Ikonomidis ready to build on dream Socceroos debut

It only lasted 10 minutes, but Australia young gun Chris Ikonomidis said he will cherish each second of his debut in what he hopes will be the dawn of a long and illustrious career for the national team.

Chris Ikonomidis

Chris Ikonomidis in action during his debut for the Socceroos against FYR Macedonia. (Getty) Source: Getty Images

The Lazio livewire looked busy and inventive in his cameo off the bench in place of Nathan Burns as the Socceroos followed up last week’s stirring 2-2 draw with Germany with a stifling 0-0 stalemate against FYR Macedonia on Tuesday (AEST).

Not that 19 year-old Ikonomidis cared too much about that - he was just blown away to have been plucked from Lazio’s second string and given his big break with the national team.
And, as with everything that the kid from Southern Sydney encounters, he took it in his stride and immediately put his hand up for the first of Australia’s 2018 FIFA Wold Cup qualifiers in June.

“I thought I had a good week’s training, improving every day. I work really well with these boys, I love the atmosphere here, and now I’ve had a taste of it, I want more,” said the effortlessly articulate Ikonomidis.

“It’s spurred me on to go back to my club, push even harder than before to stay in the squad and prove to the boss and all the boys that I am worthy to be one of them and to remain a part of this (the Socceroos) for years to come hopefully.

“It’s been my dream since I was five years old and it’s incredible. I will always keep that with me… even if it wasn’t a bicycle kick goal in the last minute, making my debut was still special for me, for my family and all my friends back home.

"It felt great out there, an honour really to get my first cap. Disappointing not to get the win but happy to get some minutes and my first cap.”



Nobody was going to take any part of that away of that away from him... certainly not one hopelessly optimistic member of the scarce crowd at the National Arena Philip II who cheekily asked Ikonomidis for his shirt at fulltime, only to be told: “It’s my debut and nobody is getting this shirt."

Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said: "He's played his first game, that's out of his system now and hopefully he goes back to his club and it gives him some confidence to really push through there.

"He's looked pretty confident all week and he didn't look out of place out there, which is great for us because it gives us another option up front."
Having been on the bench for Lazio’s first XI twice already this season, Ikonomidis believes his ascension for his country may fast track his progression in Rome.

“I think I am very close (to getting a run with Lazio)... the manager seems to believe a lot of me and just as I was leaving to come here he was really working me into that squad," he added.

“We have 10 more really important games in the Serie A and hopefully I can get some minutes there, or even in the Copa Italia.

"This is going to help me… somebody has to make the first move to give me my debut and Australia has done that.

“It has helped me a lot and I am really grateful for that because it’s really assured my club, if they weren’t 100 per cent sure, now they are definitely 100 per cent sure of my talent.

"Hopefully they can bring me through soon.”


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4 min read
Published 31 March 2015 11:23am
Updated 31 March 2015 12:21pm
By David Lewis

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