Expectations mount as Socceroos look to break down Indonesian defence
Tony Popovic is confident that his side has the range of profiles required to break down Indonesia's defence in their World Cup qualifier and wants Australian fans to expect good things.
Tony Popovic is confident that the Socceroos’ have sufficient biodiversity in their attacking cattle to break down a stubborn Indonesian defence in Thursday evening’s FIFA World Cup qualifier. And while he’s quick to make clear that he’s not overlooking or underestimating the Indonesians, the Australian coach wants Australian fans attending the game to expect their side to win – because he wants that to be the base expectation for every game the national team plays.
Sitting second in Group C heading into the penultimate round of fixtures in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Socceroos find themselves in an awkward position.
On the one hand, they are best-placed of any nation not named Japan to secure automatic progression to North America, the first time that they wouldn’t have had to go through the playoff route since 2014. On the other, with a trailing pack of four nations just a point back of them, there also exists a not-insignificant risk that a run of adverse results could consign them to a further phase of qualifiers or, should they fall into the group’s bottom two, be eliminated from qualification entirely.
Wins in coming fixtures against Indonesia and China, thus, are vital if the Australians are to put themselves in a strong position heading into the final round of fixtures in June, when they will face off with Japan in Perth before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
And while plenty of preparation and respect has been paid to an opponent that held the Socceroos to a 0-0 draw in their previous meeting in Jakarta and whom defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in November, Popovic wants the Australian public to carry that expectation of success and quality football into this and every fixture his side plays, as well as for his players to feel that.
“We drew with them away and the group is very tight, so there is no reason to underestimate Indonesia,” said Popovic. “Their last result against Saudi Arabia proves that. So [overlooking and underestimating Indonesia is] not happening, that hasn't crossed our minds.
“But the expectation of the Australian public, that's what it should be. They should expect their national team to produce, to play good football. And I expect every Australian to get behind the team tomorrow, which is what we wan, and we know that that'll help us.”
The defining feature of Australia’s previous clash with Indonesia, which proved to be Graham Arnold’s last in charge before he resigned, was defined by what had become a familiar theme under the previous Australian coach: lots of possession, plenty of territory, but little end product to capitalise on this.
Admittedly, much has changed since then. Not only is Arnold gone but so is Shin Tae-Young for Indonesia, sacked after a disappointing AFF Championship late last year and replaced by Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert.
There’s been plenty of turnover in squads, too, with 12 members of Australia’s matchday squad from October – half of them starters -- absent due to injury or selection decisions, the likes of Harry Souttar, Nestory Irankunda, and Alessandro Circati. In their place have come players such as Daniel Arzani, Anthony Caceres, Jason Geria, Alex Grant, Nishan Velupillay, and Kusini Yengi – who missed the last clash through suspension.
Kluivert, meanwhile, has continued the process of naturalisation under Shin to introduce further members of the Indo diaspora into his squad.
Nevertheless, the prevailing theory is that Australia will be required to break down a reactive Indonesian defence to win the game. And while you’d hardly expect him to say otherwise, Popovic is off the belief his squad has a range of profiles that can be brought to bear on this task.
“I think we have a variety of profiles,” said the coach. “It's more [about] what type of player we want to play to begin the game and a player that would maybe come on in the match.
“We have a mixture of players that are very dynamic, running behind, creative between lines, lot of power, holding the ball up. We have a real mix.
“We know what we will do, and we'll show you that tomorrow.”
Milos Degenek, Kye Rowles, and Paul Izzo the last players to arrive in camp on Tuesday, the Socceroos have benefited from having a large proportion of their squad on hand for at least two sessions heading into Thursday’s fixture, a rare luxury for the first game of a window.
Further, Popovic said that none of the players had presented with fitness concerns that could threaten their involvement against Indonesia, giving him a full contingent to choose from as he looks to cut down his 26-player squad to the 23 that will be named on the teamsheet.
Header Image Credit: Socceroos/Football Australia