There was one word that permeated the Socceroos camp over the last week in Sydney.
Regardless of whether the player was a rookie or more experienced, each spoke of “mentality” being key to Australia’s hopes of automatically qualifying for the World Cup in North America next year.
When a similar theme or word pops up it can often sound rehearsed and therefore lose its meaning, but the steely look in the eye of each man who uttered it made you believe the intent behind the phrase was felt to their core.
It was mentality to meet the weight of expectation, to progress stylistically as a side and at a base level to win.
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Mentality proved to be anything but a buzzword and instead a safety net that caught the Socceroos as they threatened to fall into a hole that potentially would’ve plunged their qualifying campaign into crisis.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine, the captain of St. Pauli in the Bundesliga and a man accustomed to the pace of the game at the very top level, spoke of the immense pressure he and his teammates were under in the first 15-minutes.
“There was absolutely no time on the ball in the middle of the park,” he said.
The game might’ve ultimately finished 5-1 in favour of the Socceroos, but if it wasn’t for an incredible Mat Ryan save off a Jay Idzes header in the fifth minute and a missed penalty from Kevin Diks moments later, Australia could’ve been 2-0 down in the blink of an eye. The way other results panned out the Socceroos would’ve woken up on Friday morning in fourth spot in group C.
Mentality rescued them from that fate. The pressure of that first quarter of an hour, instead of breaking the side, could’ve laid the building blocks on which progress under coach Tony Popovic is built.
The thing about the right mentality though is that it’s not satisfied when imperfection is present. 5-1 seems like a scoreline where everything went to plan, but it didn’t.
Ryan, as captain of the side, has been raw and honest in recent post-game interviews. The skipper was asked if he was satisfied with the performance of the team, and his response was telling.
“I think the scoreline sort of flatters us to be honest,” he said.
“With the start of the game they had two big chances and if they put one of them away it could’ve been a different game.
“I think we can be much better. Our standards, I think we fell short of that tonight, even though we got the result that we did.
“It’s important we learn and get better.”
There are signs those learnings happened in game instead of in a painful debrief on the day after the contest.
The Socceroos have created plenty of chances during this third round but converted relatively few before conceding either a luckless equaliser, or worse, one in unfortunate circumstances that handed victory to their opponents. When you don’t take control of your own destiny in football the margin for misfortune to impose itself gets larger. Australian football history is littered with such painful moments.
It’s what made the ease with which the Socceroos went from scrambling to cruising so unexpected. It was a turnaround built on mental resolve.
The side now heads to Hangzhou in China on a charter flight amid an atmosphere of calm and confidence instead of chaos and crisis. They know they’re far from the finished article under Popovic – he made as much clear immediately after full time – but escaping the cauldron like pressure Indonesia and their fans heaped on them in Sydney has made them stronger.
Three more points on Tuesday night will only strengthen that resolve and bring them one step closer to a spot at next year’s FIFA World Cup in the process.
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.
Australia’s Socceroos simply must take care of business against Indonesia in tonight’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier with direct qualification on the line in Sydney.
With four games left in this phase of AFC qualifying, the Socceroos are one of five teams within one point of the second direct qualification spot.
With games against continental powers Japan and Saudi Arabia to come on the final matchdays, Australia simply must take advantage of games against relative minnows Indonesia and China over the coming week to bank points and ensure they will advance directly.
Finishing third or fourth in the group would advance the Socceroos into the fourth round of AFC qualifying – which involves a pair of three-team groups with two nations to directly qualify, and another two advancing into a playoff – while finishing fifth or sixth would eliminate them entirely.
The match gets underway at 8:10pm AEDT from Sydney Football Stadium.
