Australia's national football team, the Socceroos, have a new head coach in Tony Popovic, who is optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At 51 years old, Popovic took over from Graham Arnold after a disappointing start to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers, with losses to Bahrain and Indonesia.
Despite the rocky beginning, Popovic believes there's ample time and opportunity to turn the campaign around. \"This campaign hasn't started the best, but I know there's enough time, there's enough games,\" he stated after signing a two-year deal. He emphasized the importance of aiming for the top spot in their group to secure an automatic spot in the World Cup.
Australia needs to finish in the top two of their six-team group, with crucial matches against China and Japan on the horizon. Under Popovic's leadership, the Socceroos aim to replicate their previous successes, including qualifying for the last five World Cups and reaching the round of 16 in Qatar 2022.
Football Australia chief James Johnson expressed strong support for Popovic, highlighting his leadership, strategic acumen, and deep understanding of Australian football. With his international experience, especially in Asia, Popovic is poised to navigate the complexities of global football and drive the Socceroos towards success on the world stage.
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New Socceroos coach Popovic confident in saving bid to reach World Cup
cgtn.com
