Circati details 'dream' Socceroos cap in Perth
READ MORE: Subway Socceroos wrap up qualifying stage with big win over Palestine WATCH: Socceroos react to Australia 5-0 Palestine
Circati started in the heart of defence for Australia and kept a clean sheet - but it was ability on the ball that earned plaudits in the 5-0 win.
He completed over 100 passes - including 11 into the final third - and 11 accurate long balls from 15 attempts.
One of those high balls got the Aussies up and running within the first few minutes in Perth.
The Parma defender raked a pass out to the left for Leckie, who chested it down to Behich to race into the box, where then was fouled.
Kusini Yengi converted the consequent penalty - however, Circati’s pass was the instigator for the Socceroos opener. Circati said that the move was something the team had been working on.
“Before the game, I spoke with Lecks [Mathew Leckie] and Aziz [Behich],” he said.
“We like to bring the left winger inside and, Aziz, it opens up a lot of space for him, whether it's him or even Lecks saying outside and him coming inside, it opens up a lot of space behind their fullbacks and their centre-backs.
“So as I stepped in, I just saw it was the right opportunity - even though it was only two or three minutes in - it was just the right time to hit the ball long, and it went well for me.”
The 20-year-old also showed his defensive quality, which was crucial to Parma’s promotion to Serie A this season.
One such occasion was a block in the first half, which occurred while the game was still in the balance as Australia looked to snuff out Palestine’s attacking quality.
“I'm a defender, so that sort of thing comes second nature to me to see the striker about to charge and line up a shot, and you've just got to put your body on the line,” Circati said.
“You know where the goal is, all you have to do is to get your body between the ball and the goal, and that's exactly what I did.”
For Circati, it was his second appearance in the green and gold and his first playing for the team in the state where he grew up.
He said he was grateful for the people who turned up to watch him play.
[I am] speechless,” he said.
“The dream has come true. So thank you to everyone who did come because they did make my dream come true."
“It was great. It’s a second cap for the Socceroos, so right now, every cap still does have a lot of value to me being only the second one.
“It was great to see a lot of familiar faces who I haven't seen in a very long time.”
Circati was partnered by Ipswich Town defender Cameron Burgess, who was also playing in front of his home crowd.
The pair got through nearly 200 passes between them over the 90 minutes, and Circati said they will cherish the experience of playing in this game.
“To play with Cam, obviously, he's had a great season,” Circati said.
“Being both West Australian, I think it holds a special place in our hearts playing together here as well and getting a great result against a good team - a team who can put a lot of teams under lots of pressure.”
Burgess, like Circati, has been promoted to a European top flight - the English Premier League.
He joins St Pauli’s Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe, who will feature in Germany’s Bundesliga in 2024/25.
