Australia Head into a New Era Under Tony Popovic
Football Australia’s recent decision to hire Tony Popovic as the national team manager was met with a degree of scepticism in certain quarters.
Popovic’s detractors point to his abysmal record in A-League Grand Finals. He has lost five across spells with Western Sydney Wanderers, Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory.
Despite this, Popovic has been tasked with steering Australia toward their most ambitious goal yet – progressing beyond the last-16 at the 2026 World Cup.
The Aussies have never made it past the first stage of the knockout phase at the tournament and will be desperate to set the record straight under Popovic.
The 51-year-old says he is honoured to be given the chance to lead Australia and has vowed to lead the team to the World Cup.
“This is undoubtedly a very proud moment for myself and my family,” Popovic said. “To be entrusted with guiding our national team is a privilege that I do not take lightly.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Football Australia for their confidence in my abilities. Their trust motivates me to give my absolute best in this role.
“I fully understand the weight of responsibility and the high expectations that come with this position. The Socceroos have a rich history and a passionate fan base, and I’m committed to living up to those expectations.
“Looking ahead, I have great faith and confidence in our ability to grow as a team. Together, we will work tirelessly to improve, evolve and continue Australia’s success on the international stage. I believe we have the talent and determination to make our nation proud.”
Popovic has quickly steadied the ship after a rocky start to the World Cup qualifying campaign. They opened his tenure with a win over China before a respectable draw against Japan.
The Socceroos are second in their group, five points behind Japan. They will be eager to close that gap when they face Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in November.
Popovic has emphasised rigorous training standards and tactical discipline in his early days on the job. Players have noted a shift towards a more structured approach, moving away from the more relaxed style under Graham Arnold.
It would appear Popovic’s methods are paying dividends. He wants to instil an uber-professional environment as they bid to make a seventh appearance at the World Cup.
Australia are desperate to give their eager fans a memorable run at the tournament and they could be one of the bookmakers’ dark horses to go far.
All betting sites in Australia will be inundated with wagers during the World Cup, with Aussie punters renowned for wagering on their team during big tournaments.
Popovic will be desperate to upset the odds with the national team, and progressing beyond the last-16 will be his ultimate target.
Australia must start building momentum ahead of a crucial return fixture against Japan. They dominated proceedings against China, accruing more of the ball possession and creating numerous chances. However, they played a different game against Japan.
They showed plenty of defensive resilience as Japan pushed them back with their attacking line consisting of Kaoru Mitoma, Ritsu Doan, Takumi Minamino and Takefusa Kubo.
Harry Souttar and Jason Geria were imperious at the back, repelling relentless waves of Japanese attacks. The own goal Cameron Burgess conceded was unfortunate, as he could not get his body out of the way.
The new manager was a little frustrated by their blunt attack, but they more than made up for it with an excellent defensive display.
Popovic’s ability to implement a flexible tactical framework will be tested during the qualification campaign, and success may hinge on his capacity to adapt to different styles.
Australia must aim to win their remaining six qualifying games. They can certainly do so if they produce their best form.
Success in these fixtures would boost Australia’s standing in the qualification race and provide some much-needed confidence heading into the World Cup.
