Macarthur · Super League 2 · Midfielder · #14 · Australia · 24 yrs
Australia held an attack-minded Turkiye at bay in their World Cup opener and came out on top in a 2-0 win to go joint-top of Group D. The post Popovic hails ‘special’ young Australia side after winning World Cup opener appeared first on SoccerNews.
Full preview of Australia for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. The Australian national team arrives in North America having shed its long-held underdog label. As fans search for a definitive World Cup 2026 team preview, the Socceroos stand out as a tactically resilient roster under coach Tony Popovic. Following an impressive run at the previous global tournament, expectations have naturally elevated. Drawn into a highly competitive Group D alongside the United States, Turkey, and Paraguay, Australia aims to disrupt the established hierarchy among the FIFA World Cup 2026 teams. This article delivers essential Australia tactical analysis, highlights Australia key players, and evaluates their realistic chances of advancing this summer. Team profile CoachTony PopovicCaptainMathew RyanNicknameSocceroosFIFA Ranking27thConfederationAFCGroupGroup DBest tournament resultRound of 16 (2006, 2022)Tournament appearances7 (including 2026)Last appearance2022 How Australia play Australia will likely utilize a structured 3-4-2-1 formation that prioritizes defensive solidity and rapid transitions. Under Popovic, the squad has grown comfortable operating without the ball. They rely heavily on a high-intensity pressing system to disrupt opponents and launch clinical counter-attacks. The system demands significant output from the wing-backs, with players like Jordan Bos expected to push forward into the penalty area while maintaining defensive responsibilities. In the center of the pitch, combative midfielder Jackson Irvine anchors the team. His ability to break up play and quickly distribute the ball is essential for launching offensive transitions. While the team conceded just 0.44 goals per 90 minutes during qualification, their underlying metrics showed a 1.13 expected goals against (xGA) average. This suggests opposing attacks did find open spaces. If the defensive spine can tighten those gaps, this transition-heavy approach could frustrate possession-oriented opponents in the upcoming tournament. Tony Popovic: The coach behind Australia Tony Popovic stepped into the head coaching role in September 2024, inheriting a squad in the midst of a qualification crisis. He quickly stabilized the team, leaning on his reputation as a meticulous disciplinarian to instill much-needed mental resilience. The Australia coach brings significant international pedigree, having earned 58 caps as a commanding center-back during his playing days. His managerial resume is highlighted by a historic AFC Champions League title with the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014. Known for his no-nonsense leadership style, Popovic demands peak physical fitness and unwavering concentration from his roster. His ability to organize a disciplined defensive unit and inspire confidence under pressure will be the defining factor in how the Socceroos navigate the challenges of the global competition. Key player: Nestory Irankunda At just 20 years old, Nestory Irankunda represents the dynamic X-factor for the Australian attack. The Watford winger possesses a rare blend of pace, technique, and directness that forces opposing defenses to retreat. This aggressive forward movement naturally opens vital pockets of space for the midfield to exploit. Irankunda is a constant threat from distance and dead-ball situations, capable of producing moments of brilliance even when his team is starved of possession. To maximize his impact on the international stage, he must balance his attacking flair with the strict defensive tracking that his coach demands. If Irankunda can maintain emotional consistency and perform at his peak, he provides the game-changing spark necessary for the Socceroos to advance. Australia’s road to the 2026 World Cup Australia’s qualification journey was a campaign of two distinct halves. They cruised through the second round with a perfect record, but stumbled early in the decisive third phase. A shock home de
Australia forward misses training three days from Turkey matchTony Popovic’s squad is thin on specialist attacking optionsSocceroos striker Mo Touré sent a scare through camp days before the team’s World Cup opener after he missed training on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), highlighting the vulnerability of a squad thin on forward options.Touré was at the team’s training base in Oakland for the team photo, but he did not take part in training. Media were told the striker – who has a history of muscle injuries – is expected to train on Thursday (Friday AEST). Continue reading...
