{"id":169109,"date":"2025-03-20T21:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T21:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/20\/poppa-masterstroke-as-exiled-star-fires-wake-up-call-behind-forgotten-prodigys-return-talking-pts\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T21:26:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T21:26:00","slug":"poppa-masterstroke-as-exiled-star-fires-wake-up-call-behind-forgotten-prodigys-return-talking-pts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/20\/poppa-masterstroke-as-exiled-star-fires-wake-up-call-behind-forgotten-prodigys-return-talking-pts\/","title":{"rendered":"Poppa masterstroke as exiled star fires; wake-up call behind forgotten prodigy\u2019s return: Talking Pts"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

The Socceroos might\u2019ve finished 5-1 winners against Indonesia <\/a>in their crucial World Cup qualifier in Sydney and taken a giant step towards automatic qualification for next year\u2019s World Cup in North America, but coach Tony Popovic made it clear there\u2019s still plenty of room for his side to improve describing the performance as \u201csolid but it wasn\u2019t great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The mental resilience the side showed to escape unscathed \u2013 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\u2019s goal difference column too and that could be one less thing to worry about come the final matchday of round three in June.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t all good news though with Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart coming off at halftime. Popovic revealing post-game that both have fitness concerns.<\/p>\n

OMINOUS SIGN BEFORE A BALL WAS KICKED<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/amp-img><\/amp-iframe><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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,<\/p>\n

look or feel like a Socceroos home game until the goals started flying in.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, the Team Garuda faithful were still chanting at 5-1 down in the second half.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s part of football and it\u2019s what we love about it, that teams can come away from home and bring that energy and atmosphere,\u201d midfielder Jackson Irvine said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

A TALE OF TWO PENALTIES<\/b><\/p>\n

Perspective is in the eye of what colour jersey you were wearing.<\/p>\n

The decision to award Indonesia a penalty in the seventh minute after the Brisbane Roar\u2019s Rafael Struick was ruled to have been fouled by the recalled Kye Rowles was<\/p>\n

contentious through an Australians lens, but while it was on the softer side it was the right call.<\/p>\n

Kevin Diks dulled the debate by hitting the woodwork. A sprawling Mat Ryan guessed the right way in any case and might\u2019ve saved it.<\/p>\n

Indonesia coach Patrick Kluivert, in his first match in charge, believed his side struggled to shrug off that setback.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you shoot the penalty in it would be a totally different match of course,\u201d Kluivert said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom that moment we changed something in our minds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a grip of the game. I think that we played better than Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you score 1-0, I\u2019m sure it will be a totally different game.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the hardest I\u2019ve been pressed in a home game in a long time,\u201d Irvine said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was absolutely no time on the ball in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce we broke that pressure it looked like we were going to score every time we went through.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\n

3-0! Socceroos dominant first half surge | 01:31<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

POPPA PULLS THE RIGHT SELECTION CALLS<\/b><\/p>\n

This was not an easy squad to pick.<\/p>\n

Six regular starters were missing through injury and Popovic had key calls to make when it came to his starting wingers and striker.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Boyle\u2019s pass found Taggart whose lunging effort resulted in Velupillay being able to run onto the ball and calmly slot Australia\u2019s second.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a special moment for the boy,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cStarting your first game, pressure, a stadium that\u2019s full. It doesn\u2019t come bigger than that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he looks back, he should be really proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

assists in 36 games for Hibernian in Scotland made a compelling case for selection.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t even been picked in a squad by Popovic yet before this window.<\/p>\n

For a goal that released the pressure valve in this campaign to be created by two players who\u2019d never featured under this manager and scored by one still not quite at<\/p>\n

top form domestically must be applauded.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cthere could be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey both had a bit of a niggle, maybe Adam a little bit more than Martin Boyle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam was definitely coming off and Martin was a bit of a precaution.\u201d<\/p>\n

IRVINE GOAL A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT<\/b><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

ground where he scored his first ever for Australia in 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a personal point of view a special night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never take it for granted being here and I haven\u2019t played in this stadium since that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE RETURN OF DANIEL ARZANI<\/b><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

against Bangladesh in June last year.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

All of this after Popovic told Arzani his effort in camp during the October international window last year \u201cwasn\u2019t good enough\u201d and that his \u201clevel was really poor in<\/p>\n

training.\u201d<\/p>\n

It appears to have been the wake-up call the 26-year-old \u2013 once dubbed the next big thing in Australian football \u2013 needed.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It was an impressive response from a player who can only enhance the fortunes of himself and his country with similar application.<\/p>\n

<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\n

Socceroos calm ahead of crucial clashes | 01:56<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

STATE OF THE PITCH<\/b><\/p>\n

There\u2019d been concerns about the state of the Sydney Football Stadium pitch in the days prior to kick-off and those fears weren\u2019t alleviated once the game got underway.<\/p>\n

Several players lost their footing or looked unsure on the ball. It was not ideal and hampered the fluidity of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cTough pitch for the players,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

MAT RYAN BACK TO HIS BEST ON AN HISTORIC NIGHT<\/b><\/p>\n

Lost in the euphoria of scoring five goals was the three incredible saves Mat Ryan pulled off between the sticks.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

behind Mark Schwarzer with 109 and Tim Cahill on 108 appearances, Ryan was immense.<\/p>\n