AFC FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – GROUP C STANDINGS (Start of night)
1. Japan – 5-1-0, 16 pts (+20 goal difference)
2. Australia – 1-4-1, 7 pts (+1)
3. Indonesia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3)
4. Saudi Arabia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3)
5. Bahrain – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-5)
6. China – 2-0-4, 6 pts (-10)
Australia’s remaining games: vs Indonesia in Sydney on March 20, vs China in Hangzhou on March 25, vs Japan in Perth on June 5, vs Saudi Arabia away on June 10
Matchday 7 games: Australia vs Indonesia in Sydney, Japan vs Bahrain in Saitama, Saudi Arabia vs China in Riyadh
Top two nations qualify directly for World Cup
Third and fourth enter fourth round of AFC qualifying
Watch Australia vs Indonesia live from 8pm AEDT on Ten.
Louis Thomas Buffon, the son of Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon and Czech model Alena Seredova, said Wednesday he saw his future with the Czech national team rather than Italy.
The 17-year-old winger, who made his Serie B debut with Pisa earlier this month, has arrived in Prague for the Czech Under-18 team’s training camp ahead of a tournament in Portugal.
“I talked to the family and we decided that playing for the Czech Republic would be best for my football career and my development,” Buffon said in an interview for the Czech Football Association (FACR).
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Buffon was first called up for a training camp in February and now he will try to secure a place in the squad in games against England, France and Portugal.
“My mum was naturally very happy but my dad was excited too because it was my first national team call-up,” Buffon said.
“He also advised me to play for the Czech Republic, because it’s the best way I can evolve as a player.”
Despite having a Czech mother, Buffon admitted he was struggling with the tricky language.
“I don’t speak Czech really well but when I found out I could come here, I started to learn,” he said.
“I spend about 10 minutes on Duolingo every day,” he added.
Former Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFPSource: AFP
Buffon Jr’s arrival for the February training camp sparked remarkable interest among fans and media.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect that, but I have grown up under a microscope with my parents since I was a child and I hope they have taught me what to do and say,” he said.
Buffon said he would not have a problem playing against Italy some day.
“I was born and grew up in Italy, but I think that to be a 100-percent professional and do my job as best I can, I have to see each game as important, whether against Italy or another national team,” he added.
Gianluigi Buffon, who won 10 Serie A titles with Juventus and led Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, married model, TV show host and actress Seredova in Prague in 2011.
The couple who have two sons divorced three years later.
It’s March Madness, Socceroos style, as their hopes of sealing direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico go on the line in Sydney tonight.
It’s almost three years to the day since an automatic berth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar eluded Australia after back-to-back defeats in the March window to Japan in Sydney and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. Those defeats thrust the Socceroos into a fourth-round play-off against UAE before a famous penalty shoot-out win over Peru booked a spot at a fifth consecutive World Cup.
The games against Japan and Saudi Arabia were the final fixtures of round three. This time the Aussies have a June window against those same opponents to navigate after the visit of Indonesia and a trip to China.
It makes six points over the next week vital. The last thing Tony Popovic’s side want is to have their fate hanging on defeating the best team in Asia and a big spending powerhouse who aspires to be just that. It still might pan out that way, but two straight wins will see Australia stay in second spot in group C and in control of its own fate. As it stands, the chasing pack of four are all one point behind.
AFC FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – GROUP C STANDINGS
1. Japan – 5-1-0, 16 pts (+20 goal difference)
2. Australia – 1-4-1, 7 pts (+1)
3. Indonesia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3)
4. Saudi Arabia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3)
5. Bahrain – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-5)
6. China – 2-0-4, 6 pts (-10)
Australia’s remaining games: vs Indonesia in Sydney on March 20, vs China in Hangzhou on March 25, vs Japan in Perth on June 5, vs Saudi Arabia away on June 10
Top two nations qualify directly for World Cup
Third and fourth enter fourth round of AFC qualifying
“The expectation of the Australian public; that’s what it should be,” Popovic said.
“They should expect their national team to produce, to play good football and I expect every Australian to get behind the team.”
