Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid from Liverpool at season’s end is a done deal, according to multiple reports from the United Kingdom and Spain.
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The defender has been tipped to trade Anfield for the Bernabeu on a free transfer at the end of his contract for some time, and it has been reported that the Spanish giants have secured the 26-year-old with a five-year offer worth more than £220,000 a week.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side view the England international as the long-term successor to 33-year-old Dani Carvajal, who is out with an ACL injury sustained in October, and he would join the likes of top English players David Beckham, Steve McManaman, who backed Alexander-Arnold to “be a superstar” in Madrid, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate to represent Los Blancos.
Alexander-Arnold has been free to discuss terms with overseas clubs since January, and his impending move to Real would also reunite him with his friend and England teammate Jude Bellingham.
Real made an approach to Liverpool on New Year’s Eve to try sign Alexander-Arnold during the January transfer window, but the Premier League champions in waiting declined to cash the right-back in for reportedly around £20 million to boost their chances of a league crown.
That move was vindicated as Arne Slot’s side sits 12 points clear atop of the table with nine matches remaining, but will leave them without any profit on Alexander-Arnold as he can join Real for free like French superstar Kylian Mbappe did last year from PSG.
Alexander-Arnold is sidelined at present after injuring his ankle during the Reds’ Champions League exit at the hands of PSG and missing the League Cup final loss to Newcastle as a result.
He is tipped to return next month, in time for the crowning few weeks of the Premier League campaign and what is set to be a fitting farewell to his boyhood club.
Alexander-Arnold made his first team debut as an 18-year-old in 2016 after joining Liverpool’s academy as a six-year-old.
Many Reds fans on social media have been outraged however, calling for him to not be selected for the remainder of the season
Under esteemed manager Jurgen Kloop, Alexander-Arnold won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Club World Cup.
He is also one of three key Liverpool players out of contract at season’s end, with the futures of golden boot leader Mohamed Salah and star defender Virgil van Dijk still unclear.
Liverpool have declined to comment on the reports.
Iran became the second Asian side to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Uzbekistan in Tehran, handing organisers a likely diplomatic headache.
Iran, the second-highest ranked AFC side in the FIFA standings, needed only a point to join Japan in qualifying for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Iran will, however, head to North America with relations strained as US President Donald Trump takes a hard line over opening new nuclear talks with Tehran.
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The Group A leaders were made to work hard at the Azadi Stadium by upward-trending Uzbekistan, with Mehdi Taremi scoring seven minutes from time – his second of the match – to seal the point.
“We have to thank the fans who filled the stadium today, and thank God they did not leave empty-handed,” said Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
Seeking to qualify for a first World Cup, Uzbekistan opened the scoring on 16 minutes through Khojimat Erkinov, before Inter Milan striker Taremi scored his first of the night shortly after half time.
Parity lasted only one minute, with Abbosbek Fayzullaev restoring Uzbekistan’s lead.
Again, Taremi was the man to pull his team back into the game and ultimately book a spot in North America, when he finished past goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov late on.
Iran will be appearing at a fourth successive World Cup and seventh in all. Taremi expressed his “happiness” with the result but admitted his team had “tactical problems” after conceding twice.
Uzbekistan remain on course for an inaugural appearance at the finals. Sitting second on 17 points, they require a win from the concluding double-header in June either away to third-placed UAE or at home to Qatar, in fourth.
The UAE climbed to four points behind Uzbekistan following their 2-1 victory in injury time against North Korea in Riyadh, with Qatar three points further back after their 3-1 defeat to Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek.
The top two go straight to the World Cup, with teams finishing third and fourth in the three Asian groups entering a further round of qualifying.
Iran’s players celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers group A football match between Iran and Uzbekistan, on March 25, 2025 in Tehran. (Photo by AFP)Source: AFPIran’s players celebrate after scoring during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers group A football match between Iran and Uzbekistan, on March 25, 2025 in Tehran. (Photo by AFP)Source: AFP
Earlier on Tuesday, the Socceroos beat China 2-0 to boost their chances of automatic qualification, but Saudi Arabia stayed in touch in Group C with a goalless draw in Japan.
Australia’s victory, courtesy of first-half goals from Jackson Irvine and Nishan Velupillay, left the Socceroos second in Group C on 13 points with two to play, three points ahead of Saudi Arabia with a much better goal difference. Japan are already sure to finish top.
Australia host Japan and travel to Saudi Arabia for their final qualifiers in June, leaving the race for the second direct qualification place on a knife edge. China stay bottom on six points, but they can progress to a further qualifying stage by finishing third or fourth.
