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Heartbreaking penalty shootout ends Australia's World Cup dreams

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The Socceroos have been knocked out of the World Cup after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Egypt in their round of 32 clash.

Going behind early following an Emam Ashour header, the Socceroos rallied to draw level thanks to an Egyptian own goal early in the second half.

Egypt pressed hard late in normal time, with goalkeeper Patrick Beach making a stunning save to keep things level.

However, Tony Popovic made the controversial decision to pull the breakout shot-stopper out of the game in favour of Mat Ryan for the penalty shootout.

"I think that was always an option for us and then you have to see how the game progresses," he said.

It was a gamble that didn't pay off.

Defenders Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington — two of Australia's best players in the game — then both missed their penalty shots while Egypt were perfect with theirs, Hossam Abdelmaguid slotting the final kick to secure a 4-2 shootout victory.

Popovic has sprung plenty of surprises with his selections this World Cup, but kept the same XI that drew with Paraguay eight days ago.

Egypt made five changes but Mo Salah was not one of them, the Liverpool legend overcoming a hamstring injury to start his nation's first ever World Cup knockout match.

Although starting brightly, the Socceroos were behind inside the opening quarter of an hour, the usually resolute Socceroos defence unable to handle the second ball allowing Ashour the time and space to power a header past Beach.

After going behind, the Socceroos rallied and were able to create the better chances, despite Nestory Irankunda remaining isolated up front in the unfamiliar number nine role thrust upon him by Popovic.

Jordy Bos and Cristian Volpato both looked lively down the right side without being able to produce the killer final ball, although Volpato did skim a long-range shot off the top of the cross bar in the opening exchanges.

However, in the dying seconds of the first half, Bos went down with a serious-looking knee injury and would not return.

Jordy Bos appeals to the ref while he lays injured on the floor

Immediately after the break the Socceroos should have been two down, Omar Marmoush spurning a brilliant opportunity with the goal at his mercy.

It proved a costly miss, when finally the Socceroos via Aiden O'Neill delivered a ball towards the head of Harry Souttar, the giant centre back's presence alone forcing Mohamed Hany to head into his own net.

Neither side was able to create any further opportunities in a cagey encounter that descended into a series of niggly fouls and a number of unpunished, robust challenges.

Popovic rotated his strikers, bringing on Mo Touré, Ajdin Hrustić and Awer Mabil, but the game was set for penalties, the Socceroos being forced to hang on for spot kicks as time ran out, Beach pulling off a miracle save to keep the Socceroos level.

Just before the full-time whistle, Popovic made his boldest and most scrutinised change yet, removing the young Melbourne City stopper for squad captain Mat Ryan.

However, Ryan's first and only touches of the ball were to pick the ball out of his net in the shootout, as Egypt remained perfect from 12 yards.

From the moment Souttar blazed his first penalty over the bar, the Socceroos were behind and, once young Herrington hit the crossbar, the Socceroos knew they were done despite Mabil and Jackson Irvine's successful spot kicks.

Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 3:59am

Live updates: Australia vs Egypt

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:23am

Thanks for being with us

It's not the way we wanted our Saturday morning to start.

The only positive is that there is still a whole day to make the most of to get us over it.

Thanks for being with us today.

We'll have more reaction as it comes over the course of the day, but if you want my advice, go grab a coffee, hug your Socceroos-supporting kids and go and enjoy your day.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. We'll catch you next time.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:22am

Listen: ABC Sport Daily reaction

Listen to all the immediate reaction after the Socceroos exit, as Pat Stack spoke to the ABC's own Daniel Garb.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:03am

Historic moment for Egypt

It should be said, today was a historic win for Egypt.

The Pharaohs only won their first ever World Cup finals game earlier in this tournament, a stat so bizarre I needed to check it multiple times.

This is their first ever knockout game win and it gives them the chance to play the winner of our next game, between Argentina and Cabo Verde, which is just underway now.

You can follow that game with David Hirst, here.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:47am

Pat Beach is statistically the best keeper at the World Cup

Just to rub our faces in it a little bit more.

Pat Beach has prevented 2.2 goals (presumably an xG thing) according to Opta stats.

That is better than any other keeper at the tournament.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:45am

Bingo

Sorry for jumping on the bandwagon but it's difficult to understand any of the substitutions they mostly seemed to hand momentum to Egypt. I think the success of the out of left field introduction of Beach for Ryan became the modus operandi - coach makes brilliant tactical moves no-one else could have thought of and saves the world…

- GC

Popovic played 3D chess against Türkiye and it worked.

Then he spent three games in a row trying to bottle that same lightning.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:43am

It was a set list of penalty takers

I've just spoken with a very emotional Jackson Irvine after the game, and he said the players were told which penalty they would take.

It wasn't a surprise nor a spur-of-the-moment decision.

He said they had practised in training.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:42am

Sad Socceroos

There is nothing worse than watching a collection of sad Socceroos.

That being said, SBS played the same advert for a funeral home three times back to back after their coverage ended.

I don't think things are quite that bad, folks.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:40am

What are these player of the match awards?

