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The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Popovic vows Socceroos will embrace Saudi challenge
Excited and ready to embrace the challenge. That was the message from Australia coach Tony Popovic and cult hero Aziz Behich as the Socceroos prepare to clear the final hurdle in achieving automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals. After the 1-0 win over Japan last week even a modest defeat in Jeddah will take Australia to North America, but Popovic insisted the team will be aiming to win, not just defend for 90 minutes and aim to keep the score down. "We have put ourselves in a very good position and we have the chance to finish the job against a tough opponent," said Popovic. "We understand how difficult it will be but we are confident we can win the game. "We have to have the attitude - and I know we will - the mentality, the approach, to win the match. It won't be easy, Saudi Arabia are a good side and at home with their support it will be more difficult. But these are the moments you want as a footballer, that you want as a nation. "We are in a very good position. We understand we have to work extremely hard but we are confident we can finish the job." Australia's superior goal difference means the Saudis need to win by five goals to leapfrog them and join Japan as the automatic qualifiers from Group C in Asian Zone qualifying round three. It does not seem likely. In nine games in the group so far Saudi Arabia have scored six goals and Australia conceded six. Moreover the teams have played three times in the last five years, all in World Cup qualifiers, and only one goal has been scored, by the Saudis in a 1-0 win in 2022. Behich, who sent Australia into raptures with his 90th-minute winner against Japan in Perth, echoed Popovic's words. "We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position," said the Melbourne City defender. "We know it will be a difficult game but we have prepared really well and we are are very confident with the ability and the squad we have that we can get the job done. "We know what is up for grabs and we can't wait to kick off." In an effort to create a full house and a partisan atmosphere tickets are being given away, but Behich, who had a loan spell with Al Nassr in the Kingdom last year, said he relished the prospect. "I'm expecting a great atmosphere," he said. "This is what we play for. Japan was a hostile environment but the boys embraced that. You don't want to play in empty stadiums. "It is exciting, you get that extra buzz, playing for your national team in a full stadium, and on top of that qualifying for a World Cup automatically, which we haven't done for a while. "You can see the excitement in the boys and I am looking forward to it." Popovic, who stressed the need to play the match, not the occasion, added: "These are the challenges you must face at this level of football. "We have faced many together since I became the coach, starting with China - needing to win the first game to get off to a good start. Then all along the journey. We had one against Japan a few days ago, big pressure, a full stadium. We overcame that. I'm sure the young boys will embrace it. Excited and ready to embrace the challenge. That was the message from Australia coach Tony Popovic and cult hero Aziz Behich as the Socceroos prepare to clear the final hurdle in achieving automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals. After the 1-0 win over Japan last week even a modest defeat in Jeddah will take Australia to North America, but Popovic insisted the team will be aiming to win, not just defend for 90 minutes and aim to keep the score down. "We have put ourselves in a very good position and we have the chance to finish the job against a tough opponent," said Popovic. "We understand how difficult it will be but we are confident we can win the game. "We have to have the attitude - and I know we will - the mentality, the approach, to win the match. It won't be easy, Saudi Arabia are a good side and at home with their support it will be more difficult. But these are the moments you want as a footballer, that you want as a nation. "We are in a very good position. We understand we have to work extremely hard but we are confident we can finish the job." Australia's superior goal difference means the Saudis need to win by five goals to leapfrog them and join Japan as the automatic qualifiers from Group C in Asian Zone qualifying round three. It does not seem likely. In nine games in the group so far Saudi Arabia have scored six goals and Australia conceded six. Moreover the teams have played three times in the last five years, all in World Cup qualifiers, and only one goal has been scored, by the Saudis in a 1-0 win in 2022. Behich, who sent Australia into raptures with his 90th-minute winner against Japan in Perth, echoed Popovic's words. "We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position," said the Melbourne City defender. "We know it will be a difficult game but we have prepared really well and we are are very confident with the ability and the squad we have that we can get the job done. "We know what is up for grabs and we can't wait to kick off." In an effort to create a full house and a partisan atmosphere tickets are being given away, but Behich, who had a loan spell with Al Nassr in the Kingdom last year, said he relished the prospect. "I'm expecting a great atmosphere," he said. "This is what we play for. Japan was a hostile environment but the boys embraced that. You don't want to play in empty stadiums. "It is exciting, you get that extra buzz, playing for your national team in a full stadium, and on top of that qualifying for a World Cup automatically, which we haven't done for a while. "You can see the excitement in the boys and I am looking forward to it." Popovic, who stressed the need to play the match, not the occasion, added: "These are the challenges you must face at this level of football. "We have faced many together since I became the coach, starting with China - needing to win the first game to get off to a good start. Then all along the journey. We had one against Japan a few days ago, big pressure, a full stadium. We overcame that. I'm sure the