The Socceroos are rallying around young defender Lucas Herrington after his penalty shootout miss against Egypt. The 18-year-old Australian had stepped up to take a penalty in the shootout, but his effort was saved.

What happened?

The Socceroos had taken the match to extra time, but ultimately fell short in the shootout. Coach Tony Popovic defended his decision to call on Herrington, saying it was a tough moment but the young player showed courage.

Why it matters for Australia

The loss ended Australia's World Cup campaign, but the team can take pride in their performance. As of their last result, Colombia 3-0 Australia (2025-11-19), the Socceroos had been struggling with a recent form of 2W-0D-3L (LLLWW, most recent first).

What comes next?

The Socceroos will look to regroup and rebuild for their next campaign. | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2025-11-19 | Colombia 3-0 Australia | Jackson Irvine congratulated Egypt on their win, but said the Socceroos would use the pain of the loss to improve. The team's growth in the tournament was evident, and they can take positives from their performance. Coach Popovic said every Australian should be proud of the team's effort, and the players would learn from the experience. The Socceroos' World Cup campaign may be over, but they will look to come back stronger in the future.