Indonesia moved into fourth on nine points thanks to a 1-0 win over Bahrain. Oxford United forward Ole Romeny scored his second goal in as many games to give Netherlands and Barcelona great Patrick Kluivert his first victory since becoming manager.
In Group B, Son Heung-min’s South Korea remain top and favourites to progress, but they put in another toothless performance as they were held at home for the second match in a row – this time 1-1 by Jordan.
Iraq could have gained ground but conceded late twice to lose 2-1 to Palestine in Amman.
One-nil down from the 34th minute, Palestine equalised two minutes from time before grabbing a winner in the 97th minute, for their first victory of the third round.
Iraq stay third and one point behind second-placed Jordan, who are three off the summit.
Leaders South Korea face a tricky trip to Basra in June before a final home clash against Kuwait.
Oman are fourth on 10 points following their 1-0 win against Kuwait in Ardhiyah, with Palestine fifth and Kuwait rooted to the bottom.
TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SO FAR
The biggest moment of the Socceroos 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign has arrived.
Weren’t we there five days ago? Yep, all of Australia’s remaining three games in the third round are likely to be played with an all-or-nothing undercurrent.
Next up, China in Hangzhou tonight (10pm AEDT kick off) and once again it is must win.
PROJECTING CALM WHILE THE STAKES ARE HIGH
Milos Degenek made his first appearance for the Socceroos in 528 days last week when he was sent on as a second half substitute against Indonesia in Sydney.
The versatile defender, now with 46 caps to his name, is tailor made to handle the eve of a match like the one that looms against China.
Usually, a player guaranteed to feature in the game would accompany coach Tony Popovic to the final press conference. Degenek might just be in line for cap number 47 given his presence in-front of a packed media room or maybe he was sent to handle questions about pressure like Roger Federer used to hit a cross-court backhand or Ricky Ponting a pull shot.
Those who have followed Degenek’s journey in life and football would’ve known what was coming when he was asked about the magnitude of the game. His perspective is shaped by the testing route his family took to even get to Australia in the first place from Croatia. The 30-year-old has told stories of a childhood spent dodging bombs in underground bunkers.
“I think there’s no pressure. Pressure is something that when you wake up in the morning and you have to provide food for your family; that’s pressure. This is just joy and love,” said Degenek.
“The fact that we do this, we’re very grateful and we’re very happy to be able to play in games like this that are of very high importance.”
Mitchell Duke of the Socceroos heads the ball against Saudi Arabia.Source: Getty Images
FITNESS OF THE SQUAD
Popovic has 25 fit and healthy players to choose from.
Strikers Adam Taggart (groin) and Kusini Yengi (hamstring) were left behind in Sydney and they’ve since returned to the Perth Glory and Portsmouth in England respectively.
Mitch Duke was recalled to the squad at short notice after initially missing selection due to a lack of game time and goals at Japanese side Machida Zelvia, while Western Sydney Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello was sent on when Taggart was substituted at half-time against Indonesia.
Popovic was giving little away when asked about the make-up of his strike force.
“Mitch has come in. He’s looking good, he looks sharp and well. He’s very accustomed to the Socceroos shirt and what’s required so he’s fitted in easily,” he said.
“We have options for [tonight] in that striker position and we have some ideas that the players are aware of.”
SET PIECE PSYCHOLOGY
The Socceroos scored two goals from corners against Indonesia and in the psychology stakes, defender Cameron Burgess believes that could help Australia before a ball has even been kicked in Hangzhou.
Australian players had been used to running around the region and using their size and strength to dominate set pieces. The Socceroos scored four set piece goals from six games in the second round of World Cup qualifying. One came in each of the first four outings.
It has led to a quirk where injured centre back Harry Souttar has the equal fourth most goals of any Socceroo that is still playing professionally. Only Mathew Leckie (14), Jackson Irvine (13) and Mitch Duke (12) have more. The defender is level on 11-goals with Jamie Maclaren. But Australia had only scored one goal from a set piece from its last eight World Cup qualifiers prior to kick off against Indonesia at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night. Lewis Miller and Irvine both nodding home from corners signalled that a key weapon in the side’s arsenal was firing again.
“If you look across world football, set pieces play a massive part in the game,” said Burgess.
“They’re a huge weapon and we see it as such, and then you have the psychological factor where, if you’re scoring goals from set-pieces, you’re going up with that extra little thing in the back of your mind that we can score off this and then the opposition feel the same way.”
The 1.94m Burgess, who plays for Ipswich Town in the Premier League, hopes China was paying attention to the rout of Indonesia and the way Australia cashed in on corners.
“They’re obviously going to be worried about that I guess and that’s just human nature, that’s the psychological factors in how the game of football works. They’re huge weapons for us and we’ve always seen it that way and that’s something we definitely work on.”
