After snatching a rare draw in Japan, the Socceroos will charge into their crunch World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia high on confidence.
But after going without a shot on target in Tuesday night’s 1-1 tie at Saitama Stadium, coach Tony Popovic concedes there is work to do in attack.
Australia took the lead through a horror own goal by Shogo Tanaguchi in the 58th minute, but conceded when Cam Burgess turned the ball into his own net 18 minutes later.
The draw, combined with last Thursday’s 3-1 win over China in Adelaide, means Popovic takes four of a possible six points from his first window.
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“This window has been good for us,” Popovic said.
“It’s always nice when you have a change – coaching change, staff change.
“We won the first game at home – after (we were) losing 1-0 we won 3-1 They’re the first goals we have scored.
“Then we come to Japan. Excellent team … we score a goal against them, it’s the first goal they’ve conceded. So it’s positive.”
Australia and the Saudis are jostling for one of two direct qualification berths, magnifying the importance of their November 14 clash at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
Australia (five points) sat second behind Japan (10 points) in group C, ahead on goal difference of both the Saudis and Bahrain who drew 0-0 in Jeddah on Wednesday morning.
Two points further adrift are China and Indonesia after the former won the match between the pair in Qingdao.
“Every game is difficult, every game is important, and Saudi Arabia will be the same,” Popovic said.
“It’s our home game. We want everyone to get behind us.
“To create this type of atmosphere in Melbourne will be special, and I hope and pray that they can help us, support us, to help us get an important three points against Saudi and then obviously we move on.”
Popovic was delighted with his team’s “very resolute” defensive display against a Japan outfit that scored 14 goals in their first three games.
Harry Souttar wins a header. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
The back three of Burgess, Harry Souttar and the sublime Jason Geria – plus wingbacks Jordy Bos and Lewis Miller – shone.
“We can do much better with the ball, and that’s the goal for us to move forward and keep working on that aspect of our game,” Popovic said.
“But without that desire, without that will to win, you start off without a chance.”
Chances were few and far between against the Samurai Blue.
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Finding goals will only get harder with talisman Craig Goodwin unavailable against the Saudis after picking up his second yellow card on Tuesday.
“That’s an area we have to improve. Three other sides have had that same problem against Japan, and conceded 14 goals,” Popovic said.
“We have to improve on all areas. It’s not just creativity.
“We have to improve all over the park because we are aspiring to be challenging Japan, challenging them regularly as the best team in Asia. So to do that, we we know we have to improve.
“But if you look at just today, that’s a fantastic display, brilliant display today and hopefully that gives players confidence moving forward, that we’re building a foundation, and hopefully next camp in November, we can add some more layers to our football.”
Newshttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/10/16/socceroos-growing-in-confidence-under-popa-as-huge-clash-with-saudi-arabia-looms/‘Hope and pray they help us’: Popa relying on ‘special’ X-factor for crunch Saudi clash
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