Socceroos Face Double Blow with Leckie and Italiano Out of World Cup

Australia will march into the World Cup knockout rounds a man light, stripped back to 24 players and missing one of its most seasoned campaigners. Matthew Leckie is out. Jacob Italiano is out. The timing could hardly be worse.

Leckie, the heartbeat of so many Socceroos tournaments, suffered a leg injury in the defeat to the USA. Italiano, the livewire right-back who had forced his way into Tony Popovic’s plans, pulled up with a groin problem in training before the draw with Paraguay. Both have now left camp, returning to their clubs’ countries to begin rehabilitation, Football Australia confirmed.

For Leckie, this one stings. He only clawed his way back from injury at the end of the A-League season, his inclusion in the World Cup squad a surprise to many and a testament to his resilience. To battle back, make it, and then fall again on the biggest stage — it cuts deep.

No one feels that more than Aziz Behich, his Melbourne City teammate and long-time Socceroos colleague.

"I'm gutted for him," Behich said. He had watched Leckie grind through months of recovery, first at Melbourne City, then in Sarasota during Australia’s pre-tournament camp. The veteran winger, now in the twilight of his career, refused to cut corners.

"He left no stone unturned and it's a credit to him, it's not easy, not just physically but also mentally at his age," Behich said. "We're all gutted for him because we want him to stick around because we know what he can give us as a team and even when he's not playing."

The dressing room has lost a voice, not just a player.

Popovic’s Wide Options Squeezed

The blow is not just emotional. It is tactical, and it lands squarely on Popovic’s whiteboard.

Tournament rules mean the Socceroos cannot replace either Leckie or Italiano. Popovic must now navigate the knockout rounds with reduced cover in the wide areas, just as the stakes climb and the margins shrink.

Italiano’s absence in particular forces a reshuffle. His energy and attacking thrust from right-back had given Australia a different dimension. Without him, Popovic turned to a familiar solution in the draw with Paraguay.

Regular left-back Jordy Bos flipped over to the right, while Behich reclaimed his customary role on the left. It worked well enough to steady things, but it is a patch, not a luxury.

"(Italiano) worked hard to get himself in this position and I thought he did really well in the games that he played as well," Behich said, acknowledging another teammate whose tournament has been cut short just as it was beginning to open up.

For Behich, the door that has closed for others is the one he has been waiting to walk through.

"For myself, obviously I came here to play. I put myself in this position as well, to be involved in my third World Cup," he said. "I've been biding my time. I've been working hard at training every day and just waiting for my opportunity."

Two soldiers down, as Behich put it, but not a broken unit.

"I think we're in a good headspace. Obviously, two soldiers down, but we've got a lot of boys that can cover depth and position."

That belief will be tested now. Popovic must lean on versatility, on full-backs comfortable on either flank, on wingers willing to track back, on a squad that suddenly feels a little smaller.

Australia will stay in Oakland until July 1, using the days to regroup, reframe and retool the system without two of their 26. Then comes the move to Dallas, and with it the round-of-32 clash on July 3.

The numbers on the team sheet have shrunk. The expectations around this group have not.