Latest news with #NestoryIrankunda
The Advertiser
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Young Socceroos to face side who ignited Messi's career
Nestory Irankunda could be in line for his first Young Socceroos call-up as Australia's under 20s begin their preparations for their first World Cup in a decade with mouthwatering warm-up friendlies against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Young Socceroos to face side who ignited Messi's career
Nestory Irankunda could be in line for his first Young Socceroos call-up as Australia's under 20s begin their preparations for their first World Cup in a decade with mouthwatering warm-up friendlies against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Fresh off winning the U20 Asian Cup in China earlier this year, Trevor Morgan's side are expected to receive a baptism of fire when they face Argentina on June 6 and June 9. Argentina hold the fortunes of their youth national teams dearly and the two home friendlies, just a few months out from September's U20 World Cup in Chile, will likely garner significant interest. Argentina have won the U20 World Cup a record six times, with Diego Maradona (1979), Lionel Messi (2005) and Sergio Aguero (2007) crowned player of the tournament on the way to lifting the trophy. "The Argentinian federation, through various contacts we have, showed an interest in hosting us," Morgan told AAP. "It fits perfectly with what we've tried to do with this group over the whole cycle. "It's possible to play top teams - we played Chile and Uruguay last year. "But Argentina's interest would be sparked by playing a team that's going to a World Cup. "Winning the tournament (the U20 Asian Cup) maybe makes it a touch more interesting for them when they see there's a team that will have some quality about it." Australia qualified for their first U20 World Cup since 2013, by being crowned Asian champions in March. The feat - just Australia's third major trophy since joining the Asian confederation in 2006 - was all the more impressive considering Morgan was without some of his most high-profile names. Irankunda, who has five senior Socceroos caps to his name, didn't make the trip, having just sealed a loan move to Grasshopper in Switzerland from parent club Bayern Munich. The likes of Rhys Youlley, currently with Belgian side Westerlo, Portsmouth striker Tom Waddingham and PSV Eindhoven winger Marcus Younis also remained with their clubs. Waddingham and Perth Glory's Zach Lisolajski are likely to miss out due to injury but Morgan is hopeful he will have an all-star cast at his disposal for June's friendlies with Argentina. "They should all be available with it being a FIFA window, it's not like the Asian Cup where you are asking permission to have players released," Morgan said. "There is good competition in this team and that's why the team was successful in the Asian Cup. "We were missing seven or so very good players who normally might have been part of the squad and we were still good enough to win it, so these boys know that there's competition for every spot."
West Australian
05-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Young Socceroos to face side who ignited Messi's career
Nestory Irankunda could be in line for his first Young Socceroos call-up as Australia's under 20s begin their preparations for their first World Cup in a decade with mouthwatering warm-up friendlies against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Fresh off winning the U20 Asian Cup in China earlier this year, Trevor Morgan's side are expected to receive a baptism of fire when they face Argentina on June 6 and June 9. Argentina hold the fortunes of their youth national teams dearly and the two home friendlies, just a few months out from September's U20 World Cup in Chile, will likely garner significant interest. Argentina have won the U20 World Cup a record six times, with Diego Maradona (1979), Lionel Messi (2005) and Sergio Aguero (2007) crowned player of the tournament on the way to lifting the trophy. "The Argentinian federation, through various contacts we have, showed an interest in hosting us," Morgan told AAP. "It fits perfectly with what we've tried to do with this group over the whole cycle. "It's possible to play top teams - we played Chile and Uruguay last year. "But Argentina's interest would be sparked by playing a team that's going to a World Cup. "Winning the tournament (the U20 Asian Cup) maybe makes it a touch more interesting for them when they see there's a team that will have some quality about it." Australia qualified for their first U20 World Cup since 2013, by being crowned Asian champions in March. The feat - just Australia's third major trophy since joining the Asian confederation in 2006 - was all the more impressive considering Morgan was without some of his most high-profile names. Irankunda, who has five senior Socceroos caps to his name, didn't make the trip, having just sealed a loan move to Grasshopper in Switzerland from parent club Bayern Munich. The likes of Rhys Youlley, currently with Belgian side Westerlo, Portsmouth striker Tom Waddingham and PSV Eindhoven winger Marcus Younis also remained with their clubs. Waddingham and Perth Glory's Zach Lisolajski are likely to miss out due to injury but Morgan is hopeful he will have an all-star cast at his disposal for June's friendlies with Argentina. "They should all be available with it being a FIFA window, it's not like the Asian Cup where you are asking permission to have players released," Morgan said. "There is good competition in this team and that's why the team was successful in the Asian Cup. "We were missing seven or so very good players who normally might have been part of the squad and we were still good enough to win it, so these boys know that there's competition for every spot."
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Irankunda injured in blow to ‘Roos
Nestory Irankunda's hopes of being selected in the Socceroos squad for next month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China are seemingly in jeopardy after he injured his ankle playing for Swiss club Grasshoppers. Irankunda was replaced in just the 36th minute of Grasshoppers' 1-1 Swiss Super League weekend draw with Lugano. The 19-year-oid former Adelaide United winger had earlier provided the assist for his team's goal, which was scored by Frenchman Evans Maurin. However, joy turned to despair when Irankunda, who joined Grasshoppers on loan from German giants Bayern Munich last month, was forced off less than 30 minutes later. It's understood that Irankunda is set to have scans to determine the severity of the injury. Back-to-back assists from Nestory Irankunda 💨🔥🎥 @gc_zuerich# — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) February 9, 2025 Irankunda wasn't the only Socceroo injured in Europe on the weekend, with left-back Jordan Bos lasting just 24 minutes before being replaced due to a hamstring problem in his Belgian club side Westerlo's 4-2 win over Standard Liege. Former Melbourne City star Bos will also have scans to determine the extent of the problem and whether it will damage his chances of playing for Australia next month. In better news for the Socceroos, midfielder Aiden O'Neill returned from injury in coming on as a second-half substitute in the same match for Standard Liege. Elsewhere in Europe, a hip injury forced Socceroos captain Mat Ryan to miss his French club Lens' 2-0 away loss to Nice. Goalkeeper Ryan had played in Lens' previous two Ligue One matches after joining the club from Italian outfit Roma. Ryan's main rival for Australia's first-choice keeper's spot, Joe Gauci, was in Barnsley's team that lost 2-1 in England's League One competition to Stockport County. Gauci moved to Barnsley last month on loan from English Premier League club Aston Villa.
