After the final whistle, Jackson Irvine (27) shed a few Gücks tears. After beating Denmark 1-0, the Australian is the third St. Paulian to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup after Ivo Knoflicek and Jan Kocian (both with Czechoslovakia in 1990).
A dream is now coming true for Irvine: a game against Argentina with superstar Lionel Messi (35). In 2020 it would almost have happened. Australia was supposed to take part in the Copa America in South America with Irvine, who was still playing for Hull City in England at the time – but then the corona pandemic intervened.
The midfielder makes no secret of his admiration for Messi, but swears by the unity of his Australians ahead of the World Cup round of 16: “We don’t have any superstars or world-class players. But we have great faith in each other and in everyone’s support.”
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Incidentally, Irvine now also has personal support on site: his girlfriend Jemilla was in the stands against Denmark – and now, as an Englishwoman, is also hoping for the big sensation against Argentina.