Popovic's Australia perfect the art of qualifying ugly
SYDNEY: Tony Popovic would not deny that his Australia team are tough to watch at times but the former centre half has done what he was brought in to do and taken them to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The Socceroos were distinctly second best to an understrength Japan in Perth on Thursday but Aziz Behich's late winner means they only have to avoid a 5-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday to punch their ticket.
'It was a special, special night,' Popovic told reporters. 'The outpouring of emotions when we scored, and obviously after the game, yeah, they are moments I'll always remember. 'We've all played a part in getting us to this point, and we want to go to Saudi Arabia now and really finish the job off.'
Saudi Arabia was the site of Popovic's greatest triumph as a club coach in 2014, when his Western Sydney Wanderers team drew 0-0 with powerhouse Al Hilal in Riyadh to become Asian champions in only the second year of the club's existence.
It was partly that continental experience that encouraged Football Australia to bring Popovic in as coach last September when Graham Arnold quit with the World Cup qualification in trouble.
The football has not always been pretty but the Socceroos are unbeaten since he took over with four wins and three draws, having conceded just five goals and scored 14 in the seven games.
Popovic acknowledged there was plenty of room for improvement but said the seconds before Behich's goal proved there was already a strong platform of resilience to build on.
'Although football wise, we need to get better, and we will get better, but in that moment, the 90th minute, we had six players in the box, six players trying to score a goal,' he said.
'We were tough, we kept a clean sheet, and we've done something that many Australian sides have found hard to do.'
Australia had not beaten Asian powerhouse Japan in 10 games going back to 2009 before Thursday night and Popovic said that achievement should not be underestimated.
'I understand why, now that I'm in this role, why it's hard to beat Japan,' he said.
Uzbekistan savour sweet taste of success after sealing World Cup spot
'They are the best, and we want to challenge them to be the best, so we shouldn't shy away from that, and hopefully today, we take a big step forward knowing we can beat Japan.'
Despite the emotion of the last-gasp victory, Popovic said there was no danger of any complacency ahead of Tuesday's clash at King Abdullah Sports City.
'It's been a really intense period since I've come in but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do. And we're very close now to achieving our goal,' he said.
'We need to do a job in Saudi. We're in a great position, but we have to finish it off.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Australia's Starc comfortable with IPL pullout regardless of repercussion
MELBOURNE: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is comfortable with his decision to leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the India-Pakistan clashes last month regardless of any repercussions, the 35-year-old said. The IPL was suspended on May 9 in the wake of hostilities between the two. It resumed on May 17 after the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire. While most IPL foreign recruits returned to complete their franchise commitment, the Delhi Capitals duo of Starc and fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk took no further part in the 10-team league. 'I'm comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled,' Starc told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday. 'Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn't return. But I've had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision.' Starc was in Dharamsala, near the Pakistan border, for Delhi's May 9 match against the Punjab Kings. The contest was abandoned midway through, although league organisers blamed it on a floodlights failure. 'Jake and I chose not to (return). So it was a very individual decision, and I'm happy to live with whatever comes of that,' Starc said. He opted out of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier this year citing personal reasons and has skipped the IPL more than once to preserve himself for international cricket. Marsh back to skipper Australia in Windies T20s, Cummins and Starc rested The left-arm quick said he withdrew from the remainder of the IPL because of the extraordinary circumstances. 'I'm still heavily committed to the Delhi group, and I'm not someone that's gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like,' Starc said. 'These are different circumstances … I had a discussion back home then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that I'm comfortable with that and we move forward.'
Business Recorder
17 hours ago
- Business Recorder
New Zealand name South African Walter as new coach in all formats
South African Rob Walter was appointed New Zealand coach in all formats on Friday in the wake of Gary Stead's decision to stand down after seven years in charge. Stead announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving the job of test coach at the end of the month, having already relinquished the short format roles in April. Walter, 49, was most recently coach of South Africa's one-day international and Twenty20 teams but knows New Zealand cricket well after stints in charge of provincial teams as well as his time overseeing a Black Caps 'A' tour of India in 2022. 'The Black Caps have been a successful and highly-regarded team on the world scene for some time now and it's a real privilege to be given the chance to add to that,' Walter said in a New Zealand Cricket statement. 'It's an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of players and support staff through a period of time in which so many global events, as well as massive bilateral series, will be contested.' Walter, who led South Africa to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup and final of last year's Twenty20 World Cup, is contracted through to the end of the 2028 World Cup, which New Zealand is co-hosting with Australia. Stead stands down as New Zealand coach after seven years 'Rob is a world-class coach with an outstanding pedigree,' said NZC chief executive Scott Weenink. 'His success in New Zealand's domestic game, combined with his recent achievements on the global stage with South Africa, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Black Caps.' New Zealand's next international matches come in July at the start of their tour of Zimbabwe, where they will play two tests and a Twenty20 tri-series also involving South Africa.
Business Recorder
17 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Popovic's Australia perfect the art of qualifying ugly
SYDNEY: Tony Popovic would not deny that his Australia team are tough to watch at times but the former centre half has done what he was brought in to do and taken them to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The Socceroos were distinctly second best to an understrength Japan in Perth on Thursday but Aziz Behich's late winner means they only have to avoid a 5-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday to punch their ticket. 'It was a special, special night,' Popovic told reporters. 'The outpouring of emotions when we scored, and obviously after the game, yeah, they are moments I'll always remember. 'We've all played a part in getting us to this point, and we want to go to Saudi Arabia now and really finish the job off.' Saudi Arabia was the site of Popovic's greatest triumph as a club coach in 2014, when his Western Sydney Wanderers team drew 0-0 with powerhouse Al Hilal in Riyadh to become Asian champions in only the second year of the club's existence. It was partly that continental experience that encouraged Football Australia to bring Popovic in as coach last September when Graham Arnold quit with the World Cup qualification in trouble. The football has not always been pretty but the Socceroos are unbeaten since he took over with four wins and three draws, having conceded just five goals and scored 14 in the seven games. Popovic acknowledged there was plenty of room for improvement but said the seconds before Behich's goal proved there was already a strong platform of resilience to build on. 'Although football wise, we need to get better, and we will get better, but in that moment, the 90th minute, we had six players in the box, six players trying to score a goal,' he said. 'We were tough, we kept a clean sheet, and we've done something that many Australian sides have found hard to do.' Australia had not beaten Asian powerhouse Japan in 10 games going back to 2009 before Thursday night and Popovic said that achievement should not be underestimated. 'I understand why, now that I'm in this role, why it's hard to beat Japan,' he said. Uzbekistan savour sweet taste of success after sealing World Cup spot 'They are the best, and we want to challenge them to be the best, so we shouldn't shy away from that, and hopefully today, we take a big step forward knowing we can beat Japan.' Despite the emotion of the last-gasp victory, Popovic said there was no danger of any complacency ahead of Tuesday's clash at King Abdullah Sports City. 'It's been a really intense period since I've come in but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do. And we're very close now to achieving our goal,' he said. 'We need to do a job in Saudi. We're in a great position, but we have to finish it off.'
