The knockout stages of the World Cup are barely underway and already we’ve seen plenty of penalties. We’ve also seen plenty of penalty misses. 

European heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands have both been sent packing on pens by Paraguay and Morocco respectively. 

Across both of those shootouts a total of 10 spot kicks were saved, skied or struck wide in scenes rarely seen. 

Traditionally missing or saving a penalty has been the exception, not the rule, but so far at this World Cup teams seem to be trading misses rather than successful conversions.

These back-to-back shootouts got us thinking not only how would Australia fare from the spot, but who would take the kicks?

This train of thought is far from a fantasy too, with penalties in the Method of Victory market for Australia’s match against Egypt currently paying 5.10* at the time of writing. 

We’ve nominated our first five takers for Australia if they do drag the Pharaohs beyond 120 minutes of play. Check them out below. 

Who Are Australia’s Penalty Takers? 

1. Nestory Irankunda 

One of three players in the current squad who have taken a penalty for Australia before, Irankunda is one from one from the spot in Green and Gold. 

His lone international penalty came back in 2024 in a 5-0 win over Palestine and was actually his first ever senior goal for Australia. 

You need big characters to step up and be the first cab off the rank in a penalty shootout and Australia’s Starboy is certainly that.

Composed, confident and technically proficient at striking a ball, expect Irankunda to be one of the first to walk forward should penalties be required against Egypt. 

2. Ajdin Hrustic 

Not only is Ajdin Hrustic one of the three current players in Australia’s World Cup squad to have taken a penalty at international level, but he is also only one of two to have done so in a competitive international penalty shootout.

Hrustic was on hand to calmly slot his spot kick home against Peru back in 2022 as Australia qualified for the World Cup in Qatar on penalties.

Experience of this nature is invaluable and despite him only making a one appearance so far as a substitute, we expect Popovich to get him on the field at some point against Egypt if the game looks like it is heading towards the murky waters of a penalty shootout.

3. Awer Mabil

Mabil is yet to feature at this World Cup but substituting players on late specifically for penalties is not a new phenomenon in football.  

One of the more experienced campaigners in Tony Popovich’s youthful side, Mabil is also vastly experienced from the penalty spot.

He has a perfect record from 12 yards at club level, scoring all four penalties he has been entrusted with throughout his club career.

Alongside Hrustic, Mabil is the only other member of this squad who was part of the first five to step up in the shootout against Peru.

Just like Hrustic, Mabil didn’t fluff his lines and was successful from the spot to help Australia qualify for the 2022 edition of this tournament. 

We expect him to be called upon once again should Australia be placed in the pressure cooker of a penalty shootout. 

4. Mohamed Toure

Despite having never taken a penalty for Australia, striker Mo Toure is no stranger to the pressure of the penalty spot. 

He’s taken plenty at club level with a respectable record of seven successful spot kicks from nine attempts. 

Strikers are literally paid to score goals, so there are worse people to pick to put the ball in the back of the net. If Toure is still on the field after running himself ragged over 120 minutes, we expect him to be one of Australia’s first five takers. 

5. Jordy Bos 

Ok, he’s taken a penalty for club or country, but hear us out. Have you seen this man strike a ball? 

It seems like there is nothing buccaneering left-back Jordy Bos can’t do, so slotting a ball into the net from 12 yards shouldn’t be too hard.

Ok, potentially being tasked with converting the winning penalty in a World Cup shootout comes with a bit of pressure, but Bos has proven himself to be a world class talent and world class players live for moments like this. 

*Odds are subject to change