Soccer-Popovic needs win over ‘greatest workforce in Asia’ in quest for World Cup berth

Jun 01, 2025 01:38 PM IST
SOCCER-AUSTRALIA/:Soccer-Popovic needs win over ‘greatest workforce
June 1 – Australia coach Tony Popovic is eyeing victory over Japan on Thursday to not solely enhance his aspect’s World Cup qualification hopes however additional enhance the Socceroos’ prospects of changing into the strongest workforce within the Asian confederation.
The Australians face Hajime Moriyasu’s much-changed squad in Perth figuring out a win would take them to the verge of securing a ticket for subsequent yr’s 48-team finals in North America as runners-up in Group C behind the already-qualified Japanese.
“A win is one thing that we’re pushing in direction of,” mentioned Popovic, who led his workforce to a 1-1 draw when the perimeters final met in October.
“We really feel assured we are able to present an improved efficiency from what we did in Japan, albeit that was an excellent one.
“We’ll must be at our greatest to beat the most effective workforce in Asia. That is the place we need to get to and to be the most effective we’ve got to beat the most effective they usually clearly are.”
The Japanese confirmed their ticket for the finals in March and, because of this, head coach Moriyasu has named a squad that includes eight uncapped gamers for the journey to Perth.
Whereas Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Actual Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo have been included within the 27-player line, the Japanese are lacking key gamers corresponding to Kaoru Mitoma, Hidemasa Morita and Ayase Ueda.
Australia go into the sport in second place within the group, three factors forward of Saudi Arabia with two video games remaining, though Popovic can be with out goal-scoring midfielder Jackson Irvine, who’s sidelined after foot surgical procedure.
“It isn’t their greatest squad, I’m wondering what that may seem like as a result of once we performed them in Japan they’d their beginning 11 all taking part in in Europe,” Popovic mentioned.
“We will see that they’ve a mix of J-League gamers and European based mostly gamers of their squad. We’ve not crushed them usually and I am certain they will be sturdy no matter who they play.”
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