By Anna Harrington in Dallas

The devastated Socceroos have been left to rue what might have been after a heartbreaking loss to Egypt ended their World Cup journey in the round of 32.

Australia’s hunt for a maiden men’s knockout win goes on after the Socceroos lost their first shootout at the World Cup finals 4-2, with the score locked at 1-1 at full-time and extra-time.

“It hurts when you get that close, unfortunately,” coach Tony Popovic said.

“We bow out in a penalty shoot out, so it’s difficult to take right now.”

Harry Souttar blasted the opening penalty into the stands, while Lucas Herrington hit the bar with the fourth.

Captain Maty Ryan, surprisingly substituted in for Patrick Beach by Popovic for penalties after not playing all tournament, didn’t get near Egypt’s spot-kicks.

Ryan later said he didn’t know he was coming on until extra-time, while Popovic, who cited the skipper’s experience, conceded it didn’t work.

“In the end it didn’t work out that way – not because of Maty’s poor judgement or lack of ability – they took really good penalties,” he said.

Mahmoud Saber buried Egypt’s first penalty, while Rami Rabia added a second and superstar captain Mohamed Salah a third.

Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil both buried their spot kicks, but the writing was on the wall once 18-year-old Herrington – a surprise taker – missed.

Then Hossam Abdelmaguid sent Egypt into ecstasy and Australia into despair.

While the order of the penalty takers is set to come under scrunity, Irvine said no one could blame Souttar or Herrington and hoped the whole of the country would wrap their arms around them, as he vowed the Socceroos would.

“Penalties is a cruel way to lose but anybody who’s got the confidence to step up and take that ball after 120 minutes or however long you’ve played, it takes a big heart,” Irvine said.

“And I hope everyone stays behind them and they get all the support.”

Irvine added the Socceroos had pre-planned their takers from one to seven.

The Socceroos lost in the knockouts in 2006 and 2022 and again feel that bitter hurt.

“It’s going to hurt for a while, that’s for sure,” defender Aziz Behich said.

“… There’s always going to be that ‘what if’, because we’re just so close yet again.”

Midfielder Ajdin Hrustic added: “Of course it hurts.

“If you get dominated and you lose 2-0 or 3-0 or whatever, you accept it, you shower, you get yourself home.

“If you lose like this, it hurts.”

Earlier, Egypt’s Emam Ashour opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he headed home a wicked ball from Karim Hafez in front of 70,244 fans at Dallas Stadium.

The Socceroos suffered a blow when wing-back Jordan Bos was clattered by Rami Rabia late in the first half and was forced out of the game with an apparent left knee injury.

Aiden O’Neill’s wicked free kick forced Mohamed Hany to head the ball into his own net in the 55th minute.

In the third minute of stoppage time Beach pulled off an extraordinary diving save, backpedalling then pawing the ball over the bar to deny Rabia at the death and send the game to extra time.

But it was in vain.

Egypt will now progress to take on either Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16.

Former Liverpool star Salah was under a cloud with a hamstring strain but played all game and scored his penalty.

“I told them ‘guys this is the biggest stage you will play in your lives, just enjoy it, don’t let the pressure get into you and not enjoy the moment,” Salah said.

“I decided at the last minute (to take a penalty). I don’t know if it is my last World Cup or not but I had to do it.”

For the first time in his tenure, Popovic didn’t make any changes to his starting line-up that drew 0-0 with Paraguay.

While Cristian Volpato was a bright spark, Nestory Irankunda cut a frustrated figure as he had a difficult day at the point of the attack and was substituted for Mohamed Toure in the 74th minute.

O’Neill was once again fantastic in midfield, working hard both defensively and attempting to create, while Souttar and Herrington were colossal at the back.

Despite his side’s exit, Popovic expressed his pride in the Socceroos’ tournament.

“Unfortunately, the margins are very, very small at this level and we fell on the wrong side tonight,” he said.

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