a-4781-4872-9a0a-ca8a9309b9cd" url="https://x.com/Sachk0/status/2066309170987782435" social-type="twitter" /][p]Australia and in particular Irankunda, who never made a first-team appearance for Bayern, were riled up by pre-match comments by their opponents that they had more quality and talent.[/p][p]Irankunda was pleased to ram those remarks back down Turkey's throats following a gutsy but fully deserved win.[/p][p]"[b]We don't like to hear people talk about us because we're a great team,[/b]" said Irankunda, who was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp before becoming Australian.[/p][p]"People underestimate us a lot, but we showed them today we can play.[/p][p]"[b]They kept the ball a lot more, but who scored the goals?[/b]"[/p]