The same qualities that make Nestory Irankunda such a beacon of hope for the Socceroos also make him a target for the teams they play against.
What do you do when you come up against a player with such rapid, line-breaking, match-winning speed, and an aggressive attitude to match?
Kick him into submission, of course. Or try to get inside his head and lure him into a scrap.
Or both.
In nine games this season for Watford, Irankunda has drawn 16 free-kicks, making him one of the most fouled players in the English Championship – which, in a way, is the ultimate mark of respect. He received the same treatment in the A-League, but didn’t always deal with it well.
That treatment is following him into the international arena – which is exactly why his teammates say they need to look out for him, protect him from the opposition and intervene before the red mist descends.
Nestory Irankunda is the man of the moment for the Socceroos.Credit: AP
“His way of playing can irritate players,” defender Alessandro Circati said. “With his speed, he can take you one v one, put you in the space, and maybe you’re forced to foul him. That irritates players.
“He’s still very young, he’s still got a lot of football ahead of him, a lot of things to learn, lots of maturity to take in and lots of experience.
