By Nick Mulvenney
HT Picture
SYDNEY, – Tony Popovic wouldn’t deny that his Australia group are powerful to observe at occasions however the former centre half has completed what he was introduced in to do and brought them to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The Socceroos have been distinctly second finest to an understrength Japan in Perth on Thursday however Aziz Behich’s late winner means they solely must keep away from a 5-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday to punch their ticket.
“It was a special, special night,” Popovic advised reporters. “The outpouring of emotions when we scored, and obviously after the game, yeah, they are moments I’ll always remember.
“We have all performed an element in getting us up to now, and we need to go to Saudi Arabia now and actually end the job off.”
Saudi Arabia was the site of Popovic’s greatest triumph as a club coach in 2014, when his Western Sydney Wanderers team drew 0-0 with powerhouse Al Hilal in Riyadh to become Asian champions in only the second year of the club’s existence.
It was partly that continental experience that encouraged Football Australia to bring Popovic in as coach last September when Graham Arnold quit with the World Cup qualification in trouble.
The football has not always been pretty but the Socceroos are unbeaten since he took over with four wins and three draws, having conceded just five goals and scored 14 in the seven games.
Popovic acknowledged there was plenty of room for improvement but said the seconds before Behich’s goal proved there was already a strong platform of resilience to build on.
“Though soccer clever, we have to get higher, and we are going to get higher, however in that second, the ninetieth minute, we had six gamers within the field, six gamers attempting to attain a aim,” he said.
“We have been powerful, we stored a clear sheet, and we have completed one thing that many Australian sides have discovered arduous to do.”
Australia had not beaten Asian powerhouse Japan in 10 games going back to 2009 before Thursday night and Popovic said that achievement should not be underestimated.
“I perceive why, now that I am on this function, why it is arduous to beat Japan,” he said.
“They’re the very best, and we need to problem them to be the very best, so we should not draw back from that, and hopefully right this moment, we take a giant step ahead figuring out we are able to beat Japan.”
Despite the emotion of the last-gasp victory, Popovic said there was no danger of any complacency ahead of Tuesday’s clash at King Abdullah Sports City.
“It has been a very intense interval since I’ve are available in however everybody’s embraced what we’re aiming to do. And we’re very shut now to reaching our aim,” he said.
“We have to do a job in Saudi. We’re in a terrific place, however we’ve got to complete it off.”