AAP Soccer

'Sick of it': Socceroo responds to fresh US barbs

Jun 6, 2026

Soccerros player Connor Metcalfe — Connor Metcalfe is growing tired of how his side are being dismissed by local pundits in the US. -AAP Image

Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe has heard every barb coming Australia's way from the United States - and he's had a gutful of it.

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Since Australia were drawn in Group D along with the co-hosts in December, the Socceroos have proved the punching bag for pundits based in the USA.

Former striker Landon Donovan labelled Socceroos coach Tony Popovic as "smug" and tipped the Australians to finish fourth behind the USA, Turkey and Paraguay and exit in the group stage.

"Thanks for coming, Aussies and your smug coach - you can get back on the Qantas airplane and head back home, pal," he quipped.

CBS pundit Mike Grella described the Australia fixture as a "lay-up" for Mauricio Pochettino's world No.16 American side.

This week, former USA international Alexi Lalas threw more fuel on the fire when he described the Socceroos as an "average team" after the 27th-ranked side's 1-0 loss to Mexico.

While coach Popovic has laughed off the jibes coming Australia's way, it's clearly given fuel to the fire for his players.

But there are still almost two weeks until that clash on June 19 (June 20 AEST), with Australia focused on a friendly against Switzerland then their opener against Turkey.

"I mean, I've seen all the US stuff, and I'm just sick of it, to be honest - I just am," Metcalfe said on the eve of the friendly on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

"Like all this talk - it's just - let's just wait for the game, whatever happens, happens.

"It's just so much rubbish and I'm just sick of it.

"So we'll just wait and we'll play - it'll be a good game. We had a friendly against them.

"It was tense, it was feisty, and probably going to be the exact same."

In that game, in Colorado in October, the USA dealt Australia their first defeat under Popovic.

The 2-1 defeat was a fiery, physical game, with USA defender Chris Richards at one point ready to square up to Socceroo Jason Geria after skipper Christian Pulisic was injured in a challenge.