FIFA’s decision to expand the tournament from 32 teams to 48 for this edition means the fourth and fifth rounds offer opportunities to qualify, but the ever-increasing jeopardy involved is something to be avoided rather than embraced as a viable back-up plan.
It would be a sign of maturity for Australia to qualify at the first time of asking almost 20-years after leaving Oceania and joining Asia. This is Australia’s fifth campaign through the region. Only twice, in 2010 and 2014, has the country managed to qualify directly.
To achieve that feat Popovic must solve several selection issues.
Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic speaks to the media during a Socceroos training session at Sydney Football Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CENTRE BACK RE-INFORCEMENTS AFTER INJURY WOES
Six doesn’t go into three.
So far, Popovic has deployed a system with three central defenders. Harry Souttar (achilles), Hayden Matthews (ankle) and Alessandro Circati (knee) are all unavailable due to injury. Sydney FC’s Alex Grant and Melbourne City’s Kai Trewin were called up to the national team for the first time for this window, joining more established squad members Cameron Burgess and Kye Rowles and the recently recalled Jason Geria and Milos Degenek. Geria, Burgess and Rowles, on experience, shape as the most likely trio. A starting debut for Trewin wouldn’t be out of the question either. In November, Popovic made a similar move with Matthews against Bahrain. At the time, the 20-year-old was less than a year removed from signing his first professional contract with Sydney FC before a transfer to Portsmouth in England eventuated. Trewin, by comparison, is 23 and has 134 senior appearances for the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City on his resume. Asked specifically about his thinking around this area of the field all Popovic would say is that “we (Australia) have enough experience and enough quality to play this match regardless of personnel.”
Socceroos ‘calm’ despite must win games | 04:24
CENTRE MID SELECTION SQUEEZE
Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill, Anthony Caceres, Nectar Triantis and Ryan Teague are the options in the centre of the park.
Irvine has started all four games of the Popovic era. The St. Pauli skipper has been paired with O’Neill twice, Caceres once and Luke Brattan once.
The 32-year-old has played every minute of every game for his side in the Bundesliga this season and it would be a shock if he doesn’t start against Indonesia.
Caceres played the entirety of their last qualifier against Bahrain and it will most likely be a tight selection call between himself and O’Neill.
Triantis and Teague, in camp with the Socceroos for the first time, are not there on work experience.
Triantis proved himself ready for the big stage with a series of eye-catching performances for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) while Popovic believes Teague’s performances increase with the magnitude of the occasion.
It’s an area of enormous depth for Australia. Max Balard, who has been a regular starter for NAC Breda in the Netherlands, missed selection while Keanu Baccus, a regular starter under previous coach Graham Arnold, can’t get a look in either. Add in the considerable talent pool at under 23 and under 20 level and it’s a welcome headache.
Taggart ready for Socceroos WC qualifier | 02:01
FIVE EXCITING WING OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Will this be the game where we see the re-emergence of Martin Boyle as an attacking weapon?
The Scottish born Socceroo has been back to his lethal best for Hibernian in the SPL banging in 14-goals and racking up 9-assists in 36-games across all competitions.
The winger, who has a blistering turn of speed, had looked a shadow of himself after a scan on his knee while in camp with the Socceroos at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of the tournament. Boyle’s revelation at the time that he “could have had this ACL injury for about six, seven years and been playing through it,” remains barely believable.
Boyle is yet to see minutes under Popovic. He was picked in November, but didn’t make the matchday squad against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne and was an unused substitute against Bahrain. His form at club level has been impossible to ignore since that snub. All bar two of his 14 goals and one of his assists this season have come in a dazzling period from December 21 onwards.
This could be his time and big game experience is as valuable a commodity as any other at this point. Craig Goodwin rarely produces a substandard performance at international level, so his inclusion is also likely.
Nishan Velupillay, who can also play as a striker, is working his way back to his best form for Melbourne Victory after a nasty looking ankle injury suffered against Saudi Arabia. Popovic has turned to Velupillay with regularity since handing the 23-year-old his Socceroos debut in his first game in charge of the national side against China in October.