young boys will embrace it. Excited and ready to embrace the challenge. That was the message from Australia coach Tony Popovic and cult hero Aziz Behich as the Socceroos prepare to clear the final hurdle in achieving automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals. After the 1-0 win over Japan last week even a modest defeat in Jeddah will take Australia to North America, but Popovic insisted the team will be aiming to win, not just defend for 90 minutes and aim to keep the score down. "We have put ourselves in a very good position and we have the chance to finish the job against a tough opponent," said Popovic. "We understand how difficult it will be but we are confident we can win the game. "We have to have the attitude - and I know we will - the mentality, the approach, to win the match. It won't be easy, Saudi Arabia are a good side and at home with their support it will be more difficult. But these are the moments you want as a footballer, that you want as a nation. "We are in a very good position. We understand we have to work extremely hard but we are confident we can finish the job." Australia's superior goal difference means the Saudis need to win by five goals to leapfrog them and join Japan as the automatic qualifiers from Group C in Asian Zone qualifying round three. It does not seem likely. In nine games in the group so far Saudi Arabia have scored six goals and Australia conceded six. Moreover the teams have played three times in the last five years, all in World Cup qualifiers, and only one goal has been scored, by the Saudis in a 1-0 win in 2022. Behich, who sent Australia into raptures with his 90th-minute winner against Japan in Perth, echoed Popovic's words. "We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position," said the Melbourne City defender. "We know it will be a difficult game but we have prepared really well and we are are very confident with the ability and the squad we have that we can get the job done. "We know what is up for grabs and we can't wait to kick off." In an effort to create a full house and a partisan atmosphere tickets are being given away, but Behich, who had a loan spell with Al Nassr in the Kingdom last year, said he relished the prospect. "I'm expecting a great atmosphere," he said. "This is what we play for. Japan was a hostile environment but the boys embraced that. You don't want to play in empty stadiums. "It is exciting, you get that extra buzz, playing for your national team in a full stadium, and on top of that qualifying for a World Cup automatically, which we haven't done for a while. "You can see the excitement in the boys and I am looking forward to it." Popovic, who stressed the need to play the match, not the occasion, added: "These are the challenges you must face at this level of football. "We have faced many together since I became the coach, starting with China - needing to win the first game to get off to a good start. Then all along the journey. We had one against Japan a few days ago, big pressure, a full stadium. We overcame that. I'm sure the young boys will embrace it.
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Popovic vows Socceroos will embrace Saudi challenge
Excited and ready to embrace the challenge. That was the message from Australia coach Tony Popovic and cult hero Aziz Behich as the Socceroos prepare to clear the final hurdle in achieving automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals. After the 1-0 win over Japan last week even a modest defeat in Jeddah will take Australia to North America, but Popovic insisted the team will be aiming to win, not just defend for 90 minutes and aim to keep the score down. "We have put ourselves in a very good position and we have the chance to finish the job against a tough opponent," said Popovic. "We understand how difficult it will be but we are confident we can win the game. "We have to have the attitude - and I know we will - the mentality, the approach, to win the match. It won't be easy, Saudi Arabia are a good side and at home with their support it will be more difficult. But these are the moments you want as a footballer, that you want as a nation. "We are in a very good position. We understand we have to work extremely hard but we are confident we can finish the job." Australia's superior goal difference means the Saudis need to win by five goals to leapfrog them and join Japan as the automatic qualifiers from Group C in Asian Zone qualifying round three. It does not seem likely. In nine games in the group so far Saudi Arabia have scored six goals and Australia conceded six. Moreover the teams have played three times in the last five years, all in World Cup qualifiers, and only one goal has been scored, by the Saudis in a 1-0 win in 2022. Behich, who sent Australia into raptures with his 90th-minute winner against Japan in Perth, echoed Popovic's words. "We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position," said the Melbourne City defender. "We know it will be a difficult game but we have prepared really well and we are are very confident with the ability and the squad we have that we can get the job done. "We know what is up for grabs and we can't wait to kick off." In an effort to create a full house and a partisan atmosphere tickets are being given away, but Behich, who had a loan spell with Al Nassr in the Kingdom last year, said he relished the prospect. "I'm expecting a great atmosphere," he said. "This is what we play for. Japan was a hostile environment but the boys embraced that. You don't want to play in empty stadiums. "It is exciting, you get that extra buzz, playing for your national team in a full stadium, and on top of that qualifying for a World Cup automatically, which we haven't done for a while. "You can see the excitement in the boys and I am looking forward to it." Popovic, who stressed the need to play the match, not the occasion, added: "These are the challenges you must face at this level of football. "We have faced many together since I became the coach, starting with China - needing to win the first game to get off to a good start. Then all along the journey. We had one against Japan a few days ago, big pressure, a full stadium. We overcame that. I'm sure the young boys will embrace it.
