Australia’s Socceroos respond with support for goalkeeper Lucas Herrington after the team is eliminated by Egypt in a World Cup last-32 match decided on penalties. Herrington, an 18-year-old, takes and misses Australia’s final spot kick in the shootout. Multiple reports describe him as the youngest starter the Socceroos have fielded at a men’s World Cup. Teammates publicly rally around him after the loss, with Aziz Behich and Jackson Irvine among those offering backing and emphasizing that taking the penalty is part of the game. Behich says he told Herrington that simply going up and placing the ball down was enough for the team.
The reports also note that Egypt advances to the World Cup last 16 via the shootout result. Accounts from match coverage describe the missed penalty as striking the crossbar, and add that Herrington shows visible disappointment immediately after the kick and later turns away from the goal area as the shootout ends. The focus of the team’s immediate reaction is on solidarity with Herrington following a painful defeat.
