Irvine heaps praise on the 'mentality' of Socceroos' young stars

Subway Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine speaks about his recent journey to top-flight football along with the young Socceroos who are also making their mark in Europe.

READ MORE: Metcalfe reflects on whirlwind two years abroad 
READ MORE: Yengi expects promotion 'positivity' to flow through camp

Having now joined Graham Arnold's Bangkok camp, in preparation for Thursday's Bangladesh tie, Irvine notes how the squad have entered training with an extra spring to their step.

That would come as little surprise, with the current Socceroos squad boosting 6 players who achieved promotion, 5 who secured silverware, and a number of new selections vying for an oppourtinity in the international arena.

"The squad itself, it's been a great few days. Of course with Kusini [Yengi] getting promoted, Cam [Burgess] getting promoted, Alessandro [Circati] getting promoted, guys like [Josh] Nisbet had an incredible season winning silverware, and Nestory [Irankunda] has his opportunity to take that next big step."

It's just an unbelievably exciting environment. Everyone's in such a great phase of football at the moment. 

"I see it more and more when newer players come in, how quickly they adapt into the atmosphere and the culture of this group, it still surprises me how quickly players are able to adapt. It's great to see because I think that's a reflection of the type of people that we have in this team."

The Melbourne boy will soon join a talented list of Australians who have played in the German top-flight, with the achievement a long time in the making.

Irvine reflects on the efforts of Aussies players traversing Europe's top competitions and what he believes the next generation of stars need in order to push the nation's profile further.

"I think the talent has always been there, sometimes football is funny, it can be about timing and a little bit of luck."

"I always look back at like Mile Jedinak and Aaron Mooy, who played at the very top level, they were also 28-29 when they reached that moment in their career. That's the perseverance of the players we have and how difficult it can be to finally achieve the opportunity to play at that level."

"But now we're seeing with Alessandro and Connor, for these younger guys to have made that step now, I think can be a really huge marker for the younger guys going forward to show that if you have the right mentality and that little bit of luck as well that they have got the ability to do it."

"It will hopefully change the attitude of how players go and where the opportunities are to try and push themselves to achieve that level."

Looking ahead to Thursday's clash away in Bangladesh, the Subway Socceroos have the chance to extend their 100% qualifying record of four wins, which includes 15 scored and a remarkable 0 scored against.

As an experienced member of this squad, Irvine knows how important it is to help the new inclusions prepare well to help push Australia closer to FIFA World Cup football.

When you come into these camps, it's an opportunity to take another step forward and continue to get better. 

"Certain games have different bearings, but we want to break records, we want to carry on winning streaks, we want to keep clean sheets, we want to do all the things."

"We have to do that through playing the way that we want, to approach every single game as a team that wants to win every single game, whether it's a friendly, a qualifier or one of the best teams in the world, the mentality never really changes."

"You don't want to stand still, you want to continue to get better and grow and that's what we've built, a brilliant foundation, over the last few years."

Many players get to experience the joy of club promotion, but uniquely, Irvine has become only one in a few that has seen promotion as captain, having worn the armband of Hamburg outfit St Pauli en-route to the German Bundesliga.

The 31-year-old explains the whirlwind which has been his last few months.

"It's been absolute chaos but in the best way possible. It's just everything good in your life happening at once, a promotion, a wedding, and then visit Melbourne to see my family and celebrate with them as well."

"The most incredible part of [St Pauli promotion] is when you get to share it with a city and a community who embrace us, it means so much to them and you saw those scenes."

"10 minutes before the final whistle, they were already lining the side of the pitch and when that whistle went I threw my head back for a second and then look back down and it was a absolute zombie apocalypse."

Just 1000s of them, like the movie World War Z, just 1000s of people charging at you from all directions, absolute chaos.

"Then the parade through the city on the Monday after the championship and everyone was just in the best mood possible, everyone wanted to just celebrate and enjoy what we achieved and what it means for the club and the people, it was unbelievably special."

Irvine and Aussie teammate Connor Metcalfe look set to make their Bundesliga debuts next season, with sone of the world's largest clubs in their sights. However, the St Pauli captain will not be thinking that far ahead with his focus solely on success with the Subway Socceroos.

"I think maybe when the fixtures get released and it starts to feel a bit more real about where we're going and what we're going to be up against next season."

Match Details

Bangladesh v Subway Socceroos
Thursday, 6 June
Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka
Kick-off: 4.45pm local / 8.45pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+

Subway Socceroos v Palestine
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 8.05pm AWST / 10.05pm AEST
Tickets: Start from $15 Child, $20 Concession, $25 Adult, and $50 Family. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
Broadcast: 10, 10 Play, Paramount+