His Victory teammate Daniel Arzani is the wildcard. If he’s shown not just the breathtaking displays of skill that he’s capable of but also the high work rate and commitment in training Popovic wanted, you could see him given the chance to shine if the game state is crying out for a player with his repertoire of line breaking passes and an ability to beat the first defender.
His invitation into the squad came on the back of a reality check delivered in January where the coach revealed Arzani’s effort with the Australian side in October “wasn’t good enough” and that his “level was really poor in training.”
Young Socceroos win U20 Asian Cup! | 00:59
So, has that changed?
“He has been very good,” Popovic said before momentarily pausing to contemplate the 26-year-old’s efforts further and letting a trademark grin stretch across his face.
“Yeah, very good,” he continued.
“He’s doing a great job so far at training. I think all the players have so I’m not singling him out.”
“Does that mean he’ll be in the squad? No, that doesn’t mean he’ll be in the squad because there are 26 players that are really fighting for positions to play; to be an impact player ready to come on and that’s what you want.”
Marco Tilio has been back on the field for almost two months after spending the same amount of time rehabilitating a hamstring injury at Melbourne City.
Tilio, like Arzani, is also able to break a game open in a flash. They’re two players who could be more valuable than they appear as bench options in an extended 26-player squad.
THE STRIKEFORCE
Kusini Yengi, ordinarily, would be the favourite for the starting striker role, especially in a squad without the long serving Mitch Duke.
However, he only returned to action with Championship side Portsmouth in late February after injuring his knee against Bahrain in November.
The former Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers frontman has a superb goals-to-games ratio for the Socceroos with six in 12 but has only played 96 minutes in three months. 68 of those minutes came against Preston at the weekend before a flight that took him halfway around the world. It is a physiotherapists worst nightmare. To start him would undoubtedly be somewhat of a risk.
“He’s looked good,” Popovic said when asked about the fitness of the giant striker after his arrival from England.
“Obviously you can’t replicate the game time, but we know what Kusini can give us.”
Brandon Borrello is fresh off scoring for the Wanderers against the Victory at the weekend – breaking a run of nine games without a goal. His commitment to pressuring opposition defenses without the ball is unmatched of all the options available and in-front of a near sold out Sydney Football Stadium that must surely come into Popovic’s thinking.
Adam Taggart is the third out-and-out striker in the squad. At 31, he’s in form with seven goals in the A-League this season. Five of those have come in his last 11-games.
He possesses the composure in-front of goal the team has been lacking. Chance conversion must be part of the equation. Who to play at striker could be the toughest call of all.
Popovic named an extended squad of 26 on Friday. He has until 90-minutes prior to kick off against Indonesia to trim that to 23.
“We know the magnitude of the games and how important they are,” he said.
“We know what the expectations and pressures are of playing for the Socceroos and representing our country, but from what I’ve seen the players are embracing that.”
AFC World Cup Qualifying Third Round
Australia vs Indonesia
Thursday March 20, 8:10pm AEDT at Sydney Football Stadium
There’ll be a big crowd sat around Jason Davidson’s television back home in Greece when the Socceroos take on Indonesia in a must win World Cup qualifier in Sydney on Thursday thanks to a travel plan twist that not even his father, Australian footballing royalty Alan, it seems anticipated.
“Unfortunately, my parents were actually coming over to Greece,” Jason says with a smile at the team hotel in the harbour city.
Alan played 76 matches for Australia between 1980 and 1991 and was inducted into the Australian football Hall of Fame in 2001.
“They’d already planned the trip, so they won’t be there, but I’m sure they’ll be supporting through the TV,” he explained.
Also gathered around the box eagerly anticipating the 33-year-old’s return to the international stage will be Jason’s wife and two kids.
“They wanted the two weeks off school. They wanted to come here (to Australia) and then China, but unfortunately, they can’t take too much days off school.”
