Irvine says Socceroos have to feel the pain before looking ahead

Australia's World Cup aspirations were extinguished following a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Egypt in the knockout stage. The emotional toll of the defeat was palpable as Egyptian players celebrated and the Socceroos embraced in shared disappointment.

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There's not many words you can say to a player in that moment. It's a team first and it's not about any one player in any moment. For him to step up in that moment takes incredible steel.

Midfielder Jackson Irvine, speaking after the match, stressed the importance of allowing the team to feel the full extent of their loss. "You've got to allow yourself to feel it. It's the hardest part. To feel it all," Irvine stated. He believes that confronting the hurt, disappointment, and heartbreak, along with the significant effort and hope invested, is crucial for driving future progress.

"That's what will drive you forward. Not wanting to feel the same way again," Irvine added, underscoring the belief that this painful experience will serve as motivation to avoid similar outcomes in the future.

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You've got to allow yourself to feel it. It's the hardest part. To feel it all. The hurt, the disappointment, the heartbreak, all the effort and hope that goes into today. That's what will drive you forward. Not wanting to feel the same way again.

Despite the immediate devastation, Irvine praised his teammates, describing them as a "fantastic group of players, professionals." He expressed confidence in the current squad's ability to achieve greater success, noting that many players in the dressing room have the potential to "take that next step."

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They're a fantastic group of players, professionals, the ones that are here, some that aren't.

Aziz Behich, who has now experienced knockout stage elimination in three World Cups, reflected on the team's progress. "I think now we've set the bar," Behich said, referring to reaching the knockout stages in two consecutive World Cups. He emphasized that this standard has been set by the squad itself and must be the benchmark moving forward, with the goal of advancing further in the next tournament.

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I think now we've set the bar. Two World Cups in a row; we've reached the knockout stages. No-one else has set the bar for us. That's us as a squad and as players and staff. We've done that from the way we've worked and the way we've played to get ourselves in this position. So I think that's got to be the standard from now on, getting out of the group and hopefully next World Cup we'll be knocking on the door and getting out the knockout stages.