City stars hungry to make their Socceroos mark
Fresh off winning silverware with Melbourne City, Marco Tilio is determined to get on the pitch for the Socceroos for the first time in more than a year and help them seize direct World Cup qualification.
Tilio, Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich were called up and on a 10am flight to Perth on Sunday morning, missing City's trophy celebration's at AAMI Park after beating Melbourne Victory the night before.
Dynamic winger Tilio was called into camp under Tony Popovic for the first time in March but didn't take the field - and hasn't had minutes since January 2024.
But after being selected for next Thursday's World Cup qualifier with Japan in Perth and the June 11 game against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the 23-year-old has a point to prove.
"I want to do everything I can to help the team qualify for another World Cup," Tilio said.
"I took everything in from last camp and put myself in the position now where I feel I'm better for it.
"I just want to execute everything that I know that I can, and put myself in the position to hopefully be in the squad and play ... It's been a while since I've actually stepped on the field for the national team.
"So I think it's at that time now that I put myself in a position to play well, get an opportunity to do well, and hopefully, sort of cement a spot in there."
Central defender Trewin, 24, has also had a taste of camp, but is yet to make his debut.
"It will be the same thing as last time - go in there and try and put my best foot forward, and however the boss wants to use me, if it's in a training capacity, or however it is, I'm ready to go in there and give my all," Trewin said.
"He wouldn't be picking me in teams if he didn't think I could do a job."
Trewin was among City's best performers on Saturday night, calm and assured in defence in front of a hostile crowd, and feels ready to step up in big games.
"I feel confident at the moment. I feel like my game's in a really good position and if I am called upon to play in either of those games, I think I am ready," he said.
"Obviously, (the grand final is) a big game, but qualifying for a World Cup's probably a little bit bigger than that, I would say - pretty nerve-wracking.
"But if I am called upon, I'm ready, and if not, then I'm also ready to help the team however I can."
Fresh off winning silverware with Melbourne City, Marco Tilio is determined to get on the pitch for the Socceroos for the first time in more than a year and help them seize direct World Cup qualification.
Tilio, Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich were called up and on a 10am flight to Perth on Sunday morning, missing City's trophy celebration's at AAMI Park after beating Melbourne Victory the night before.
Dynamic winger Tilio was called into camp under Tony Popovic for the first time in March but didn't take the field - and hasn't had minutes since January 2024.
But after being selected for next Thursday's World Cup qualifier with Japan in Perth and the June 11 game against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the 23-year-old has a point to prove.
"I want to do everything I can to help the team qualify for another World Cup," Tilio said.
"I took everything in from last camp and put myself in the position now where I feel I'm better for it.
"I just want to execute everything that I know that I can, and put myself in the position to hopefully be in the squad and play ... It's been a while since I've actually stepped on the field for the national team.
"So I think it's at that time now that I put myself in a position to play well, get an opportunity to do well, and hopefully, sort of cement a spot in there."
Central defender Trewin, 24, has also had a taste of camp, but is yet to make his debut.
"It will be the same thing as last time - go in there and try and put my best foot forward, and however the boss wants to use me, if it's in a training capacity, or however it is, I'm ready to go in there and give my all," Trewin said.
"He wouldn't be picking me in teams if he didn't think I could do a job."
Trewin was among City's best performers on Saturday night, calm and assured in defence in front of a hostile crowd, and feels ready to step up in big games.
"I feel confident at the moment. I feel like my game's in a really good position and if I am called upon to play in either of those games, I think I am ready," he said.
"Obviously, (the grand final is) a big game, but qualifying for a World Cup's probably a little bit bigger than that, I would say - pretty nerve-wracking.
"But if I am called upon, I'm ready, and if not, then I'm also ready to help the team however I can."
Fresh off winning silverware with Melbourne City, Marco Tilio is determined to get on the pitch for the Socceroos for the first time in more than a year and help them seize direct World Cup qualification.
Tilio, Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich were called up and on a 10am flight to Perth on Sunday morning, missing City's trophy celebration's at AAMI Park after beating Melbourne Victory the night before.
Dynamic winger Tilio was called into camp under Tony Popovic for the first time in March but didn't take the field - and hasn't had minutes since January 2024.
But after being selected for next Thursday's World Cup qualifier with Japan in Perth and the June 11 game against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the 23-year-old has a point to prove.