Davidson’s last appearance for the Socceroos was over one-thousand days ago: a friendly against Jordan in mid-2022. Prior to that the gap between games was almost seven years. A hamstring injury to Jordy Bos opened the door for Tony Popovic to end the exile.
Jason Davidson of Australia on the ball during the International Friendly match between Jordan and Australia Socceroos at Al Janoub Stadium on June 01, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Everyone has a different opinion about players,” Davidson says.
“I thought, playing in Belgium at the time, I was doing as much as I could but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“Everyone wants to go out there and is hoping for an opportunity and it’s your responsibility as a player to go out there and take it.”
If it happens – he’s locked in a battle with squad mainstay Aziz Behich for a starting spot – you can bet, he will do just that.
Playing in the Greek Super League with Panserraikos has been eye opening, but a potentially useful training tool for performing under pressure.
“Let’s say, more hostile environments. I know we have a bit more rules and regulations here in Australia. Over there it’s a bit more cagey.”
Popovic is without six regular starters and made 10 changes to his squad from the last window in November.
“That’s the nature of the game,” midfielder Jackson Irvine says.
“We know we’re capable of filling those spots with strength and depth.
“Of course you want to have everybody here that’s possible. The reality for most teams is that is never going to be the situation.”
Taggart ready for Socceroos WC qualifier | 02:01
Almost every match Irvine plays at the moment is like a final.
At FC St. Pauli, where he is captain, they’re fighting to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga after being promoted last season. It’s just as tense for the Socceroos.
Australia sits in second spot in group C ahead of the game against Indonesia with China to follow in Hangzhou on Tuesday night (AEDT).
A spot at the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico will be sealed if they can maintain that place through those fixtures and matches in June against Japan in Perth and Saudi Arabia away. The chasing pack from third to sixth are just one point behind. Even a minor slip-up could have big ramifications.
“Of course, every game is important, and every game is massive,” said Irvine.
“It’s brilliant to be a part of that for both club and country – high pressure, high stakes – that’s what you want as a player.”
A near sold out crowd will be on hand at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Socceroos haven’t played at the venue since 2017. It was a special occasion for Irvine who scored his maiden international goal in a 2-0 win over UAE.
Tottenham have reportedly identified two candidates to replace manager Ange Postecoglou should the club decide to part ways with the Australian this season.
The 59-year-old, currently in his second year in charge of Spurs, has come under scrutiny following a disappointing campaign as the injury-riddled club slipped to 14th on the Premier League standings.
Tottenham’s hopes of lifting any silverware this season rests on the Europa League, with Spurs defeating AZ Alkmaar last week to qualify for the tournament’s quarter-finals.
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Following Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage, Postecoglou drew criticism for his decision to start Wilson Odobert and James Maddison, the goal-scorers from last week’s 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar, on the bench alongside Lucas Bergvall.
“A disappointing outcome obviously. A tight game, it was always going to be a tight game, there wasn’t really much in it,” Postecoglou said during the post-match press conference.
“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.”
Tottenham Manager Ange Postecoglou. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Telegraph has since reported that Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraol have been flagged as contenders to take charge of Tottenham should the club decide to sack Postecoglou.
According to the report, Iraola “would be interested” if offered the role, although he is currently contracted to Bournemouth until 2026.
Sources also reportedly told talkSPORT that Iraola was Levy’s top target.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou was filmed in yet another tense altercation with a supporter following the loss to Fulham, with the patron repeatedly yelling “What was that?”.
In response, the Australian told him to “behave” as French recruit Mathys Tel pushed him away.
It’s the latest in a series of heated confrontations that Postecoglou has had with fans since the end of last season.
Tottenham will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals, with the first-leg clash getting underway on April 11.
South African sprinting prodigy Bayanda Walaza became just the ninth South African to dip below the 10-second mark in the 100m on his way to being crowned Gauteng champion on Saturday.