Perth Now
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Popovic vows Socceroos will embrace Saudi challenge
Excited and ready to embrace the challenge. That was the message from Australia coach Tony Popovic and cult hero Aziz Behich as the Socceroos prepare to clear the final hurdle in achieving automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals. After the 1-0 win over Japan last week even a modest defeat in Jeddah will take Australia to North America, but Popovic insisted the team will be aiming to win, not just defend for 90 minutes and aim to keep the score down. "We have put ourselves in a very good position and we have the chance to finish the job against a tough opponent," said Popovic. "We understand how difficult it will be but we are confident we can win the game. "We have to have the attitude - and I know we will - the mentality, the approach, to win the match. It won't be easy, Saudi Arabia are a good side and at home with their support it will be more difficult. But these are the moments you want as a footballer, that you want as a nation. "We are in a very good position. We understand we have to work extremely hard but we are confident we can finish the job." Australia's superior goal difference means the Saudis need to win by five goals to leapfrog them and join Japan as the automatic qualifiers from Group C in Asian Zone qualifying round three. It does not seem likely. In nine games in the group so far Saudi Arabia have scored six goals and Australia conceded six. Moreover the teams have played three times in the last five years, all in World Cup qualifiers, and only one goal has been scored, by the Saudis in a 1-0 win in 2022. Behich, who sent Australia into raptures with his 90th-minute winner against Japan in Perth, echoed Popovic's words. "We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position," said the Melbourne City defender. "We know it will be a difficult game but we have prepared really well and we are are very confident with the ability and the squad we have that we can get the job done. "We know what is up for grabs and we can't wait to kick off." In an effort to create a full house and a partisan atmosphere tickets are being given away, but Behich, who had a loan spell with Al Nassr in the Kingdom last year, said he relished the prospect. "I'm expecting a great atmosphere," he said. "This is what we play for. Japan was a hostile environment but the boys embraced that. You don't want to play in empty stadiums. "It is exciting, you get that extra buzz, playing for your national team in a full stadium, and on top of that qualifying for a World Cup automatically, which we haven't done for a while. "You can see the excitement in the boys and I am looking forward to it." Popovic, who stressed the need to play the match, not the occasion, added: "These are the challenges you must face at this level of football. "We have faced many together since I became the coach, starting with China - needing to win the first game to get off to a good start. Then all along the journey. We had one against Japan a few days ago, big pressure, a full stadium. We overcame that. I'm sure the young boys will embrace it.
West Australian
06-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello says they want to beat Saudi Arabia, not just qualify for World Cup
Australia might simply need to avoid a thrashing in Jeddah to secure World Cup qualification — but in the minds of Brandon Borrello and his Socceroos teammates, they are going to Saudi Arabia to win. The relief of Aziz Behich's late winner against Japan to put Australia within a whisker of a sixth-straight FIFA World Cup has subsided, even if the glow is yet to. But it has already been replaced within the Socceroos' camp by a laser-focus on Wednesday morning's (WST) against the Saudis. Behich's 90th minute goal to rescue an undeserved win for the Socceroos after they were put to the sword by Samurai Blue has deservedly grabbed the headlines all around Australia. After Saudi Arabia's overnight win over Bahrain, all the Socceroos have to do to officially rubber-stamp their ticket to next year's World Cup in North America is avoid a five-goal thumping. Tony Popovic's side have a +8 advantage on goal difference over their third-placed rivals, meaning even a 4-0 win to Saudi Arabia would not be enough for them to usurp the Socceroos in the standings. Had Behich not found the net and Australia merely clung on for a 0-0 draw against an impressive Japan, it would have meant they only had a one-point lead heading into the Saudi Arabia game. 'It was just euphoria at that time. But then the realisation sets in, there's still a game to be played in terms of not us, but Saudi and Bahrain,' he said. 'The boss spoke to us about moments; it only took one moment for us to win the game, and we celebrated in that moment. 'And then, it was straight back to the thought process of 'we have to go to Saudi now and get a result regardless.'' Borrello said they would head to Jeddah imbued with confidence having not just kept a clean sheet against Japan, but also a first win over the Asian powerhouse since 2009. 