Tony Popovic has landed an extension to coach the Socceroos into 2027 with Football Australia confirming the news before the team even kicks a ball at the World Cup.
In a surprising development, Football Australia won’t wait to see how the nation fares at the blockbuster tournament, instead using the Socceroos’ lead-up to their opening game against Turkiye (Sunday 2pm) to re-sign Popovic.
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“I’m delighted that I will continue to coach the Socceroos through to the AFC Asian Cup 2027,” Popovic said via a statement.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the Socceroos, and it is a role that I thoroughly enjoy and one I have never taken for granted.
“My absolute focus right now is on the FIFA World Cup 2026. I’m proud to lead my country into a World Cup, but most importantly, I want to ensure that our team is fully prepared and focused on our group matches against Türkiye, the United States, and Paraguay.
“From the moment I took over, I have tried to factor in the long-term interests of the Socceroos while ensuring that we achieve the short-term results, which in the first instance was qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Popovic has claimed 10 wins and four draws in his 18-game reign as Socceroos head coach, while this week he becomes the first man to represent Australia at the World Cup as both a player and coach.
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Football Australia chief Martin Kugeler said in the statement that confirming Popovic’s extension before the tournament was a “fantastic outcome”.
He said that the need for stability was “ vital” with the Asian Cup fast-approaching next year.
He added: “Tony is a world-class coach, and he has proven his ability to deliver results while developing talent at the same time.
“Tony’s positive impact on the Socceroos and Football Australia has been clear, from securing direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 12 years, to building out the depth of the squad and laying the foundations for future success. We can see the growing excitement among Socceroos fans.
“While the immediate focus is on the FIFA World Cup 2026, this extension provides clarity and enables Football Australia to plan with absolute confidence for the period following the tournament, leading into the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.”
AUSSIE STAR CAGEY OVER STRIKER’S SICKNESS SCARE
A sick Mohamed Toure has been kept away from his Socceroos teammates ahead of Australia’s FIFA World Cup opener against Turkiye in Vancouver on Sunday.
The Norwich City striker was absent from the Socceroos’ training session in Oakland on Thursday (AEST).
Sources close to Toure have revealed that the 22-year-old marksman was ill, and the decision was made to isolate him from his teammates.
However, Toure – who looms as the Socceroos’ first-choice option at centre-forward – was expected to return to training on Friday (AEST).
“We have other players as well that can also play striker, but to have Mo is really nice for us,” Socceroos star Jordan Bos said.
“He’s a big asset for us, He’s been doing really well at his new club. He’s scoring goals and his power – everything about him – is great.”
Options to replace Toure include fellow striker Tete Yengi, who scored for Australia in last Sunday’s 1-1 World Cup warm-up draw with Switzerland, while wingers Nishan Velupillay and Nestory Irankunda could also be used in the central attacking role.
Socceroos defender Milos Degenek told reporters that they would “see” Toure “tomorrow”.
“I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to speak to you guys,” Degenek said.
Degenek was in a fighting mood ahead of Sunday’s Group D battle.
“My mentality has always been the same – there’s no stopping,” he said.
“I’d run through a wall for the boys, I’d run through a wall for this country. I have got no handbrakes in that regard.”
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Degenek was confident the Socceroos would start Sunday’s clash in a much better manner after sluggish first-half performances against Switzerland and the previous week’s 1-0 loss to Mexico.
“I’m sure with our mentality, with the way we want to play and the World Cup starting … it’s going to be a bit of a different game,” he said.
“It’s not going to be like one of the friendlies where we can see what happens, see how we get into the game and then second-half we pick it up, or after the breaks, we pick it up.
“We need to start a little bit stronger. We need to start a bit more, I’d say, aggressive and on the front foot and finish the game as we finished the last two games – a lot more positive, a lot stronger, with a little bit of oomph.”
Degenek tipped the Socceroos to be the World Cup’s “fittest” teams.
“The boys are raring to go in terms of that and I’m not afraid that we’re not going to be fit. I’m sure our fitness and our running levels are going to be second to none.”