Craig Goodwin and Cameron Burgess of Australia celebrate a goal by teammate Lewis Miller against Indonesia.Source: Getty Images
WHAT WILL CHINA BRING TO THE TABLE?
The last time Australia played China was Popovic’s first match in charge. The new era got off to a shaky start with China scoring first at Adelaide Oval in October. That’s one of just six goals China has scored in seven games as the Socceroos recovered to win 3-1.
Burgess believes Australia will have to ride out an early onslaught.
“They came out firing and obviously got the goal as well. They’re a pretty direct team and look to do things quickly,” he said.
“We’re expecting a fast start. The same as the other night really so we have improvements to make on that and hopefully we can start the game better than we did the other night.”
The other night Burgess is referring to is the 15-minute period where Indonesia put Australia under immense pressure in Sydney; a period where they could easily have been 2-0 down and on the ropes. The fact the Socceroos recovered to win 5-1 showed maturity and character.
While this game could follow a similar pattern – China sit in last place in group C and must win to have any hope of securing an automatic qualifying spot to the World Cup next year – Australia’s quality should see them through if they can take their chances like they did against Indonesia. And they will have their chances. China’s opponents have had an average of 13.71 shots per game during the third round and enjoyed 72% of possession.
“They’re going to be coming out swinging,” said Burgess.
“They’re playing at home in-front of what looks to be a big crowd as well. Under no illusions it is going to be a difficult task for us. We need to stamp our authority on the game and do what we can do to hurt them as well.”
TIME FOR BURGESS TO LEAD THE BACKLINE
Any side would struggle without the giant presence of Harry Souttar, but as the towering Socceroo rehabilitates a ruptured Achilles tendon, the responsibility for organising the central defensive trio is likely to fall on the broad shoulders of Burgess again.
“I think I put that leadership pressure on myself a little bit anyway,” said Burgess.
“I’ve been doing that for a number of years. I think it comes with age and experience.”
Popovic wasn’t happy with Australia’s backline against Indonesia. He felt they “weren’t great,” on edge and “a little bit sloppy.”
Burgess has struggled for consistent game time at Ipswich this season and while his timing and movement looked a little off initially against Indonesia, he insists he still feels sharp. Burgess’ 11 Premier League appearances have included minutes against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and Manchester United to name a few. A similar situation faced good mate Souttar last season, who was limited to four games in all competitions at Leicester but enjoyed the continued confidence of former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold. Burgess is hoping the national team can also offer him refuge.
“It’s not great not playing. I’d love to be playing every minute of every game as would everyone. However, the one upside is how hard we train there,” said Burgess of life at a top flight club.
“You get a real buzz because you’re here to play games. When you do get the chance to play it’s a great feeling. So, coming into camp to try and play minutes and help the team you get that adrenaline buzz.”
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.Source: Getty Images
THE STATE OF PLAY
Australia sits second in group C behind Japan. Three points against China will see them stay there and allow the side to prepare for the final window in June against Japan and Saudi Arabia with confidence.
The Socceroos are on 10 points with Saudi Arabia on nine and the chasing pack of Indonesia, Bahrain and China on six.
The reward for finishing first or second in the group is a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Third and fourth from each of the three groups progress to the fourth round and will be split into two groups of three. The group winners there also automatically qualify for the expanded 48 team tournament.
The runners-up of each of those groups advance to the fifth round for a home and away showdown. The winner advances to an inter confederation play-off for the final spot at USA, Canada and Mexico.
The fourth and fifth rounds are appointments the Socceroos are desperate to avoid.
New Zealand reached the World Cup for only the third time with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia but lost in-form Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to injury.
The All Whites join already qualified Japan and co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year’s finals thanks to three second-half goals.
But the victory in Auckland in the final of Oceania qualifying came at a cost, with skipper Wood suffering what appeared to be a hip injury.
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New Zealand’s Chris Wood goes down injured during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)Source: AFP
Soon after half time at Eden Park, Wood hurt himself swivelling for a shot and required treatment before hobbling off in the 54th minute.
“It’s not great for us losing our captain and our goalscorer. It was a difficult thing for the team but they came through so well,” said New Zealand’s English coach Darren Bazeley.
The hosts looked out of ideas after dominating the first half, but then up popped veteran defender Michael Boxall on 61 minutes to head home from a corner with his first goal for his country.
Five minutes later Wood’s replacement Kosta Barbarouses chipped the ball over advancing New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine.
Substitute Eli Just put gloss on the scoreline from close range with 10 minutes left.
New Caledonia’s unlikely World Cup hopes are not over and they will go into an intercontinental playoff.