"I want to do everything I can to help the team qualify for another World Cup," Tilio said.
"I took everything in from last camp and put myself in the position now where I feel I'm better for it.
"I just want to execute everything that I know that I can, and put myself in the position to hopefully be in the squad and play ... It's been a while since I've actually stepped on the field for the national team.
"So I think it's at that time now that I put myself in a position to play well, get an opportunity to do well, and hopefully, sort of cement a spot in there."
Central defender Trewin, 24, has also had a taste of camp, but is yet to make his debut.
"It will be the same thing as last time - go in there and try and put my best foot forward, and however the boss wants to use me, if it's in a training capacity, or however it is, I'm ready to go in there and give my all," Trewin said.
"He wouldn't be picking me in teams if he didn't think I could do a job."
Trewin was among City's best performers on Saturday night, calm and assured in defence in front of a hostile crowd, and feels ready to step up in big games.
"I feel confident at the moment. I feel like my game's in a really good position and if I am called upon to play in either of those games, I think I am ready," he said.
"Obviously, (the grand final is) a big game, but qualifying for a World Cup's probably a little bit bigger than that, I would say - pretty nerve-wracking.
"But if I am called upon, I'm ready, and if not, then I'm also ready to help the team however I can."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Iranians' World Cup dream crushed by US travel ban
A year out from kick-off, Iranian football fans are watching their World Cup dream slip away after a US travel ban barred them from entering the land of "Great Satan" to cheer on their team. The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, but most matches, including the final, are scheduled to be played on American soil. Many in Iran had clung to hopes of cheering from the stands until Wednesday when US President Donald Trump rolled out a new travel ban on 12 countries including Iran, which will take effect from Monday. "My friends and I have been waiting for years to watch Team Melli (a nickname for the national team) play in a World Cup on US soil, and when they qualified, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Sohrab Naderi, a real estate agent in Tehran, told AFP. "Now with the new travel ban, that dream is shattered because of politics that we don't care about and have no control over," said the 46-year-old who attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which saw the US side defeat Iran 1-0 in the group stage. The prospect of Iran competing in a US-hosted tournament comes against the backdrop of a decades-long enmity, with diplomatic ties broken since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The two sides are currently engaged in high-stakes talks over Iran's nuclear programme, with the United States threatening military action if no deal can be reached. - 'Degrading to all Iranians' - Trump said the new travel ban was prompted by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on a man they said was in the country illegally. The ban will not apply to athletes competing in either the 2026 World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the order said. Nonetheless, supporters who had dreamed of crossing the Atlantic to cheer on their team will no longer be able to make the trip. "Every Iranian has the right to support their team, just as much as any other country, whether the game is in America or in any other country," said Hasti Teymourpour, a 16-year-old football fan. Since his return to office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Iran and vowed that "something bad" would happen unless the Iranians "move quickly" towards a nuclear deal. Naderi, who called the ban "inhumane" and "degrading to all Iranians", still hopes the Iran-US nuclear talks will yield a deal that might persuade Trump to reconsider. The outcome of the US-Iran talks that began in April remains unclear, and many fans worry that even if they result in a deal, it may be too late for them. Some Iranians have refused to give up hope, however, seeing in the World Cup an opportunity to thaw relations. "Sports diplomacy can act as a strong catalyst and bring the efforts of political diplomats to fruition sooner," said political commentator Mohammad Reza Manafi. It could be "a great opportunity to help advance diplomacy between the two countries". - Friendly? - In a memorable 1998 World Cup clash, Iranian players handed flowers to their American adversaries and posed together for photos -- a rare public gesture of goodwill between the nations. Iran won 2–1, a victory celebrated in Tehran as a source of both sporting and political pride. With the 2026 draw expected in December, it remains unclear whether Iran and the United States will face off again, but anticipation is building. "The two countries are not hostile to each other, this political discussion is for the governments," said 44-year-old day labourer Siamak Kalantari. Another fan, Mahdieh Olfati, said: "If we face the US again, we'll definitely win." "Ours are real players," the 18-year-old added. Manafi, the commentator, said a friendly before the tournament, possibly hosted by a third country, could help ease tensions. Such a game, he said, could help "achieve what politicians from both sides have not managed to do for years".