I mean, what's the point of these player of the match awards at this stage.

Mo Salah did desperately little in that game.

Following from Cristiano Ronaldo getting the player of the match award after a pretty torrid display yesterday, it's pretty clear that whoever is selecting these things is having a nap during the match and just picking a name they recognise.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:31am

Full time stats

Here's the full breakdown of the match.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:27am

Your thoughts about the penalties

I don't mean to pile on, but Scott Brown and Chris Sutton were spot on. It was a little pathetic watching the SBS desk make excuses for the two centre-backs. And substituting Ryan after what Beach had achieved was flabbergasting.

- Joe

I cannot understand why Tony put in a cold player, Mat Ryan, at the end of extra time to face a penalty shootout.

- Robert

Tired defender and 18-year-old defender taking Pens? Who put that list together?

- Geoff C

I have no idea how Tony Popovic is going to justify what can only be described as a disaster game plan from start to finish.

- Phillip

Unbelievably poor coaching decisions. Placing an 18yr old CB for the most important penalty kick is a near fireable offence. Let alone placing a short goalkeeper up for penalties.

- Lee

Taking off a red hot in-form keeper in Beach for a short keeper in Mat Ryan. Unbelievably stupid.

- John

Win or lose, Tony has lost the plot completely tonight. He removes his main attackers and now he substitutes a goalkeeper who is in cracking form. ???

- Phillip

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:23am

Mo Salah 'it's history'

Here's Mo Salah.

"It's history," the Egypt captain says.

"I told the boys before the game that this is the biggest stage you can play on.

"Enjoy it and don't let the pressure get to you.

"I'm glad that we managed to win the game, bad luck for them.

"I'm happy that we wrote history today."

The post-match interview asks him about the panenka penalty he took.

I have a slight issue with this, because I need a panenka to be far more of a delicate chip than what Salah pulled out, but that's just me being pedantic.

"If somebody was going to do it, it would be me," he says.

"I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence. I decided last minute, I had to do it."

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:19am

Mat Ryan coming on is a head scratcher

I have a big, big problem with taking Pat Beach off.

He had just made a match-saving stop in normal time to keep the Socceroos in the game.

Heading into a shootout, which is as much about mentality as skill, the Socceroos stopper had confidence to spare.

He's been brilliant all tournament.

And Mat Ryan hasn't done a single thing except be snubbed.

His confidence will be low.

Beach's was high.

And there's no way of knowing if Beach would have done better in the shootout than Ryan had done but he would not have done any worse.

Ryan never came close to any of the spot kicks.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:18am

Popovic: 'It's tough'

Tony Popovic is speaking now.

"It's tough," he says.

"I think we showed the world that Australian football is strong.

"[It's] a wonderful group and I'm devastated that we can't progress."

He says that it's "not the moment" to think about how to pick the players up that missed a penalty, only saying that he was "extremely proud".

Now the big question, Mat Ryan.

"I think that was always an option for us and then you have to see how the game progresses," he says.

Essentially he says that they had a spare sub so used it to put Ryan on.

That seems to be a bizarre reason.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:14am

'It's a cruel way to end'

A tearful Jackson Irvine is speaking on SBS.

"Listen, congratulations to Egypt, huge victory for them, historic," he says.

"We took it all the way to the end.

"It's a cruel way to end."

He says that he hopes that the players who missed a penalty will get plenty of support, saying it takes a lot of courage to take a penalty.

"We've said from the beginning that we're a champion team. We're a unit, we do everything together.

"We win together and lose together.

"They've been immense through the whole tournament.

"It's just the beginning for a lot of these guys."

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:07am

Penalty options criticised: 'Go and hit the back of the net instead of putting an 18-year-old on'

Former Scotland midfielder Scott Brown has heavily criticised the penalty takers for the Socceroos, asking why the two centre-backs were chosen to take the spot kicks.

"Australia put two centre-backs on penalties," he says on the BBC.

"You want to see your strikers go and lead the team and hit the back of the net.

"Touré has been on fire for Norwich this season, scoring nine goals.

"Go and hit the back of the net instead of putting an 18-year-old on."

Chris Sutton, the former England forward, has also chipped in, saying: "There will be questions about why two centre-backs are stepping up to take the penalties for Australia."

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:03am

Awer Mabil comforted by teammates and Egypt players

The winger is taking the defeat particularly hard. Several Egyptian players have been over to Mabil to hug him, as have numerous Socceroos.

The Australian supporters haven't moved. The Egyptian fans are dancing.

Now the Socceroos are walking over to their fans. The heartbreak can be felt from 100 metres away.

Jordy Bos has also come back onto the field, on crutches.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:01am

Mo Salah is in tears

I imagine these are very different from the tears the Australians are currently shedding.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 6:57am

Heartbreak for the Socceroos

There can be no more deflating way to exit a tournament.

Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington have been two of Australia's best this entire tournament.

There may be criticism over why they were down to take penalties, but I sincerely doubt this was a spur of the moment decision made by Popovic just before the shootout.

But Mat Ryan coming on?

That was a bizarre call.