Next year’s World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the first time for the team that won the qualifying competition in Oceania.
The region’s top side previously had to go through an intercontinental playoff, with New Zealand falling at the final hurdle to Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru in recent editions.
New Zealand have been to the World Cup twice before, in 1982 and 2010, but are yet to win at the competition in six matches.
“Once the World Cup expanded we expected this of ourselves,” said Boxall. “It’s not about getting there, it’s about what we do when we get there.”
Chris Wood acknowledges the crowd after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)Source: AFP
Facing a side ranked 152 in the world, 63 places below them, hosts New Zealand immediately went on the front foot.
New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory of about 300,000 people which has never been to the World Cup, twice cleared off the line in quick succession after 20 minutes.
Wood, who is in the form of his life at Forest with 18 goals in the Premier League this season, had a chance in the 32nd minute but Nyikeine saved comfortably.
The 33-year-old Wood then headed over the bar from a corner and at the half-time whistle, with the game unexpectedly level, the New Caledonia players mobbed Nyikeine.
Bazeley had seen enough and made two changes at the break, bringing on winger Just and defender Francis de Vries.
Despite losing talisman Wood, New Zealand’s pressure eventually paid off against a rapidly tiring New Caledonia to put the All Whites into the World Cup.
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni wants the Matildas “performing at the level required” after naming his star-studded squad for two home fixtures against Korea in the wake of the poor showing at the SheBelieves Cup in February.
Injured star Sam Kerr remains sidelined having failed to return for Chelsea in two fixtures across the weekend, but her team did topple fellow Matildas star Mary Fowler’s Manchester City overnight.
Fowler was included in the 23-player squad, with midfielder Clare Wheeler set to make a return to the squad after being absent for the last two international windows due to injury.
Young defenders Courtney Nevin and Jamilla Rankin have both earnt recalls off the back of their recent club form in Europe, with Steph Catley to again wear the captain’s armband.
Mary Fowler has been named in the Matildas squad. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFPSource: AFP
The clashes with Korea in first Newcastle and then Sydney next week loom as crucial in preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup after a failure against rivals Japan in the February tournament in the US.
“This squad selection is about achieving the right balance – reintegrating players returning from injury and rewarding those who have been playing consistently well in clubland. It’s important to create continuity while also bringing in players who have earned their place through strong performances,” Sermanni explained.
Sam Kerr is yet to return for Chelsea. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“We are fortunate to have a core group of players competing at the highest levels, whether it’s in the UEFA Women’s Champions League or major domestic competitions.
“Every match leading into the Asian Cup is an opportunity to finetune our approach, build cohesion, and ensure we are performing at the level required to take on Asia’s best during next year’s tournament.”
Kerr has not played for the Matildas since 2023 after suffering an ACL injury.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed that Kerr would not play for the team leading up to the international break and was unavailable to play for the Matildas.
“We will assess her on a week-by-week basis, and hopefully, after the international break, we will have a clearer understanding of her return,” Bompastor said.
Kerr injured her knee at a Chelsea training camp in January, 2024.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Tegan Micah, Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Lincoln
NAIROBI — Kenya’s Susan Ejore qualified for the finals of the women’s 1500m at the ongoing World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
The United States-based runner clocked 4:12.41 in Heat 1 of the women’s 1500m on Friday afternoon to book her ticket in the final.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay won the Heat after stopping the timer at 4:11.87, ahead of second-placed Sinclaire Johnson of the United States, who ran 4:12.18.
Ejore joins Lilian Odira, Noah Kibet and Alex Ngeno who secured their berths to the semi-finals of the 800m on the opening day of the global showdown.
Odira clocked 2:04.46 to finish second in Heat 1 of the women’s 800m, won by Portugal’s Patricia Silva who ran 2:04.44, in a tightly contested race.
Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu also qualified from the same race after clocking 2:04.48 to clinch third place.
On the other hand, Kibet — the 2022 World Indoor silver medalist — timed 1:48.31 to finish second in Heat 4 of the men’s 800m.
American Josh Hoey triumphed in 1:48.14 as Italian Giovanni Lazzaro came third in 1:48.75.
Ngeno also finished second in Heat 5 of the men’s 800m, clocking 1:48.17, behind winner, Jakub Dudycha of the Czech Republic, who stopped the timer at 1:48.04.
Poland’s Patryk Sieradzki also qualified after clocking 1:48.20 in third place.
The Socceroos might’ve finished 5-1 winners against Indonesia in their crucial World Cup qualifier in Sydney and taken a giant step towards automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in North America, but coach Tony Popovic made it clear there’s still plenty of room for his side to improve describing the performance as “solid but it wasn’t great.”
