Popovic Urges Caution Against Kluivert’s Indonesia as World Cup Qualification Looms

The Australian public rightfully expects a win in Thursday’s vital World Cup qualifier; however, Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is cautious not to underestimate the progress Indonesia has made in recent years.

With Japan virtually securing top spot in Group C, Australia’s chances of obtaining the second automatic qualification spot will hinge on their performances against Indonesia in Sydney and China in Hangzhou next week.

Indonesia, sitting just a point behind second-placed Australia alongside three other nations in the group, have seen a remarkable resurgence thanks to an influx of players from their Dutch diaspora.

Their recent form includes a 0-0 draw with Australia during a qualifier in Jakarta last September, a surprising 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in November, and the appointment of former Dutch international Patrick Kluivert as their coach earlier this January.

Popovic acknowledged the expectations of Australian fans for a victory against a side that hasn’t participated in World Cup finals since 1938, yet he emphasised that his squad would not be complacent.

“The reasons are quite clear,” he stated to journalists at the Sydney Football Stadium.

“We drew with them away, the group is very tight, so there’s no cause to underestimate Indonesia. Their last result against Saudi Arabia speaks volumes. So that’s not a consideration.”

“(However), it’s natural for the Australian public to expect the national team to perform well and to deliver quality football.”

If Australia fails to finish in the top two of the group after the remaining four matches in the third round of Asian qualifying, they may still seek passage via the fourth round or intercontinental playoffs.

Since taking the helm from Graham Arnold late last year, Popovic has been adamant that automatic qualification is the goal for Australia’s sixth consecutive finals in 2026.

“I believe the players understand the significance of these matches and their importance, but we also recognise that we’re in a position to maintain our second spot,” he remarked.

“We must be patient. If they press us, we need to take advantage of the spaces they leave. If they sit back, we should find ways to exploit spaces between the lines and try to penetrate around their box.”

“Ultimately, we must be ready to adapt to whatever the situation allows for. If it’s not on, we’ll wait for the right opening.”