Third generation Socceroo Alex Robertson has the talent and passion to represent Australia for a long time

Robertson, 19, was brought down by Ecuador’s Sebas Mendez who accused the youngster of diving. Robertson, spraying profanity, got up wanting to rumble and later spoke of his willingness to “do whatever for this shirt”.

Forty metres away, Robertson’s family had taken up three rows of seats. They were momentarily vacated when 27 of them sprang to their feet, led by Alex’s dad, Mark.

“I stood up, leant forward yelling, ‘Yeah, you want a go!?’,” Mark told CODE Sports. “And then I caught myself thinking, ‘Mate, what are you doing?’

“Sit down. He can sort himself out.”

Mark and grandfather, Alex, both of whom represented the Socceroos, had spent all of Friday lying to themselves. They convinced each other they were just going to another of young Alex’s games.

Like the ones they used to watch at a windswept Hensley Field in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Or, after leaving for Manchester at 14, one of the hundreds of academy games young Alex played for United, and then City.

And then Alex’s No. 26 went up on the hour mark at CommBank Stadium.

“The two of us looked at each other, Dad and I, and thought, ‘Pretty good, eh?’” Mark said about his moment of pride.

Young Alex more than held his own. Not just with the threat of vigilante behaviour on his Ecuadorean rival, but the part that sets him apart.

Think smart, play smart.

It took just two training sessions for him to impress the Socceroos coaching staff, who muttered out of the side of their mouths to each other, “This kid can play.”

So calm on the ball, always making the right decision to keep it moving. That is how players exist with Pep Guardiola, for whom Alex tries to impress every day, training full time with the senior Manchester City squad.

He’s yet to be uninvited by perfectionist Pep, who demands the ball never stops. So he’s used to pressure. But Friday, the night of his Socceroos debut, was no normal occasion for a player eligible to represent three other countries: England, Scotland and Peru.

“Nah it was something else. It wasn’t really just another game of football,” Alex said just moments after the Ecuador game ended. “There was emotion to it, inside me, and I could feel it inside the stadium as well.

“It was just a really happy moment.”

Alexander, as Mark calls him, and Alex the elder now hold a record.

They are the first three-generation family in Socceroos history.

It started when Alex the elder emigrated to Australia as a young man with a drive to succeed.

“He was brought up in the roughest part of Edinburgh, the slums, mate,” Mark noted about his dad, who played in the great Sydney City sides of the NSL in the 1980s.

Alex the elder became a Socceroo, competing with Charlie Yankos for the role as sweeper in Frank Arok’s team. Frank’s choice was made easier when Alex had to turn down Socceroos tours overseas, where they’d play both nations and clubs.

Being the general manager of a spare parts company paid the bills.

Part-time football didn’t.

“Dad came to Australia to fulfil everything he wanted to do and he’s been a great success in his life,” Mark said. “Great role model for me.”

Mark’s aim has been to be the role model for young Alex.

Mark’s own career showed immense promise, playing for the Young Socceroos, and once, for the Socceroos in 2001. But his knees wouldn’t co-operate.

“Did my ACL at 17. Then again at 23. And again at 27,” Mark recalled. “One’s enough, but I had three, and had ten operations in the end and retired at 29.

“So I wanted it to be different for Alexander. Didn’t want him to have to go through the turmoil I went through. I gave up alcohol six years ago to show him that’s not how to live your life. Just try to set examples for him that should be set in life the right way.”

Young Alex has already endured life experiences that can derail ambition and talent in an instant.

In 2020 one of his close friends, Jeremy Wisten, took his own life. They were mates at the Manchester City Academy. Wisten was released, leading to an inquest into how players are helped through the turmoil of being let go by football clubs. Manchester City also did its own thorough review.

Alex was a pallbearer at Wisten’s funeral. Family support played a big role in helping him through the grief and coming through the other side.

Nothing is taken for granted, whether it be playing for Australia or training with Pep.

Alex turns 20 next month and has yet to make a senior debut for Manchester City. There has been no rush to go elsewhere, because he is training in one of the best environments in football.

Manchester City’s sprawling academy ground is perfect pitch after perfect pitch. There’s even one pitch surrounded by buildings, set aside for the day before a match training session. Sometimes Pep likes to use it, sometimes he doesn’t. There is a hotel for players to use if there is a double session and a nap is beneficial, plus the greatest recovery facilities imaginable.

Young Alex recently signed a contract which ties him to City until 2025, and next season will be critical to the next stage of his development. Senior football beckons, but where remains a mystery.

There’s an outside chance it will be at City, but in all probability it will be on loan, be it in England, or in a smaller European league like Belgium or Holland. It’s a crucial decision, as he needs to go somewhere that will foster his ability, while playing against men.

There is also the chance he could still make the choice to play for another nation. FIFA’s rules allow a player to change with three appearances for a senior national team before the age of 21, as long as those games aren’t at a World Cup, or continental championship.

Yet that possibility doesn’t take into account what really counts – Alex’s heart – which is now set on wearing the shirt that runs in the family.

“We can achieve many things with this team and this group of boys,” Alex said after his debut, when he was also asked what the goals might be in a Socceroos shirt.

“Got to reach for the stars and win a World Cup.

“You never know what can happen. For the next few years building up to it I think we can do some really big things in the future. Why not say it, let’s try and win a World Cup.”