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Goals to Martin Boyle, Nishan Velupillay, Lewis Miller and a double from Jackson Irvine send Australia to China with three vital points in the bag and full of confidence, but all too aware that its job half done when it comes to jumping the hurdles this international window presented.
The mental resilience the side showed to escape unscathed – albeit with some fortune – from a tricky 15-minute opening period is also a sign of growth as is a welcome surge in the way chances were finally converted into goals. This result bloats Australia’s goal difference column too and that could be one less thing to worry about come the final matchday of round three in June.
It wasn’t all good news though with Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart coming off at halftime. Popovic revealing post-game that both have fitness concerns.
OMINOUS SIGN BEFORE A BALL WAS KICKED
A crowd of 35,241 packed into the Sydney Football Stadium and the Indonesian fans not only made their presence felt but had the decibel reader reaching its upper limits.
The Indonesian national anthem was greeted with full voice by those in red and more than one Socceroos player turned to look at the raucous away end. It did not sound,
look or feel like a Socceroos home game until the goals started flying in.
Remarkably, the Team Garuda faithful were still chanting at 5-1 down in the second half.
“It’s part of football and it’s what we love about it, that teams can come away from home and bring that energy and atmosphere,” midfielder Jackson Irvine said.
“I thought our fans were equally brilliant and pushed us in the key moments of the game and gave us that extra leg up probably when we needed it.”
A TALE OF TWO PENALTIES
Perspective is in the eye of what colour jersey you were wearing.
The decision to award Indonesia a penalty in the seventh minute after the Brisbane Roar’s Rafael Struick was ruled to have been fouled by the recalled Kye Rowles was
contentious through an Australians lens, but while it was on the softer side it was the right call.
Kevin Diks dulled the debate by hitting the woodwork. A sprawling Mat Ryan guessed the right way in any case and might’ve saved it.
Indonesia coach Patrick Kluivert, in his first match in charge, believed his side struggled to shrug off that setback.
“If you shoot the penalty in it would be a totally different match of course,” Kluivert said.
“From that moment we changed something in our minds.
“We had a grip of the game. I think that we played better than Australia.
“If you score 1-0, I’m sure it will be a totally different game.”
10-minutes later Australia was sent to the spot after Nathan Tjoe-A-On pulled off a tackle on Lewis Miller in the box that looked more like something James Tedesco would execute on this ground in a Roosters jersey. Boyle did the honours from the spot.
The goal helped calm the nerves after the Socceroos were let off the hook just moments prior. The side looked far more settled from that point and Australia led 3-0 at the break thanks to two more goals from Velupillay and Irvine.
“It’s the hardest I’ve been pressed in a home game in a long time,” Irvine said.
“There was absolutely no time on the ball in the middle of the park.
“Once we broke that pressure it looked like we were going to score every time we went through.”
3-0! Socceroos dominant first half surge | 01:31
POPPA PULLS THE RIGHT SELECTION CALLS
This was not an easy squad to pick.
Six regular starters were missing through injury and Popovic had key calls to make when it came to his starting wingers and striker.
As Velupillay wheeled away to celebrate with the fans in the 20th minute he had fellow winger Martin Boyle and striker Adam Taggart to thank for the opportunity.
Boyle’s pass found Taggart whose lunging effort resulted in Velupillay being able to run onto the ball and calmly slot Australia’s second.
“It’s a special moment for the boy,” Popovic said.
“Starting your first game, pressure, a stadium that’s full. It doesn’t come bigger than that.
“When he looks back, he should be really proud of that.”
This was the first time Boyle had seen minutes under Popovic after failing to get on the pitch in the November window against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. 14-goals and 9
assists in 36 games for Hibernian in Scotland made a compelling case for selection.
Velupillay is working his way back into form after a nasty ankle injury suffered against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne. To start him in a game of this magnitude was bold. Taggart deserved his spot after five goals in his last 11-games for Perth Glory in the A-League but hadn’t even been picked in a squad by Popovic yet before this window.
For a goal that released the pressure valve in this campaign to be created by two players who’d never featured under this manager and scored by one still not quite at
top form domestically must be applauded.
Unfortunately, Taggart and Boyle were both substituted at half time with potential fitness issues. Taggart appeared to feel for his groin multiple times just before the break. Asked if there was anything amiss with both players Popovic said “there could be.”
“They both had a bit of a niggle, maybe Adam a little bit more than Martin Boyle.”
“Adam was definitely coming off and Martin was a bit of a precaution.”
