‘Hard work’ paying off for talented Socceroos midfielder Keanu Baccus

Competition for places in Australia’s midfield is intense, and it’s bringing out the best in Keanu Baccus.

Socceroo Keanu Baccus (left) battles with Argentina’s Lionel Messi during last year’s World Cup. Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Former Western Sydney Wanderers star Keanu Baccus has no intention of losing his Socceroos’ starting spot in the face of intense competition for midfield berths.

Baccus, 25, has become somewhat of an unsung hero in Australia’s engine room since debuting for the Socceroos off the bench against New Zealand in Auckland last year.

He featured in all four of the Socceroos’ matches at the subsequent 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and started in Australia’s 2-1 round-of-16 loss to eventual champions Argentina.

Baccus – who has played for Scottish top-tier club St Mirren since the beginning of last season – has now been a starter in seven of the Socceroos’ past eight games, including the 7-0 thrashing of Bangladesh in last Thursday night’s 2026 World Cup qualifier in Melbourne.

It’s a notable achievement considering Australia’s midfield stocks include the likes of Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe. Massimo Luongo, Aiden O’Neill, the currently injured Riley McGree, as well as Cameron Devlin and Denis Genreau, who were both overlooked for the Socceroos’ latest squad.

Keanu Baccus (centre) is enjoying his journey as a Socceroos. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I’m honoured to be playing more but just grateful to be selected in squads,” Baccus said ahead of the trip to neutral Kuwait for the match against Palestine on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

“It just took a lot of hard work (and) preparation. The dreams I had as a young kid I just ran with them, and when I got my chance I felt like I took it.

“Taking that leap to Scotland was a big thing for me, to progress and improve my game.”

Baccus said playing in last year’s World Cup was also significant for his development.

“Those stages really helped, playing in big games (against) Tunisia, Denmark, France, Argentina … it really taught me a lot but it made me go away with more experience and more hunger to go into the (national team) fold a bit more and become a starter,” he said.

“I’m buzzing to keep going, take it game by game, and do the best I can.”

The Socceroos took a chartered flight to Kuwait to give them the best possible chance of taking another successful step on the journey to the next World Cup.

“We’ll rest up, get a good sleep hopefully the first couple of hours, and then get used to the time zone over there, (and be) ready for (the game),” Baccus said.

“We’ll be fresh and fit coming off the plane. It’s going to give us a massive edge.”

Baccus was confident the Socceroos would again dominate as they did against Bangladesh.

“Physically I thought we were really good the other night. We worked hard, we worked as a team and we ran all over them in a way.” he said.

“That’s the motto of Australian football. We’re all tough and physical, and then we can put goals away when we need to, so hopefully that continues.”