Socceroos' Selection Dilemma: Volpato's Form Creates Headache for Popovic

Cristian Volpato's showing in the second half against the United States was both a positive and a potential headache for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.

On the one hand, Volpato showed the class that had people raving about him as a youngster, and his link-up play with Nestory Irankunda had fans salivating.

But on the other hand, it has led to debate over whether Popovic should play his best attacking unit against Paraguay tomorrow to see what they are capable of.

The Paraguay game is almost the perfect scenario for the Socceroos to do just that: a point would secure second spot in their group, while a loss is unlikely to end their tournament.

The questions for Popovic are thus: Is Volpato fit enough to start and play extended minutes after limited game time since joining the squad?

Does Connor Metcalfe deserve a starting spot, considering he has been one of Australia's most exciting attacking weapons this tournament?

And what of Irankunda and Mo Toure, because four does not go into three?

It's unlikely Popovic will change the formation he favours, which sees three attacking players supported by two midfielders.

"People want to see all of those types of players play the maximum minutes, certainly from the start of the game," Socceroos assistant Paul Okon said.

"But I guess every player is evaluated on how they are physically, mentally and tactically.

"Sometimes, the decisions will fall on one of those three or all of those three.

"At the end of the day, as a head coach, you need to make a decision based on those three things and also the opposition."

Changes incoming

Australia will make changes for its final group stage game: two will be forced, with Matt Leckie and Jacob Italiano out through injury, and Okon hinted there could be more.

"I would be surprised if there weren't any changes. How many? That's still up in the air," he said.

"So is the starting line-up already decided? No, not yet. But you could expect maybe some changes."

Popovic's selections for the US game, in which he opted for Leckie and Nishan Velupillay over Metcalfe and Irankunda, were criticised, notably by his former teammate and Socceroos great, Mark Schwarzer.

"I thought it was wrong, tactically it was wrong," the former Fulham and Chelsea goalkeeper said after the loss to the co-hosts.

"I think the changes were not effective. If anything, they hurt us a bit."

More recently, he urged Popovic to recall the benched veteran Mat Ryan in place of Patrick Beach for the final group-stage game.

There were also questions about Cameron Burgess's spot after his own goal against the Americans, and his substitution at half-time.

Emerging defender Lucas Herrington appeared in line for a World Cup debut after starting alongside Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati in the warm-up games, but has yet to play a minute of tournament football.

While the outside noise will rumble on, one thing that Popovic has shown during this tournament is that reading the tea leaves before his team is named is a fraught exercise.