He stopped Jay Idzes\u2019 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<\/p>\n

in the 84th minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to say I\u2019m not surprised after seeing him when he came into camp,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a different demeanour and that comes from playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see he\u2019s full of confidence and he showed that when he came in. He was a real presence around the group and tonight he stood tall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fact the captain was dropped to the bench for the first three games of Popovic\u2019s tenure now seems a distant memory. His move to Lens in France from Roma in Italy<\/p>\n

has been a masterstroke.<\/p>\n

<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\n

Davidson hoping to re-ignite Roos career | 02:26<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AT THE BACK<\/b><\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s backline was hardest hit by the current run of injuries between November and March.<\/p>\n

Popovic picked Lewis Miller, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles and Aziz Behich.<\/p>\n

Geria, Burgess and Rowles formed the central trio of that combination, and the coach made it clear there was plenty to work on. Indonesia\u2019s goal was well taken, but the lead-up was scrappy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal they scored probably summarised how we defended,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t create, we gave them chances, we gave them the penalty, we gave them the goal as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefensively we weren\u2019t great, we were a little bit on edge, a little bit sloppy in our defending.\u201d<\/p>\n

WHERE ARE THE SOCCEROOS AT WITH PROJECT POPPA AND WHAT\u2019S NEXT?<\/b><\/p>\n

Project Poppa is progressing, but it\u2019s far from the finished article. That\u2019s not a bad thing, but just the reality of only being in the job for six-months.<\/p>\n

\u201cI aim quite high,\u201d Popovic said with a smile when asked how far along the side is when it comes to implementing his game style.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not where we want to be, but that\u2019s not a negative that\u2019s a positive. They\u2019ve taken strides forward and it\u2019s not easy to do what they did tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Popovic pointed to decision making as an area that needs work.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do we identify quicker what is happening on the field?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat will happen with more games together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt that this camp or this window of the first game is the first time I\u2019ve felt in training and just around the hotel that this group is now starting to build into something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s off to China for their next qualifier on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Australia remains second in group C and in control of its own fate when it comes to securing automatic qualification for next year\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

That goal could be a maximum of three games away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Socceroos might\u2019ve 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\u2019s World Cup in North America, but coach Tony Popovic made it clear there\u2019s still plenty of room for his side to improve describing the performance as \u201csolid but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":169110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[44539,1641,83,1736,7632,11053,8884,342,3747,57673,1635,27880,57680,23781,1567,1429,55760,31022,2655,149,57677,726,4656,12130,57679,4554,5858,6072,57671,57681,8462,10368,2458,57670,20081,48235,57682,20075,5072,15974,11062,1430,862,37424,57676,1626,1427,1728,49951,43320,6120,57674,34912,38482,1944,57675,57678,4465,5043,6058,2457,5015,2389,1019,3166,16930,12783,1465,57672,1847,3150,53445],"class_list":{"0":"post-169109","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-adam-taggart","9":"tag-asia","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","12":"tag-australian-football","13":"tag-automatic-qualification","14":"tag-aziz-behich","15":"tag-bahrain","16":"tag-brisbane-roar","17":"tag-central-trio","18":"tag-china","19":"tag-circle-moment","20":"tag-decibel-reader","21":"tag-dominant-win","22":"tag-eastern-asia","23":"tag-europe","24":"tag-final-matchday","25":"tag-fitness-concerns","26":"tag-fitness-issues","27":"tag-football-news","28":"tag-forgotten-prodigy","29":"tag-france","30":"tag-game-style","31":"tag-giant-step","32":"tag-groin-multiple-times","33":"tag-historic-night","34":"tag-home-game","35":"tag-indonesia","36":"tag-indonesian-fans","37":"tag-indonesian-national-anthem","38":"tag-international-career","39":"tag-international-window","40":"tag-italy","41":"tag-james-tedesco","42":"tag-jason-davidson","43":"tag-jason-geria","44":"tag-kevin-diks","45":"tag-lewis-miller","46":"tag-luke-doherty","47":"tag-mark-schwarzer","48":"tag-martin-boyle","49":"tag-mat-ryan","50":"tag-melbourne","51":"tag-nasty-ankle-injury","52":"tag-needs-work","53":"tag-new-south-wales","54":"tag-northern-europe","55":"tag-oceania","56":"tag-patrick-kluivert","57":"tag-penalty-controversy","58":"tag-perth-glory","59":"tag-pressure-valve","60":"tag-qualifying-clash","61":"tag-real-presence","62":"tag-regular-starters","63":"tag-result-bloats","64":"tag-right-selection-calls","65":"tag-saudi-arabia","66":"tag-scotland","67":"tag-south-eastern-asia","68":"tag-southern-europe","69":"tag-special-moment","70":"tag-special-night","71":"tag-sydney","72":"tag-talking-points","73":"tag-tim-cahill","74":"tag-tony-popovic","75":"tag-victoria","76":"tag-way-chances","77":"tag-western-asia","78":"tag-western-europe","79":"tag-world-cup-qualifying"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169109\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/169110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}