IRVINE GOAL A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
Jackson Irvine is the heartbeat of the Socceroos midfield. His goals in the 34th and 90th minutes were the 12th and 13th of his international career and came on the same
ground where he scored his first ever for Australia in 2017.
“From a personal point of view a special night,” he said.
“I never take it for granted being here and I haven’t played in this stadium since that night.”
THE RETURN OF DANIEL ARZANI
Arzani replaced Velupillay in the 72nd minute and was greeted by warm applause. It was his first appearance for Australia since a 26-minute spell in a World Cup qualifier
against Bangladesh in June last year.
His last minutes prior to that came against Kuwait in a friendly match in 2018. That was just before the anterior cruciate ligament tear on debut at Celtic that would change the trajectory of his then skyrocketing career.
It took just two minutes for Popovic to call Arzani to the sideline for a chat after his introduction, but generally he worked hard in defence and looked lively in attack.
All of this after Popovic told Arzani his effort in camp during the October international window last year “wasn’t good enough” and that his “level was really poor in
training.”
It appears to have been the wake-up call the 26-year-old – once dubbed the next big thing in Australian football – needed.
Five months on from that camp and Arzani has impressed his mentor this time around. Popovic does not give out easy minutes even with Australia 4-0 up at the time.
It was an impressive response from a player who can only enhance the fortunes of himself and his country with similar application.
Socceroos calm ahead of crucial clashes | 01:56
STATE OF THE PITCH
There’d been concerns about the state of the Sydney Football Stadium pitch in the days prior to kick-off and those fears weren’t alleviated once the game got underway.
Several players lost their footing or looked unsure on the ball. It was not ideal and hampered the fluidity of the game.
“Tough pitch for the players,” Popovic said.
“Very hard underneath and slippery on top. The players were in two minds. Half the players wore studs, and half the players had moulds. It was a difficult one for them tonight. It took a lot out of them.”
MAT RYAN BACK TO HIS BEST ON AN HISTORIC NIGHT
Lost in the euphoria of scoring five goals was the three incredible saves Mat Ryan pulled off between the sticks.
On a night where the goalkeeper became the third most capped player in Socceroos history with 97, moving ahead of another former skipper in Lucas Neill and now only
behind Mark Schwarzer with 109 and Tim Cahill on 108 appearances, Ryan was immense.
He stopped Jay Idzes’ header from a freekick in the 5th minute, made a superb diving save to his left in the 53rd minute and another clutch reflex save down low to his right
in the 84th minute.
“I have to say I’m not surprised after seeing him when he came into camp,” Popovic said.
“Just a different demeanour and that comes from playing.
“You can see he’s full of confidence and he showed that when he came in. He was a real presence around the group and tonight he stood tall.”
The fact the captain was dropped to the bench for the first three games of Popovic’s tenure now seems a distant memory. His move to Lens in France from Roma in Italy
has been a masterstroke.
Davidson hoping to re-ignite Roos career | 02:26
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AT THE BACK
Australia’s backline was hardest hit by the current run of injuries between November and March.
Popovic picked Lewis Miller, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles and Aziz Behich.
Geria, Burgess and Rowles formed the central trio of that combination, and the coach made it clear there was plenty to work on. Indonesia’s goal was well taken, but the lead-up was scrappy.
“The goal they scored probably summarised how we defended,” Popovic said.
“They didn’t create, we gave them chances, we gave them the penalty, we gave them the goal as well.
“Defensively we weren’t great, we were a little bit on edge, a little bit sloppy in our defending.”
WHERE ARE THE SOCCEROOS AT WITH PROJECT POPPA AND WHAT’S NEXT?
Project Poppa is progressing, but it’s far from the finished article. That’s not a bad thing, but just the reality of only being in the job for six-months.
“I aim quite high,” Popovic said with a smile when asked how far along the side is when it comes to implementing his game style.
“They’re not where we want to be, but that’s not a negative that’s a positive. They’ve taken strides forward and it’s not easy to do what they did tonight.”
Popovic pointed to decision making as an area that needs work.
“How do we identify quicker what is happening on the field?” he said.
“That will happen with more games together.
“I felt that this camp or this window of the first game is the first time I’ve felt in training and just around the hotel that this group is now starting to build into something.”
Now, it’s off to China for their next qualifier on Tuesday night.
Australia remains second in group C and in control of its own fate when it comes to securing automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup.
“There’s multiple, multiple, multiple death threats that come my way daily still, and it’s quite sad to see,” Cavallo told FIFPRO’s Footballers Unfiltered podcast.
“In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place. It’s something that not everyone would be able to handle and go through.
“I still think we’re a very, very long way from acceptance in this space.
“It’s difficult to say to people ‘absolutely, come out, be yourself’. It also comes with a mountain of downsides as well that I don’t think people realise.”
