Latest news with #WesternSydneyWanderers
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Sport
- 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.'
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
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. "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." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-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. "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."
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Johnny Warren Medal winner Nicolas Milanovic chasing World Cup dream
Having achieved his goal of being recognised as the A-League's best player, Johnny Warren Medal winner Nicolas Milanovic has shifted his focus to becoming an entrenched member of the Socceroos squad by starring for his new club Aberdeen. After a superb season for the Western Sydney Wanderers, Milanovic is in strong contention to be selected in Australia's squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. The 23-year-old attacking weapon is in the UAE at a national training camp, with Socceroos coach Tony Popovic to announce his squad on Sunday for next Thursday's battle with Japan in Perth and the June 11 (AEST) clash with the Saudis in Jeddah. Brandon Borrello never had a club teammate in a Subway #Socceroos training camp before. Now he’s working alongside a couple of @wswanderersfc, while praising recently crowned Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic for adapting quickly to his new surroundings ðŸ'´âš«ï¸� — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) May 28, 2025 'It's just about trusting yourself and backing your own ability,' the uncapped Milanovic said. 'I've done that all season and had my doubters and tried to prove people wrong. 'Now, I'm with the big boys of Australia, with some great players here, and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here. 'That's how I'm taking it. I'm training my hardest and seeing where I'm at and trusting in my ability to be in the team. 'I want to be at the World Cup. That's a major goal of mine. That's the No.1 long-term goal that I've had for a few years now, and I'm chipping away at it.' Should the Socceroos qualify for next year' FIFA World Cup, Milanovic will need to impress for Aberdeen after signing with the Scottish Premiership club earlier this month. He had the chance to move overseas a year ago but felt he needed to further prove himself in the A-League. 'I wanted to be the best in the league before I went,' Milanovic said. 'I'm fortunate enough … to have had a great (Wanderers) squad this year to help me to do that and a coaching staff that allowed me to do what I wanted to do on the pitch and be the Johnny Warren (Medal) winner. 'I had a bit of doubt last year. I had had offers to go (overseas), but I was a bit hesitant … but this Aberdeen move, there wasn't one hint of doubt in my head. 'It was the place I wanted to go, and I'm really happy I've done that.' An added bonus is that Aberdeen has also qualified for the UEFA Europa League after an upset Scottish Cup final win, via a penalty shootout, over Celtic. 'Watching that, it was a really good feeling because I'll (now) be playing in (European competition) next season,' Milanovic squad.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Incoming Aberdeen winger wins historic A-League prize
Incoming Aberdeen winger Nicolas Milanovic has won A-League player of the year following an impressive season with Western Sydney Wanderers. The 23-year-old, who scored 12 goals and provided six assists, became the first Wanderers player to win the award, known as the the Johnny Warren will join the Scottish Cup winners on a three-year deal, with a club option for a fourth year, when the summer transfer window chief executive Scott Hudson accepted the prize on the forward's behalf and heaped praise on the Australian."We're so proud of what he's achieved in the past couple of years," Hudson said."We're really glad we could play a part in his career, and we wish him all the best overseas."