Listen to this article 4 min Listen to this article 4 min Bayanda Walaza left Gift Leotlela (10.17 seconds) and Emile Erasmus (10.26 seconds) in his wake on the way to rewriting 100m history at the Athletics Gauteng North championships, which took place at Pretoria’s Pilditch Stadium on Friday and Saturday, 14-15 March.
The standout moment came from Walaza after the 19-year-old ran a blistering personal best time of 9.99 seconds to clinch gold in the 100m dash. With the victory Walaza became just the ninth South African to run a time of under 10 seconds in the distance. The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student is also the first junior from South Africa to manage the feat.
Walaza’s time is a world lead for 2025, although the season is still in its infancy and the mark will likely be toppled. Nevertheless, it’s just another instance of the young athlete displaying his potential to become South Africa’s greatest sprinter.
Walaza’s unorthodox running style has seen him draw comparisons to a galloping horse, and even a windmill, when he is in full stride.
“That is his survival mechanism,” Walaza’s coach, Thabo Matebedi, told Sunday Times of the starlet’s running style during…
The Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge held in George, South Africa on Saturday saw Namibian paralympic athlete Gabriel Ngishililwa clinching a well-deserved silver medal in the handcycling race.
His fellow athletes, Lucas Ndahangwapo and Nicco Kharuxab, also delivered impressive performances, finishing 5th and 6th in the highly-competitive race.
The event, which drew nearly 600 para-athletes, saw participants from across the African continent, including the host nation South Africa, as well as Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Botswana competing.
Despite dealing with personal health challenges, Namibian wheelchair racer Roodly Gowaseb bravely took on the demanding 42.2-kilometre race. “I wanted to participate despite not feeling well because that’s what I came to do,” Gowaseb said.
In the men’s 42.2 km marathon, South Africa’s Stuart McCreadie triumphed with a dominant victory.
Mitch Dewaldt, from the Namibia Paralympic Committee, reflected on the challenges faced by the country’s athletes, particularly those from Oshakati, who did not have access to proper handcycles for their training. Despite these obstacles, their remarkable performances in the race spoke volumes about their dedication and spirit.
“Their achievements are a testament to their determination, especially given the circumstances,” Dewaldt remarked.
He also expressed deep gratitude to the sponsors who helped make the athletes’ participation possible, with a special mention to Inclusive Cycling for their generous donation of handcycles to the Wheel-Ability Sports Club.
“Your support is invaluable in helping our athletes reach their potential,” Dewaldt said.
He stressed the importance of these partnerships, not just for the athletes, but for the community as a whole, highlighting how such support fosters motivation and inspiration.
Dewaldt went on to stress that sponsoring sports for differently-abled individuals is far more than an act of kindness; it is a commitment to inclusivity, empowerment and national pride. “Namibia stands as a beacon of hope, proving that every individual, regardless of physical limitations, deserves the opportunity to shine in sports.
“By supporting these athletes, organisations are playing a vital role in breaking barriers, inspiring confidence, and building a more inclusive society,” he continued. -lmupetami@nepc.com.na
If Adam Taggart’s next appearance in a Socceroos shirt at home is as fruitful as his last the national team would’ve gone a long way to navigating a crucial stage of this World Cup qualifying campaign as they prepare to face Indonesia in Sydney on Thursday night and China in Hangzhou on Tuesday night in two must-win matches.
“I actually didn’t get to experience too many home games for the Socceroos,” Taggart says.
“Most of them were away.”
The 21-cap Socceroo has been involved in seven international matches at home but graced the pitch just three times. His last appearance on Australian soil was during a second-round qualifier against Palestine in Perth. The West Australian started, scored and set up another.
“Knowing what’s on the line, and having our home fans behind us in a massive game is a great way to start this camp,” he said.
