Having come into Socceroos camp on the high of scoring a hat-trick for his European club team, Jacob Italiano is intent on further showing national coach Tony Popovic that he “belongs” on the World Cup stage.
Italiano’s three weekend goals – two of them stunning strikes – propelled Grazer AK to a 5-1 thrashing of WSG Tirol in the Austrian Bundesliga.
It was first time the 24-year-old wing-back had scored this season, and the goals have him in a confident frame of mind ahead of the Socceroos’ FIFA Series clash against Cameroon at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Friday night.
“It was nice to come into camp off the back of that performance,” Italiano said on Thursday.
“I’d like to have scored more goals in my career up until this point, so it’s nice that I managed to get three in the one game.”
Italiano debuted for the Socceroos in October last year, starting and impressing in both of Australia’s games against Canada and the United States.
However, he suffered a calf injury soon after returning to Austria and was ruled out of the Socceroos’ November matches against Venezuela and Colombia.
“That was a bit of a hit. A lot of times in football that’s where an injury can get you, when you’re feeling really good and on top,” he said.
“It’s more of a learning curve. Maybe you stop doing some things that you could have done because you feel like you’re on top of the world and nothing can get you.
“My loading went a bit higher. It’s all a different experience in the mind, and you’re experiencing a lot of different things.
“It’s something I’ve definitely learned from, and something I will learn from in the future, and hopefully, touch wood, nothing happens off the back of this camp, and I can play well and keep the form going.”
The right wing-back spot is up for grabs in Australia’s line-up after Lewis Miller’s World Cup dreams were shattered by a ruptured Achilles tendon.
“It’s really unfortunate what happened to Lewis,” Italiano said.
“It’s a part of football. Sometimes when injuries come, and I’ve had my fair share of injuries as well, it’s an opportunity for another player, and now I just want to put my best foot forward, keep my head down and work hard, and hopefully I can take the chance.
“It is just about showing the boss (Popovic), the fans and the team that you belong here and that you’re capable of doing a really good job for Australia.”
The likelihood that Italiano will start on Friday night has further increased, with another right wing-back option, Fran Karacic, having departed the Socceroos camp because of a foot injury.
Popovic said Italiano was a good example of a player who made the most of his opportunity.
“I’d love to find another Jacob Italiano, whether it’s that position or another position, someone that can come through and surprise everyone, and then continue on with some really good form at their cub leading into the World Cup,” the Socceroos coach.
