'I was tearing up': Volpato shines on World Cup stage

Sassuolo winger Volpato, who only defected from Italy days before Australia's squad was announced, made his World Cup debut off the bench in Australia's 2-0 loss to the United States on Friday (Saturday AEST).

Volpato entered the fray when Mathew Leckie hobbled off on the hour mark and was a shining light for the Socceroos.

"He was a bright spark when he came on - and we needed that," skipper Harry Souttar said.

The 22-year-old was immediately a dangerous threat, showing off his close ball control, running at and menacing defenders and firing off shots.

"I thought I could have scored there, but that's what I try to do. I try to help the team, lift the spirits," Volpato said.

He said coach Tony Popovic's advice was pretty simple: "If you get the ball, just do your thing when you're in the box' - and I tried to do that."

Volpato knocked back Graham Arnold's pitch to join Australia's 2022 World Cup squad, then in March said he was waiting for a call-up from Italy's senior team, before his change of heart.

"In the first game, when we were singing the national anthem, I was getting goosebumps,' Volpato said.

"Like even just walking out today, I was tearing up. It was amazing.

"If I knew about this, I would have come a long time ago. So it was really good.

"I'm a hard believer in everything happens for a reason, and if I knew it was this good, I would have come earlier, like I said before.

"But like I said, everything happens for a reason and today was a special day to make my debut, and many more to come."

With his debut behind him, Volpato is confident he can make an impact if given the opportunity from the start against Paraguay on June 25.

"Yeah. I'm a player that loves to take the risk," he said.

"I think in football you have to take the risk to get a reward."

Fellow dynamo Nestory Irankunda said he and Volpato had been in contact since he first broke through in the A-League and described him as a "talented, damn good player."

Volpato believes he can combine with the "unbelievable" Irankunda and striker Mohamed Toure when given the chance.

"Both of them are quality players, they're both fast," Volpato said.

"Maybe I'm a little bit less faster, maybe I can use their pace a little bit."