BREAKING: Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer has expressed his enthusiasm for Australia’s rising football stars, including 22-year-old Alessandro Circati, who recently captained the national team. With less than a year until the FIFA World Cup in North America, Schwarzer highlighted the promising future of Australian football during his recent visit to Perth for the Chelsea FC tour.
Schwarzer commended Circati’s leadership and talent, noting that being a regular starter in Serie A speaks volumes about his abilities. “Popa (Tony Popovic) obviously rates him very highly. He’s shown incredible leadership qualities,” Schwarzer stated. The 22-year-old became the youngest Socceroos captain in 44 years back in September, showcasing his potential on an international stage.
Unfortunately, Circati will miss the upcoming November matches against Colombia and Venezuela in the USA due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for his club, Parma. He joins a growing list of injured players, including fellow Socceroos Jordan Bos and Jacob Italiano, while Harry Souttar is recovering from a torn Achilles.
Despite these setbacks, Schwarzer remains optimistic about the future of the team, particularly praising young sensation Nestory Irankunda. “Irankunda, what a player — someone that can do something from nothing,” he expressed. “We have exciting young players coming through, not just in friendlies but also in World Cup qualifiers.”
Schwarzer emphasized the importance of giving young players experience in high-pressure situations. “What we’re seeing now is a good mixture of talented young players who are playing week-in, week-out for their clubs and performing well for the national team,” he added.
The former goalkeeper also acknowledged Popovic’s rapid impact as head coach, having taken over just over a year ago. Schwarzer praised Popovic’s discipline and ability to maximize player potential. “From day one, he’s done an absolutely brilliant job, getting the points needed for World Cup qualification,” he said.
As the Socceroos prepare for their upcoming matches, fans remain hopeful that these young talents will shine on the world stage. With the 2023 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, all eyes will be on Australia’s next generation of football stars.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
