Australia's Socceroos prepare for World Cup shootout with Mile Jedinak's penalty expertise
Consensus Summary
Australia’s Socceroos are preparing for a potential World Cup shootout against Egypt in the round of 32, with Mile Jedinak serving as a key mentor due to his flawless penalty record as a player. Jedinak, now an assistant coach, scored three World Cup penalties and never missed one for Australia, offering insights like focusing on repetition and controlling the moment. The team has practiced shootouts in training, though Circati acknowledges the unpredictability of who will take penalties after 120 minutes. Players like Ajdin Hrustic and Alessandro Circati are seen as reliable takers, with Hrustic being the only remaining player from the 2022 shootout win over Peru. Jedinak’s experience and leadership are central to the team’s confidence, though he downplays overthinking the process.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Mile Jedinak scored three World Cup penalties (one in 2014 vs. Netherlands, two in 2018 vs. France and Denmark) and never missed a penalty for Australia during his playing career.
- Australia faces Egypt in the World Cup round of 32 (Dallas) with a potential shootout scenario.
- Jedinak’s penalty-taking philosophy emphasizes repetition, focus on 'ball, me, and where I was going to put it,' and controlling the situation without overthinking.
- Alessandro Circati (22) is a key leader in the team and has never taken a penalty in green and gold but expressed confidence to step up if needed.
- Ajdin Hrustic is the only remaining player from the 2022 squad who took a penalty in the shootout win over Peru.
- The Socceroos have practiced penalty shootouts in training, simulating real-game conditions with two teams.
- Jedinak’s career included captaining Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and the Socceroos, with over 400 professional matches.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Jedinak scored a penalty in the 2019 Championship final for Aston Villa in the 90th minute of extra time.
- Nestory Irankunda scored his first senior international goal in a penalty against Palestine in 2024.
- Awer Mabil scored in the 2022 shootout victory over Peru, made famous by Andrew Redmayne’s 'grey Wiggle' celebration.
- Mo Touré missed a penalty for Norwich in April 2026.
- Jedinak initially deflected questions about his penalty record, saying, 'You know the answer to that. We’re not here to talk about me.'
- Only five players in history have scored more World Cup penalties than Jedinak (excluding shootouts): Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and others.
- Jedinak’s penalty record is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo at three World Cup penalties scored.
- Circati referenced the Paraguay game as a key emotional test, saying, 'If we didn’t get a point, I don’t think we would have been here right now.'
- Jedinak mentioned the difficulty of preparing for shootouts due to added pressure like crowd noise, which can’t always be replicated in training.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Jedinak scored a penalty in the 2014 World Cup against the Netherlands, but does not mention the final score (3-2 loss), while ABC does not specify the opponent for the 2014 penalty.
- The Guardian notes Jedinak scored two penalties against Honduras in 2018 to advance to the World Cup, but ABC does not mention this detail.
Source Articles
Socceroos turn to secret weapon Mile Jedinak in case of World Cup shootout
Australia are leaning on the knowledge of their assistant coach, who never missed a penalty during his international playing career, ahead of the last-32 clash with Egypt As the Socceroos turn their minds to the possibility of a penalty shootout against Egypt, they have a powerful presence in their corner: Mile Jedinak. Australia’s assistant coach boasts a remarkable record – he never missed a penalty for the Socceroos during his career as a player, and found the back of the net from the spot th
Mile Jedinak knows what it's like to take a World Cup penalty
Now an assistant coach for the Socceroos, and with a penalty shootout a possibility when Australia face Egypt in the round of 32, Mile Jedinak knows what it takes to seize the moment.