Adam Taggart of Australia celebrates a goal during with Martin Boyle the Second Round FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Palestine at HBF Park on June 11, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Taggart hadn’t featured for the Socceroos since Tony Popovic took over as coach, but there’s few strikers anywhere in the world right now finding the back of the net with more regularity than the Perth Glory front man. He’s scored five goals in his last 11 A-League games.
“Grateful to be here, grateful for the opportunity. I’ll look to give as much as I can to the team,” the striker said.
Taggart, Portsmouth’s Kusini Yengi and Brandon Borrello from the Western Sydney Wanderers will all be fighting for the one starting spot up front in Popovic’s system.
All three have a genuine chance of starting.
Yengi has the added hurdle of having to fly halfway around the world from the UK after only recently returning from a knee injury suffered in the Socceroos last game against Bahrain in November. Borrello brings an enormous work rate to the table and broke a run of nine games without a goal in Western Sydney’s 4-2 win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Zack Nelson of Luton Town Football Club and Kusini Yengi Portsmouth Football Club with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu of Luton Town Football Club during the Sky Bet Championship match between Luton Town FC and Portsmouth FC at Kenilworth Road on March 01, 2025 in Luton, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’ll always put my hand up,” Taggart says of the battle to be the starting striker.
“Any team, in any situation, I always want to be a starter and help the team as much as I can.”
“I’m always trying to set high standards and I feel I can always contribute with goals.”
A host of young forwards across the globe are beginning to apply serious pressure to the established candidates.
Mohamed Toure has eight goals and four assists from 23-games in all competitions for Randers in Denmark while Western United’s Noah Botic leads the race for the golden boot in the A-League after slotting his 11th of the campaign in a 6-2 hammering of Newcastle on Sunday.
“It’s been a difficult position for the Socceroos for a long time now. It’s great to see a few of the young boys in the A-League and abroad starting to score goals and doing that regularly,” Taggart said,
“I know how difficult it is to break through as a young boy and get that consistency in front of goal.”
Taggart, asked specifically about 23-year-old Botic, who many tipped to receive his maiden Socceroos call-up for this window, offered the following advice.
“It’s a tough one for anyone who is doing well and wants the opportunity. He looks like a natural scorer and has a good mentality.
“He’s in a great place to continue that development. All I’d say is to keep going, don’t stop. The form that he’s in it’s important to try and maintain that for a long period of time.”
Botic wasn’t the only one wondering why his phone didn’t ring before the squad was unveiled on Friday.
Wanderers winger Nicolas Milanovic is the equal second top scorer in the A-League with nine goals from 19-games and Sydney FC’s Adrian Segecic has eight from 18-games.
Instead, Melbourne Victory’s Daniel Arzani got the nod despite being told by Popovic that his effort during his last stint with the national team in October “wasn’t good enough” and that his “level was really poor in training.”
Young Socceroos win U20 Asian Cup! | 00:59
A bit of Arzani magic could be the difference though between success and failure in the high stakes qualification dance the Socceroos have found themselves in, but the player once dubbed “the next big thing in Australian football” is unlikely to get his chance unless he can impress in training. It’s a situation Taggart and the other experienced heads in camp will be keeping an eye on.
“When you come into the national team you want to make sure we keep standards as high as possible. Being a bit older there’s probably more of an emphasis to make sure we push those standards,” he said.
In contrast to the wealth of attacking options, an injury crisis at the back that has claimed Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati, Hayden Matthews and Jordy Bos opened the door for Melbourne City’s Kai Trewin.
“To be honest I didn’t really know I had much of a shot,” was his honest assessment.
The stage doesn’t get more tense for an uncapped 23-year-old to make his debut if it happens.
The Socceroos sit in second spot in group C ahead of the games against Indonesia and China.
Win both and they take a giant stride towards automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico. Lose and the margin of error gets paper thin with games against Japan and Saudi Arabia to round out the third round in June.
“I feel like I can step up to the plate,” Trewin said.
“I have a lot of confidence in my own ability and under pressure I feel like I’ll definitely be fine.”
