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Jackson Irvine: 5.5
Came oh so close to drawing Australia level at 2-2 with a header that clipped the post. Never stopped working hard in a midfield that was soundly beaten, but didn’t really offer much other than toil and bubble.
Riley McGree: 5
Deputising for Ajdin Hrustic, who wasn’t used off the bench. Certainly turned in a one-note performance in comparison to what the man he was replacing is capable of, but crafted the chance for Irvine out of nowhere.
Jackson Irvine had a sensational chance to get the Socceroos back in the game.Credit:Getty
Mathew Leckie: 6
When Martin Boyle was ruled out of the tournament, Leckie’s importance to the cause intensified, and he did his bit by jinking past Lucas Hernandez to set up the goal but otherwise struggled to take the ball forward on the dribble.
Mitch Duke: 5
Barely had a sniff; he touched the ball just 16 times, the lowest amount of any starting player for Australia, and managed just one shot, from long range, which just missed. Not much he could do with service lacking. Dragged early in the second half as Arnold sought to change things up.
Craig Goodwin: 7
Etched his name into Australia’s history books with the nation’s first goal from open play at the World Cup in more than eight years. His strike was well taken and his passing was generally accurate. Can hold his head up high.
Substitutes
Jason Cummings: 4.5
Just as Duke experienced, it’s hard to shape a match as a striker when your team doesn’t have the ball, which he saw only eight times in more than half an hour. Tunisia will be his great litmus test, if used.
Garang Kuol: 5
Became Australia’s youngest ever World Cup player and the ninth-youngest in history to grace this stage. Hopefully it’s only the start — for the first time, he looked a bit like a deer in the headlights.
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Awer Mabil: 5
Tried to do what he could in his 17 minutes on the park. Intent was there, as always.
Milos Degenek, Keanu Baccus: N/A
Played the last five minutes each, not enough to make an impact.
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