Mladost Lucani · Cup · Goalkeeper · #21 · Serbia · 19 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.
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...
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...
Coach Tony Popovic will take a final look at players on the selection fringe with Australia’s 26-man squad to be named after the warm-up gameThe World Cup might have snuck up on many Australians, but the reality of the men’s football showpiece will leap out on Sunday, take hold of the nation and not let go for a month. The Socceroos play co-hosts Mexico in Los Angeles’ historic Rose Bowl in one of the marquee warm-up matches ahead of a tournament shared across North America that is now bursting with 48 teams.The Mexico showdown serves as a challenge for Australia against elite, motivated opposition. But for a handful of Socceroos, this weekend is also a test to see whether or not they will be allowed to stay in the US. It won’t be visa issues that send them home, rather it will be coach Tony Popovic telling them they haven’t made his final cut. 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...