Nestory Irankunda stole the show with a two-goal burst in a 17-minute span that lifted Australia to a 5-1 victory over Curacao at AAMI Park. The 20-year-old celebrated his first with a Michael Jackson-inspired dance, wearing a silver glove thrown from the crowd. The performance came in the Socceroos' final home match before the World Cup, giving coach Tony Popovic valuable insights into his attacking options.

Popovic's halftime substitutions sparked Australia's turnaround, with Riley McGree and Jordan Bos joining Irankunda to flip the match narrative. McGree provided the assist for Alessandro Circati's first Socceroos goal, while Bos curled in a strike from the edge of the box. The 17-minute blitz showcased Australia's ability to be devastating when unleashing their young guns, who will have fewer restrictions at the World Cup.

Australia's qualification has allowed Popovic to integrate young talents like Irankunda into his squad, with the coach specifically working on the attacker's penalty-area presence. The team's approach likely involves establishing defensive solidity before unleashing individual talent against Group D opponents Türkiye, United States, and Paraguay. Their clinical finishing during qualifiers (28.5 goals from just 0.38 xG) suggests they can capitalize on moments when opportunities arise.