Sporting: Australia legend Schwarzer heaps praise on Irankunda

Mark Schwarzer, Australia's all-time most-capped player, has been left thoroughly impressed by compatriot Nestory Irankunda.

In a column for the 'football360' platform, the former goalkeeper highlighted the unpredictability of the winger signed by Sporting from Watford for €15 million, noting that the youngster looks most comfortable operating down the left wing. "Things don't always go his way, but that's the price you pay when you have an unpredictable player of this calibre. He carries the ball at blistering pace and makes split-second decisions. He can adapt, take players on, and find ways to beat opponents as the game unfolds," he emphasised.

For Schwarzer, the move to Alvalade has been crucial to the teenager's development: "He knew he would be playing out on the left against Brazil. He's in fantastic form and arrived riding high on confidence from Sporting. The transfer to the Portuguese side was fantastic. Seeing him get an opportunity at a club of this stature is truly exciting. I believe the setup gives him the freedom he needs to play his natural game: unrestrained and constantly looking to get on the ball."

The 53-year-old former shot-stopper also praised Irankunda's free-kick goal against Brazil, which made headlines across Australia: "The execution of the free-kick was sublime, world-class. It's one thing to have the intention; it's quite another to execute it on a stage of that magnitude against elite opposition, which is genuinely impressive."
Irankunda's strike came in a 1-1 draw in the first of Australia's two friendlies against Brazil during this international window. In the second meeting, the Socceroos suffered a 4-2 defeat, in a match where Benfica's Circati scored and provided an assist.