Why does Australia always want to pick a fight with the US at the international level? It's a huge rivalry in the Olympic pools, and now former Australian captain Harry Kewell is expanding the trash talk to the soccer pitch ahead of a crucial World Cup showdown.
Harry Kewell, who played for Liverpool and Leeds United, isn’t too happy with the things USMNT fans and pundits are saying about Australia. 😳
— Anthony (@AnthonyKyaw) June 16, 2026
He believes his generation of Australian players would beat any version of the USMNT.
[via CODE Sports and FOX Sports Australia] pic.twitter.com/PB6NEBJm8u
Nothing wrong with having a strong belief in your team, especially since the winner of this game, almost assuredly makes it to the knockouts via winning the group, but let's break it down a little here. Kewell was active from 1998 to 2014, but was primarily at his best alongside Tim Cahill in 2006. Here is that roster:
Mark Schwarzer - Middlesbrough
Lucas Neill - Blackburn Rovers
Craig Moore - Newcastle United
Tim Cahill - Everton
Jason Culina - PSV Eindhoven
Tony Popovic - Crystal Palace
Brett Emerton - Blackburn Rovers
Josip Skoko - Wigan Athletic
Mark Viduka - Middlesbrough
Harry Kewell - Liverpool
Stan Lazaridis - Birmingham City
Ante Covic - Hammarby
Vince Grella - Parma
Scott Chipperfield - Basel
John Aloisi - Alavés
Michael Beauchamp - Central Coast Mariners
Archie Thompson - Melbourne Victory
Zeljko Kalac - AC Milan
Joshua Kennedy - Dynamo Dresden
Luke Wilkshire - Bristol City
Mile Sterjovski - Basel
Mark Milligan - Sydney FC
Mark Bresciano - Parma
Some really good names and players there that littered some of the top leagues in Europe. But that team led by the legendary Guus Hiddink, the Socceroos, made it to the knockouts but couldn't dethrone Italy, falling 1-0. No shame in that. But it doesn't exactly strike fear into a US team known to punch way above its weight, thanks to the likes of Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, especially since the US won 3-1 in 2010.
I, for one, would love to see the 2022 USA team, or maybe even the 2002 team, get their chance against this Australia squad. The 2002 team really should have been on to the semis, but a clear handball was missed on Torsten Frings, and Germany would eventually win 1-0. And that is not even taking into consideration the 2018 or 2026 teams.
I am all for trash talk, and I really think this USA-Australia game will be a great one to watch. But let's be real here, there really is no comparison when it comes to Golden Generations. Friday's game won't be won in the past, though, even though Kewell would probably like that. It will be won in the midfield.
Tyler Adams must stay clean and win the transition battle
Tyler Adams is really good at what he does, hunting the ball. But that leads to some occasional yellow cards, as we saw in the 4-1 opening win over Paraguay. That means if Adams picks up a yellow against Australia, he will miss the final group game. And if he gets one in the final group game, he will miss the round of 32. If the midfielder doesn't pick up another yellow, his single yellow is wiped clear heading into the knockouts.
Australia used a lethal counterattack to shock Turkey 2-0 despite getting outshot 28-8, and holding only 37% of the ball. That means Adams, McKennie, and Tillman will have to really be on their game when the US pushes numbers forward as they did against Paraguay.
If not, Kewell's premise may come true, and Australia may be sitting in pole position heading into matchday 3, thanks to a tactic the US used to thrive on.
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