Josh Cavallo says he receives daily death threats. Picture: Tricia WatkinsonSource: News Corp Australia
However, Cavallo has no regrets about coming out.
“I got to a point in my life where I wanted to live authentically. I felt quite stuck and it did affect my mental health quite a lot,” he said.
“It was the best move and decision I’ve ever made. I’m proud of myself, the people around me, my support network and how we’ve correlated and changed things around football, but we also have to realise there’s still a long way to go.”
Cavallo said the assumption that gay men were “weaker” and “not masculine” needed to be challenged.
“That means they’re not going to be at their best, that means they’re not going to be the best footballer, and it has such a negative connotation to it,” he said.
He has no regrets about coming out. Picture: @joshua.cavalloSource: Supplied
“For me, showing weakness or showing something about yourself that you don’t think is the
strongest point doesn’t actually bring you down. It leads you into growing, growing into being a better person, growing into being a better player, (and) doing things that will improve your
game.
“I’m glad now I can step on the field and I can be who I am and in the competition of
Australia in the A-League.
“I haven’t come across anyone on the field that uses it in a negative way.”
Cavallo is yet play this season in the A-League, with his Adelaide United contract set to expire in June.
Chelsea’s challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday (Monday AEDT) as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0 — with Ange Postecoglou giving a stinging assessment of one player.
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Tottenham kept their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, but suffered the latest in a series of European hangovers at Craven Cottage.
Victory for Fulham propels Marco Silva’s men into the race for Champions League places as they climb to eighth, four points off the top four and three outside the top five.
A top-five finish will almost certainly secure a place in Europe’s top club competition next season thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competitions.
Spurs, though, have struggled to handle the burden of Thursday nights when it comes to their Premier League form.
Postecoglou’s side have won just three times in the 10 league matches that have followed a midweek Europa League fixture.
“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure,” said Spurs captain Son Heung-min. “But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.”
Postecoglou was unimpressed with Mali international Yves Bissouma’s performance.
“I feel Biss sometimes lets the game drift by him, he needs to be more dominant,” Postecoglou said, per the BBC.
“Today, we needed more in that position. I had needed him to play because he hasn’t played a lot.
“At the same time, I need him to perform. It is safe to say maybe Biss and a few guys lack a bit of confidence but at this stage of the season we need people to perform.
Son Heung-Min and Ange Postecoglou look dejected after defeat at Fulham.Source: Getty Images
“A disappointing outcome obviously. A tight game, it was always going to be a tight game, there wasn’t really much in it,” Postecoglou added.
“I thought, especially in the second half, I thought we were growing to the game, I thought we had the better chances at 0-0 to get ahead and then we gave them a really soft goal and then the game just got away from us.
“So it’s another day where we’re disappointed to lose. I don’t think Fulham really created much, I think Vic [Guglielmo Vicario] had a save to make and we had a couple of big chances to go 1-0 up.
“But we’ve done that a fair bit this year, conceding a soft goal and when you do that, especially away from home, then it just gives the opposition a chance to grow into the game.”
Fulham had to wait until 78 minutes to take the lead when Rodrigo Muniz steered home from Andreas Pereira’s pass.
Ryan Sessegnon then curled in a brilliant second against his former club to secure victory late on.
Spurs remain down in 13th, now 10 points off the top half.
Ange Postecoglou speaks to Yves Bissouma (L) earlier this season.Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA POOR AGAINST GUNNERS
Mikel Merino scored the only goal of a disappointing contest at the Emirates as Arsenal pulled clear in second place and to within 12 points of runaway leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to injury as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish.
The Blues remain in fourth for now but have five sides from Manchester City in fifth to Aston Villa in ninth within four points of Enzo Maresca’s team.
Both managers are hoping to be stronger after the upcoming international break. Bukayo Saka is nearing a return for Arsenal, while Maresca is confident of having Palmer, Nico Jackson and Noni Madueke back when they are next in action at home to Tottenham on April 3.
“We did enough to deserve to win the game,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “Now we have the international break so let’s take a chance to breathe and bring some players back hopefully.”
Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s goal.Source: Getty Images
Arsenal have struggled badly for goals since the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury forced midfielder Merino into a makeshift centre-forward role.
The Spanish international proved the match winner from a corner as he looped a header from Martin Odegaard’s delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes.
Chelsea barely threatened but were nearly gifted a route back into the game when David Raya fumbled Marc Cucurella’s shot and the ball trickled wide.
At the other end, Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made a brilliant stop to prevent Merino doubling Arsenal’s lead with the best effort of the second half.
