Touré injury scare hits Socceroos camp before Turkey opener

Touré scare days out from opener

Australia's only specialist striker Mo Touré missed training on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), sending an injury scare through camp just days before the World Cup opener against Turkey (3). Tony Popovic's forward options were already thin – Touré stands alone as the squad's true No. 9. Any absence leaves Popovic scrambling for a plan B against a Turkish side that will test the Socceroos from the opening whistle.

Bos takes it in his stride

Left-back Jordan Bos enters his first World Cup with the same calm he carries onto the pitch. "I just have to soak up the experience and just play football," Bos said. "It's kind of hard to 'feel' the moment as it is now, but I think afterwards I'll really understand the experience that I'm in now" (1). The 23-year-old is expected to start against Turkey as one of Australia's most dynamic wide threats.

Turkey sizing up the Socceroos

Turkish media are taking Australia seriously as Group D rivals, profiling the Socceroos' key players ahead of the opening match (2). The focus on Australia from overseas outlets reflects a squad that, despite being labelled "average" by US pundit Alexi Lalas, carries genuine threat. Connor Metcalfe's public pushback against that criticism has only sharpened the camp's edge heading into the tournament.