The Socceroos’ left-back bounded down the right again, through one challenge then two, bursting into the box. Like a rising tide, or maybe even Gareth Bale, the relentless, surging Jordan Bos lifted those around him with every stride.
At 0-0 against Paraguay, Australia had been inching towards the World Cup knockout rounds with each passing minute of this cool evening by the San Francisco Bay. The result felt further away, however, every time Paraguayan playmaker Julio Enciso found space, or when goalkeeper Patrick Beach was forced to make another save.
Even the Socceroos coach, Tony Popovic, started checking the clock, so close was his team to the last 32. So close, but still within reach of elimination’s reaper. The eyes of 12,000 Australians striping the stadium yellow had watched the digits tick by for much of the second half, hanging on every clearance.
In the pursuit of second place in Group D, the Socceroos did not require a goal. More important, after the disappointment of the US defeat, was for their World Cup campaign to find some kind of spiritual kickstart.
So it was fitting that, within a few kilometres of Google’s Mountain View headquarters, their search returned one standout result. Time and again Bos bounced through one would-be tackler, sped past another. Each metre gained took the ball further from danger.
As the second half ticked on, his first-half partner Cristian Volpato was sent to the bench, as was the Socceroos’ spearhead and hero against Turkey, Nestory Irankunda. Yet still Bos powered onward, crashing into bodies as he did the box.
Ajdin Hrustic, the substitute right winger, had the best seat in the house for one of the great Australian World Cup performances. “He’s a great player, he’s got power, you’ve seen it,” he said. Midfielder Aiden O’Neill looked sheepish with the player of the match trophy that he admitted probably should have gone to Bos.
Captain Harry Souttar said Bos is “a special player, a special guy, and just takes everything in his stride”. He went further. “The guy’s body’s just unbelievable to look at,” he said. “I don’t want to obviously put too much pressure on him, but if he keeps performing like that and there’s no ceiling.”
Others were happy to pile on the praise. Milos Degenek described Bos already a top-five left-back in the world and the best at his age. “That’s my opinion, I’m very biased, and I love him.” What about right-back, then, one journalist queried. “Top 10,” Degenek countered, laughing.
Irankunda’s praise was even higher. “He’s the best player in the world, Jordy Bos, best winger in the world,” he said. “He might have to switch to a winger, in my opinion. He’s done so well at right-back today, but he got so high up the pitch today and he showed glimpses of what he can do with the ball.”
Bos’s appearance at right-back in Popovic’s XI was a surprise, given there were competent right-sided defenders like Kai Trewin and Jason Geria in the Socceroos’ squad. Popovic knew he could do a job, however, having seen him play there during Bos’ time in Belgium with Westerlo, and having brought him on at right-back for half an hour against New Zealand nine months ago. “We’ve seen that he can adapt and play on that side,” he said. “It’s the best game he’s played of the three [World Cup matches] by far.”
Having proven his quality in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, Bos entered this tournament as one of Socceroos’ best credentialed players. At 23, he was also a symbol of this young Socceroos side.
His impact at this tournament had been solid but unspectacular until Thursday. The explosion was all the more eye-opening given it came playing out of position, while also knowing a yellow card would see him suspended for the last 32.
Bos’s proficiency on the right had Hrustic calling his teammate “Dani Alves” this week at training, after the Brazilian legend. Bos has also been compared to former Dutch winger Arjen Robben, a left-footed right winger, though the Socceroo played down those comparisons. “Unfortunately I didn’t score like him, but I tried,” he said.
By the end of the match, no Australian had taken more shots than Bos’s three. He had also created the joint-most chances. He had made four successful dribbles, and won the most duels, including seven of his nine aerial contests. “I was enjoying it too, honestly, tonight,” Bos said.
The player Bos has been compared to most often is Gareth Bale, the former Wales left-back who developed into a right winger for Tottenham and Real Madrid. Bale’s threat up the pitch was sustained by his athleticism and power, attributes Bos appears to share.
Given all the comparisons floating round – of Alves, Robben and Bale – Bos was asked who sees himself in most. “Yeah, Robben … I don’t mind Bale, to be honest,” he offered. Whoever Socceroos fans and football observers choose for a likeness is academic. This was the night Jordy Bos made a name for himself.