But the game petered out with little goalmouth action as a limp performance will do little to quieten the critics of Maresca’s style of play among the Chelsea support.
“There was not a big difference in the two games between us,” said Maresca. “Given the injuries, we fought until the end.”
Manchester United are in action later on Sunday when Ruben Amorim’s team visit lowly Leicester.
Newcastle ended their 56-year trophy drought in stunning style as Dan Burn and Alexander Isak sealed a 2-1 win against Liverpool in the League Cup final on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
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Eddie Howe’s side made history at Wembley with a superb display that left the runaway Premier League leaders shell-shocked.
Burn put Newcastle ahead late in the first half and Isak’s 27th goal in all competitions doubled their lead after the interval.
Federico Chiesa got one back in the closing seconds, but Newcastle held on for their first major silverware since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
That success in the predecessor to the Europa League is a relic of a bygone era, but this long-awaited triumph will be forever etched in the memories of the Newcastle fans who turned one half of Wembley into a roiling sea of black and white with their ecstatic celebrations.
It was also Newcastle’s first major domestic prize dating back 70 years to the 1955 FA Cup.
Since the Magpies lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, 30 different English teams had won silverware, while Liverpool had clinched 38 major trophies in that time.
But after losing the 2023 League Cup final against Manchester United, Howe’s team returned to Wembley and set the record straight at last.
Newcastle had endured five relegations to the second tier since their last trophy, with club legends like Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and Malcolm MacDonald failing to win silverware in their time on Tyneside.
Aside from a brief period when Kevin Keegan’s self-styled “entertainers” challenged for the title in the 1990s, Newcastle have endured decades of underachievement and self-inflicted wounds that rendered them a laughing stock for long periods.
All that changed in 2021 when a Saudi-backed consortium completed a takeover from unpopular owner Mike Ashley and quickly hired Howe as their manager.
Thanks to Howe’s astute leadership and the Saudi financial backing, Newcastle have been transformed from relegation candidates to silverware winners.
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said the win was the “best day of my life”.
“It’s all for these fans,” Guimaraes told Sky Sports. “They deserve everything. When I first came here I said I wanted to put my name in history.
“We can now say we are the champions again. This is one of the best days of my life.
“I don’t have any words. It’s the best day of my life. For them (the fans) it’s like the World Cup. People have grown up and not seen us as champions. My first year as captain of this club and it’s one of the best days. This is unbelievable.
“This is my second home. We are making history. Some day when I leave this club I want the fans to sing my name the way they do to Shearer. He texted me before the game. I’m so emotional today.”
Dan Burn of Newcastle United lifts the Carabao Cup Trophy.Source: Getty Images
The defeat was another painful blow for Liverpool just days after their Champions League last 16 exit on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain.
But despite failing to win their first trophy under boss Arne Slot, Liverpool still sit 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League, within touching distance of a record-equalling 20th English title.
Liverpool are 23 points ahead of sixth-placed Newcastle in the league and hadn’t lost to them for 17 games dating back to 2015.
But Howe’s men were in no mood to be cowed by past failures Newcastle fans unveiled a banner before kick-off urging their team to “write your name in the history books”.
They rose to the challenge in spectacular fashion, snapping into tackles and counter-attacking with purpose, while Liverpool were sluggish and sloppy in possession.
Bruno Guimaraes had a golden opportunity to reward Newcastle’s enterprising start when Burn headed Kieran Trippier’s corner towards the Brazil midfielder, but he nodded at Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher from close-range.
Goalscorer Alexander Isak celebrates with the trophy.Source: AFP
Newcastle’s desire and drive was clear to see when Joelinton tracked back from midfield to stop Jarell Quansah in his tracks and celebrated with a fist-pumping roar.
Despite nearly being caught out by Burn’s aerial prowess once before, Liverpool failed to heed the warning as the towering centre-back put Newcastle ahead in the 45th minute.
Bizarrely left unmarked, with only the diminutive Alex Mac Allister anywhere near him, Burn was allowed to rise unchallenged to meet Tripper’s corner as he thumped a powerful header into far corner from 12 yards.
Burn’s goal — Newcastle’s first in a cup final since 1976 — capped an incredible week for the journeyman centre-back, who received his first England call-up on Friday.
With Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah completely anonymous, the lethargic Reds had no answer as Isak put Newcastle into dreamland after 52 minutes.
Jacob Murphy met Tino Livramento’s cross with a header that found Isak, who drilled a superb first-time finish past Kelleher from 10 yards.
Chiesa’s stoppage-time strike set up an anxious finale, but good things comes to those who wait.
And all across Wembley, Newcastle players and fans celebrated with abandon as a party over half a century in the making got into full swing.
