Irankunda’s genius and Beach’s brilliance cap off Popovic masterclass |
Irankunda’s genius and Beach’s brilliance cap off Popovic masterclass
June 14, 2026 — 4:20pm
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Vancouver: The Michael Jackson dance can wait. The sequinned glove can stay in the back pocket for next time.
For his first big moment on the global stage, the most important day of his life so far, Nestory Irankunda made all the right decisions - from the touch that brought down the ball, to the placement of his finish, to the celebration that followed, steeped in Socceroos mythology.
After latching onto a marvellous long ball from Paul Okon jnr, slipping between two Turkish defenders and sliding his first World Cup goal into the bottom-left corner, Irankunda ran straight to his nearest corner flag and started shadowboxing - a trademark of Tim Cahill, Australia’s greatest performer on this stage, and, right up until that ball rolled over that line, the Socceroos’ last true household name.
Finally, we have a new one. At least one. Maybe more.
Australian soccer fans have known for years that this young man was about to become your favourite player, that your world was about to be rocked.........