Socceroos Coach Popovic Calls for Greater Development Ahead of June Fixtures

Australia successfully demonstrated their ability to handle pressure with a 2-0 victory over China in front of 80,000 fervent fans on Tuesday. However, coach Tony Popovic emphasised that the team must elevate their performance for their next World Cup qualifier against Japan.

The win in Hangzhou, coupled with last Thursday’s impressive 5-1 triumph over Indonesia in Sydney, has positioned the Socceroos strongly in the battle for second place in Group C. This placement is crucial for securing an automatic berth in the 2026 finals.

They currently maintain a three-point advantage over third-placed Saudi Arabia as they prepare for their penultimate qualifier against Japan in Perth on June 5. Japan has already secured top position in the group and a spot at the tournament in North America.

“The key takeaway for us was starting this window in front and aiming to stay there by the end,” Popovic commented following Tuesday’s match.

“We did our part, collecting six points and extending our lead to three. So we’re in a solid position.”

“It’s in our hands, but we must ensure we complete the task. We have two exciting matches ahead, starting with Japan in Perth, which promises to be a memorable encounter. We’re looking forward to it.”

Australia’s concluding qualifier on June 10 is shaping up to be a decisive showdown against Saudi Arabia in yet another challenging environment.

Popovic acknowledged the need for further improvement but expressed confidence in the resilience the Socceroos have displayed in their victories over Indonesia and China.

“They’ve shown they can perform under pressure and meet expectations, and they’ve certainly progressed,” Popovic added.

“When you compare our second match to the first, the performance was notably better, although we would gladly accept scoring five goals in every international fixture.”

“Now, the challenge ahead is significant. We face Japan and Saudi Arabia, and the question is whether we can enhance our performance even further in June against Asia’s top team.”