'If I'm being honest, without sounding arrogant, our intention was to beat Japan. That was the way we spoke, that was the language we used around it, we're going to win and obviously, last night, we created a bit of history,' he said. 'Playing World Cup qualifiers, every goal you score counts, and every goal you don't concede counts so it's a great feat for the boys as a team that can sort of band together and grind out a result like that.' However, Borrello also said any talk of simply avoiding a heavy defeat is banned in the Socceroos camp. 'If they have to win by five, that shouldn't be the talk of the town. We're going there to win regardless,' he said. 'I don't want to speak about going over there and losing. That's not really the language we want to use, we want to go over there and win. 'It feels embarrassing to go over there and say, 'Saudi need to beat us 5-0'. It's this mentality of 'we're winning, we're going to qualify for the World Cup, we're gonna celebrate together and it's going to be great for the country.' With the Saudis' overnight match against Bahrain having kicked off at midnight, Borrello said the squad were permitted to stay up and watch the game, but Popovic had stressed the importance of recovery, given the grueling nature of the Japan game and the looming, arduous 15-hour flight to Jeddah. 'When we go to Saudi, it's business as usual. We haven't achieved anything yet, and our eyes are on the prize of qualifying for the World Cup,' he said. At the squad's training at HBF Park on Friday morning, only those not involved in the previous night's match trained fully. After just his third 90-minute game back from a torn ACL, Perth-raised young gun Alessandro Circati spent time speaking with the national team's physios. He did not even join his teammates in a light jog and was instead restricted to gingerly walking laps alongside right-back Lewis Miller and midfielder Connor Metcalfe. Popovic will not want to break up his back three of Circati, Milos Degenek and Cameron Burgess, but might opt to safeguard the former given his only recent return to action. Borrello admitted Saudi Arabia's 2-0 win over Bahrain was frustrating, given the emotional highs they had experienced a few hours before. But all that frustration will flicker and fade quickly is the final whistle blows in Jeddah and Australia's place at next year's marquee tournament is confirmed. 'I don't think it matters how you qualify, as long as you do qualify,' Borrello said. 'That's football sometimes, and obviously, with our results going the way they've gone, we could have qualified earlier, we could have qualified later, but this is just our route.'
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Uzbekistan and Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time, South Korea also clinches
Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified for the men's World Cup for the first time on Thursday (June 5, 2025), while South Korea sealed its 11th straight appearance. A 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi was enough for Uzbekistan to take the second automatic qualification spot in Group A behind Iran with a game to spare. The Central Asian team and fans celebrated together at the end and had goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov to thank for a number of important saves. As well as the six automatic qualifiers from Asia, the UAE and Qatar, who defeated the already-qualified Iran 1-0, will finish third and fourth and advance to the next stage, where six teams will compete for two more places at the 2026 World Cup. In Group B, South Korea won 2-0 in Iraq to clinch its place. The Taeguk Warriors were helped by Ali Al-Hamadi's first-half red card, given to the Ipswich Town striker for a high kick. Kim Jin-gyu put Korea ahead just after the hour, and the victory was sealed by Oh Hyeon-gyu eight minutes from the end. It was also enough for Jordan, which earlier beat Oman 3-0 to clinch a place in the top two. All three goals were scored by Ali Olwan. The Palestinian team stayed in contention for the top four with a 2-0 win over Kuwait. Group C saw China eliminated after a 1-0 loss to Indonesia in Jakarta. A first-half penalty from Ole Romeny was enough to keep out China, whose sole appearance was in 2002 Indonesia, coached by Patrick Kluivert, took the lead just before the break when Romeny converted from the penalty spot. Elsewhere in the group, a last-minute goal from Aziz Behich gave Australia a 1-0 win over Japan, already qualified, in Perth to put the Socceroos within touching distance of a sixth straight World Cup appearance. In the 90th minute, Riley McGree broke free down the right and pulled back for Behich to curl home to bring Perth Stadium to its feet and give Australia its first win over Japan in 16 years. 'It hasn't sunk in just yet but when the final whistle went it was a great feeling,' Behich said. 'It was a tough game and we had to grind it out. It's been a long campaign and we have worked so hard.' Australia has to avoid a five-goal defeat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to be sure after the west Asian team won 2-0 in Bahrain. (AP) UNG
