Nick D’Agostino full of belief ahead of potential Socceroos debut against Japan

Scoring twice against a Japanese club last week has a Melbourne Victory marksman confident of finding the back of the net for the Socceroos.

Nick D'Agostino’s form for Melbourne Victory has earnt him a call-up to the Socceroos squad. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Bullish Socceroos rookie Nick D’Agostino intends to expose soft Japanese defending for the second time in less than two weeks if he plays against the Samurai Blue in Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier in Sydney.

The uncapped D’Agostino is itching for a Socceroos debut after earning selection in coach Graham Arnold’s national squad with his impressive goalscoring form for Melbourne Victory.

The 24-year-old striker has netted 11 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions for the Victory since joining the Melbourne club in the off-season.

Two of those goals came last week in the Victory’s 4-3 AFC Champions League playoff loss to Japanese club Vissel Kobe in Hyogo.

While disappointed to lose the match, D’Agostino took great confidence from his brace.

“Playing against Japanese players I know what to expect,” D’Agostino said.

“They’re good technically, tactically, physically, they’re very sharp on the ball but … they’re not that great defensively.

“There are plenty of opportunities to score goals. As you saw (last Tuesday night), we (the Victory) did that.

“We scored three away from home. We should have won that game. It was disappointing that we didn’t, but there’ll be plenty of opportunities for us (the Socceroos) on Thursday night.”

D’Agostino credited Arnold and Tony Popovic, his Victory coach who also mentored him at Perth Glory, for his rise to the Socceroos ranks, a journey that also included playing for the Olyroos at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Nick D'Agostino (right) has been grateful for the support of his Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

It’s a far cry from his four seasons between 2015 and 2019 at Brisbane Roar, where he scored only three goals in 42 appearances in all competitions.

“Tony Popovic and Graham Arnold are probably the two biggest (differences),” D’Agostino said.

“The self-belief that they’ve instilled in me and the confidence that they’ve added to me and my game just to go out there and believe in myself and trust in myself to help the team and score goals ... there’s no bigger feeling than going out knowing you’re going to help the team and knowing you’re going to put the ball in the back of the net.”

D’Agostino said other reasons for his rise included “looking at my body” and getting his “mind right”.

“At the moment I’m flying high. There’s no bigger honour than being called up for your national team,” he said.

“Hopefully, I can get on the pitch on Thursday and help the team in any way I can.

“We’re going there to get the three points.”

The Socceroos are in third spot – three points behind second-placed Japan and a further point adrift of leaders Saudi Arabia – in Group B of the AFC’s third round of World Cup qualifiers.

A top-two Group B finish will earn Australia automatic qualification to this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

However, with the Socceroos having already secured a top-three spot, they have at the very least earned a berth in playoffs to determine the remaining World Cup qualifiers once the group stage is completed.

Originally published as Nick D’Agostino full of belief ahead of potential Socceroos debut against Japan