Cristian Volpato represents a significant shift for Australian football, offering a chance to mend two decades of disappointment. The winger switched his allegiance to the Socceroos just before the World Cup, but his journey has been influenced by those tied to one of the most painful moments in Australian football history.
In 2006, during a match that saw the Socceroos, dubbed the ‘golden generation’ and captained by Mark Viduka, on the brink of achieving their first knockout victory, a penalty awarded to Italy by Fabio Grosso, which Francesco Totti converted, dashed their hopes.
Volpato admits he has revisited that match “My ex-agent was Totti, who scored, and then my coach is the one who won the penalty so it’s a bit like … you know what I mean?” noting the surreal connections he has with such a pivotal event in Australian sports. “I spoke to Grosso, he just remembers he didn’t even know what he was doing, he felt a bit of contact, he went down,” he remarked, visibly moved by the coincidence.
Totti guided Volpato through his formative years in Italian football, and at Sassuolo, he has played under Grosso, who recently took over as coach at Fiorentina.
Reflecting on the infamous incident, Volpato shared, “They got the pen, Totti, and he just shot as hard as he could, he said.”
In Australia, the penalty decision was widely criticized, viewed as a miscarriage of justice. However, Volpato believes valuable lessons can be drawn from that moment as the Socceroos prepare to face Egypt on Friday (Saturday AEST) in Dallas, still seeking their first knockout victory two decades later.
“They are also small details that can change a game,” he commented. “We have to use that in our game as well, because small details can make a big, big difference.”
The 22-year-old made his World Cup debut against Paraguay, showcasing his skills on the right flank alongside Jordy Bos.
His late addition to the Socceroos squad surprised many, as it nearly didn’t happen due to his expired Australian passport. He had to rush back to Sydney just before the tournament’s start. “Thank God, and I’m thankful to the people at the passport place who helped me get it quickly,” he expressed.
Previously a junior international for Italy, Volpato had maintained regular communication with Australian coaching staff for several years. Ultimately, he made the decision to switch allegiance in late May, following a match with his club against Parma, where Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati plays.
“Something clicked and my heart said: ‘Just go, I think you belong there,’” he recounted. “I didn’t want to come being 50-50, if I wanted to come it’s because I wanted to come and I felt it was right.”
This transition marks a return for Volpato, who grew up in Sydney yet faced rejection from two local football academies at the age of 16. “I got told from both of them that basically I’m not good enough to play,” he recalled.
“I always wanted to go to Italy as a kid, so I think it [worked] out perfectly to be honest because then straight after, I just remember the car ride home with my dad. I was crying. And he just says: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll go to Italy now and we’ll try it.’”
His mother even sold her shop to support his move to Italy, where he successfully earned a spot in Roma’s academy. “Thank God I made the trial and my life changed from there,” Volpato said. “I feel like I have to give a lot as well to Italy because they gave me a second opportunity. From there, I also got picked for the Italian team first, so I mean, I just accepted it.”
Before committing to Australia, Volpato faced online criticism from Socceroos fans who felt he had abandoned his roots. “I’m human like everyone else, I’m addicted to my phone like 90% of the people as well in the world,” he stated. “There’s going to be good things [said about you], there’s going to be bad things, but I feel like as a footballer, you’ve just got to be resilient, and sometimes you can use it as fuel as well.”
Now, he has become a beloved figure among Socceroos supporters, who chant that Volpato is “I felt like it was right,” His family has shared videos of the fans singing, reinforcing his decision to represent Australia over Italy. “I felt like I can be myself, and I can show myself here more.” he concluded. “I felt like I can be myself, and I can show myself here more.”
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