Cristian Volpato, fresh from an impressive World Cup debut, wishes he had declared for the Socceroos sooner. The exciting winger is now determined to play a key role in Australia's quest to reach the knockout stage.
Impressive Debut Against USA
The Sassuolo winger, who switched allegiance from Italy just days before Australia's squad announcement, made his World Cup debut as a substitute in the Socceroos' 2-0 loss to the United States on Friday (Saturday AEST). Volpato replaced the injured Mathew Leckie on the hour mark and was a bright spark for the team.
"He was a bright spark when he came on — and we needed that," captain Harry Souttar said.
The 22-year-old immediately posed a threat with his close ball control, dribbling at defenders, and firing off shots. "I thought I could have scored there, but that's what I try to do. I try to help the team, lift the spirits," Volpato said.
He revealed coach Tony Popovic's simple advice: "If you get the ball, just do your thing when you're in the box — and I tried to do that."
Change of Heart
Volpato previously rejected Graham Arnold's invitation to join Australia's 2022 World Cup squad, waiting for a call-up from Italy's senior team before changing his mind. The emotional impact of representing Australia was evident.
"In the first game, when we were singing the national anthem, I was getting goosebumps. Like even just walking out today, I was tearing up. It was amazing. If I knew about this, I would have come a long time ago," Volpato said.
"I'm a hard believer that everything happens for a reason. Today was a special day to make my debut, and many more to come."
Looking Ahead to Paraguay
With his debut behind him, Volpato is confident he can make an impact if given a starting role against Paraguay on June 25. "Yeah. I'm a player that loves to take the risk. I think in football you have to take the risk to get a reward," he said.
Fellow attacker Nestory Irankunda praised Volpato as a "talented, damn good player." Volpato believes he can combine effectively with Irankunda and striker Mohamed Toure. "Both of them are quality players, they're both fast. Maybe I'm a little bit less faster, maybe I can use their pace a little bit," he said.
