Read for 5 minutes14 Jun 2026 07:54 PM IST
No team is at the top of the game and have their own versions of football. But Saturday’s Seattle FIFA WC game between Australia and hosts USA will be on a heated pitch, after a CBS TV pundit slammed the Socceroos and unleashed a strange tirade on final goal scorer Nestori Irankunda.
Mike Gray had no reason to be in a disgusting rage on the pre-match show on CBS, other than he had never heard the Australians name.
While previewing Turkiye games, Grayla would politely say, “I think their best player is Irankunda…uhh umm Irankunda…I mean Irankunda,” as he made a smug face and started mispronouncing the name. He added: “With all due respect, because I don’t like to talk bad about the players … we actually called the championship at CBS … but, Erankunda…” he continues in a slurred, completely noncommittal tone.
And Nestori is taking the piss out of Irancunda.
All this US media talk is boring, but next week’s Seattle showdown between the USMNT and the Socceroos should be fun 😊 https://t.co/50y32vGRLn pic.twitter.com/Bw4ny2iWwd
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) 13 June 2026
The The youngster would go on to take Australia by storm 2-0 scored the winning opening goal over the match favourites, Turkey.
Nottingham’s Ange Postecoglou spoke of the Tanzanian-born Irankunda’s blistering pace during his own pundit stint at ITV, making him a top choice for Tony Popovic. He also saw a brave call when Popoball was called upon where he dropped both the captain and vice-captain and scored on 22-year-old Patrick Beech, a move that was completed by his miraculous dive.
World Cups are where reputations are carved. But Gray will double down even as comments from disgruntled Australian fans flood CBS with his scathing words. Next to him Troy Deeney who previously played for Watford – the same as Irankunda, had an embarrassed look on his face and laughed at the wacky rant.
Grella, who played for Long Island Rough Riders, Cary Clarets, Leeds, Carlisle, Swindon, Brentford, Bury, Scunthorpe, Viborg, Carolina Rallylawks, NY Red Bulls, Columbus Crew, refused to give Australia any credit.
“Look, listen, again with this Australian thing. It’s out of control…” he would say, as the host said, “You’re adding fuel to the fire.”
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He fumed: “And I’m just going to say something. It actually made me go back and do more research. Because I’m like WAIT! I love the Australians. I watched their team. I don’t know any of the players on their team. I’m not kidding when I say that. It’s like… what are they drinking there? Because they don’t have the weakest team in the World Cup. And the US has 6-7-8 players in the Champions League, yet you look at Australia.
Mike Grella is clearly good at creating headlines, but his disrespect for the Socceroos is outrageous.
“What are they drinking there because they have no shot of doing anything in the World Cup.” pic.twitter.com/tGE4O0a8re
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) 13 June 2026
He was asked how much he would bet on a USA win when the two sides meet next Saturday in Seattle.
“Anyway, I’ll bet a thousand bucks, a couple of thousand bucks on Australia to beat. I don’t care. There’s nothing Australia can beat America. They just have a defense and try to keep it zero-nil. That’s the only way. I know anything can happen in football. But there are quality levels. Australia doesn’t play a week in Europe.”
The US beat Paraguay 4-1 in LA, but they aren’t top-notch themselves. Australia, meanwhile, staged wild celebrations at Federation Square in Melbourne, as a wave of football swept over them, with public spectacles in stadiums and townsquares with giant screens.
Erankunda famously grew up in a slum after arriving from Tanzania before studying football in Adelaide. Asked by Channel 9 if he would score again, Father Gideon Rurandagaye calmly said, “One more game – America. He’ll score another goal.”
Whether Mike Grella likes it or not.