Australia coach praises competitiveness in final friendlyIrankunda and Metcalfe impress ahead of World Cup openerSocceroos coach Tony Popovic is keeping his cards close to his chest about who he will start against Turkey on 14 June in Australia’s first World Cup match, after Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe made strong cases during the 1-1 draw against Switzerland.Irankunda struck the crossbar and was active even during the long passages the Socceroos were without the ball, while Metcalfe set up the equaliser for debutant Tete Yengi in the second half. Continue reading...
As a player Popovic was relentless in being his best. But behind his ruthless reputation is a focused leader deeply committed to his playersWhere Tony Popovic goes, a culture follows. It’s been one of the most consistent themes of his time in dugouts across Australia. It was there at Western Sydney, when he was entrusted with the newly created side and turned them into Asian champions within two seasons. It was there when he was brought into Perth Glory and led them to their first piece of silverware in the A-League era. And it was there after he arrived at Melbourne Victory, who were reeling from their first wooden spoon, and delivered an Australia Cup and grand final appearance.It was visible, too, when he was parachuted into the Socceroos role in 2024, just days after Graham Arnold’s resignation and with only weeks to prepare before crucial qualifiers against China and Japan. The initial change wasn’t perhaps as wholesale as some might have expected. Popovic needed time to get his feet under him, observe what was taking place, and plan changes (lollies definitely did disappear from meetings, though). But a well-established reputation preceded him and a change of mood in the halls began as players adjusted to new expectations and demands – both stated and presumed. Continue reading...
Tony Popovic has brought discipline and structure as the Socceroos target their first knockout win in a World CupThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...
Mexico defeat Australia 1-0 in friendly ahead of World CupLoss adds to pressure on Tony Popovic to get squad selection rightAustralia may have lost their World Cup warm-up match to Mexico 1-0. But with just two weeks until their first match of the tournament against Turkey, the Socceroos appear to have found something more important: confidence.A second-half turnaround against Fifa’s 15th-ranked side almost secured a draw for the Socceroos, who had three good chances to equalise on Saturday night in California. Despite a conservative approach, Tony Popovic’s side showed resilience and increasing positivity as they took the game to the World Cup co-hosts and 78,479 mostly green-clad fans who filled the Rose Bowl Stadium. Continue reading...
Prediction: Match to end in draw Best Odds: 14/5 Bookmaker: Dachbet Mexico and Australia will lock horns with each other in a friendly international match this weekend. The game between Javier Aguirre’s side and Tony Popovic’s team will be held at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and is scheduled to kick off at 3am […] The post Prediction: Mexico vs Australia appeared first on Soccer News.
⚽ News and previews before big weekend of football⚽ Football Daily on Saturday’s final | Mail DomThe aforementioned Qatar played Ireland last night in Dublin, and lost 1-0.The game was played against the backdrop of mounting controversy over Ireland’s forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel, with the game scheduled for October 4 in Dublin a particular focus, and protesters hurled tennis balls bearing the message “stop the game” onto the pitch on several occasions during the first half.The 22-year will make a shock switch of allegiance from Italy to Australia four years after turning down the opportunity to represent the country of his birth at the tournament in Qatar.Football Australia is still awaiting confirmation from Fifa that the formalities surrounding Volpato’s change of heart can be completed before Socceroos coach Tony Popovic names his 26-player World Cup squad by 1 June. Continue reading...
The imposing Socceroos defender has already proved he can make an impact at a major tournament despite an injury-affected build-upAt the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Harry Souttar rallied back from a ruptured ACL to play a starring role in the Socceroos’ unlikely push to the knockout stages. Fast forward four years, and it’s a similar story for the towering defender; the 27-year-old has only recently returned to action from a torn Achilles that robbed him more than a year of his career, and is again out to prove his fitness to his coach.Those of a more seasoned vintage might also note that Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic is familiar with what Souttar is going through. Popovic knows exactly what a dedicated mindset and proven veteran can bring to the fold off the back of very little football, having himself gone through a similar experience over 20 years ago. Continue reading...