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Socceroos v Japan live: Kick-off in Perth as almost 60,000 fans rally behind World Cup hopes
The Socceroos are seeking their first win over Japan in 16 years. Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright The Socceroos have kicked off a crucial third-round World Cup qualifier against Japan, with the Australian national team seeking a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With two games remaining in the third round, the match at Perth Stadium in front of almost 60,000 fans is crucial for Australia's journey to the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Since 2009, Australia has faced Japan 10 times, they have never beaten them, instead coming away with six losses and four draws. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic's starting 11 for tonight's match will be: Ryan, Miller, Circati, Degenek, Burgess, Behich, O'Neil, Teague, Metcalfe, Boyle and Borrello. Japan, which has already qualified, has named a starting side without their main players: Tani, Machida, Watanabe, Sekine, Hirakawa, Fujita, Sano, Tawaratsumida, Suzuki, Kamadi and Ohashi. Some of their biggest players, like Kaoru Mitoma and Daizen Maeda, have been rested. "It's a good time for us to play anyone in the moment … Tonight, regardless of the opponent, it is a big stage, we need a big performance against Japan. We need to see if we are able to pull it off," Popovic said before the match. Aside from Australia and Japan, the other four teams in Group C in the Asian qualifying are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Indonesia, and China. All of the teams in the group will face off tonight or early Friday morning (AEST). Australia is in second position in the group with 13 points, and Saudi Arabia is third with 10 points. Indonesia — in fourth place with nine points — can still directly qualify for the World Cup from this round, while Bahrain and China, both on six points, can't directly qualify but could move through to the fourth round. In the final game of the third stage, Australia will play against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah early next Wednesday morning (AEST). Australia's three-point advantage over Saudi Arabia and their nine-goal difference mean a win against Japan will be a major step towards securing automatic qualification. If Saudi Arabia loses against Bahrain on Friday and the Socceroos defeat Japan, Australia will secure an automatic qualification with a game to spare. In the event both Australia and Saudi Arabia win, the Socceroos will need to avoid a heavy defeat against the Green Falcons next Wednesday to confirm their place at next year's tournament.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Socceroos v Japan, FIFA World Cup qualifier live coverage and how to watch on TV
Australia coach Tony Popovic has implored his side to 'finish the job' ahead of the Socceroos' crunch World Cup qualifier against rivals Japan on Thursday in Perth. A drought-breaking win over the Asian powerhouse would all but assure Australia an automatic berth in next year's World Cup in North America. The Socceroos have a three-point lead and a significant goal difference advantage over Saudi Arabia as they jockey for second place in Group C of Asian qualifying. But a loss or draw against already qualified Japan means Australia will be thrust into a critical clash against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on June 10. A win does not totally guarantee Australia's passage if Saudi Arabia claim victory in their away game against Bahrain later on Thursday. 'We just need to finish the job off. We can take a major step tomorrow night by winning,' Popovic told reporters on Wednesday. 'There's a real excitement from the group, but there's a calmness and confidence in our ability.' Australia have not beaten Japan since 2009, but hopes are high against a considerably weakened side resting a slew of top players. Leeds United star Ao Tanaka, Reims forward Junya Ito and Hidemasa Morita from Sporting Lisbon are among the players missing for the Samurai Blue. In contrast, Australia will boast a near full-strength side and buoyed by the recent return of Parma defender Alessandro Circati from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. 'It's been a long time since Australia has beaten Japan, but I have a lot of confidence in this group,' said Popovic, who has turned Australia's fortunes around since replacing Graham Arnold in September. 'At some point, Australia will beat Japan. We have a chance to do that tomorrow and we want to take that opportunity.' A febrile atmosphere is tipped with 50,000 fans expected to attend Optus Stadium despite stormy weather in Perth ahead of the game. 'We certainly are aware of what these games mean to us and mean to Australia,' Popovic said. 'I'm very confident the players will go out there and execute in a very calm, composed manner.' With an eighth straight World Cup appearance assured, Japan are using their trip to Australia and subsequent home game against Indonesia as an opportunity to trial younger players and build depth. Japan's 27-man squad includes eight uncapped players, but Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo provide plenty of class for the Asian nation eyeing a first World Cup triumph. 'The ultimate goal is to win the World Cup,' Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. 'So we really need to take each match and the time we prepare for matches seriously. 'We need to build the strongest team possible (for) the World Cup.'
