Popovic on his second Socceroos squad: They all have an ...

After naming an extended squad for the November window, Subway Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic has provided his thoughts on the new additions, upcoming games and his first few months in charge.

Popovic’s second Australia squad saw three maiden call-ups and could see four debutants, with Max Balard, Anthony Caceres, Hayden Matthews and Paul Izzo potentially playing their first minutes in the Green and Gold.

The Socceroos will take on Saudi Arabia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Thursday, November 14 at 8:00pm AEDT, before facing Bahrain away from home on Wednesday, November 20 (5:15am AEDT).

Here’s what he had to say when he faced the press earlier today.

On Max Balard’s selection

We always knew he had great potential and he did a wonderful job at Central Coast Mariners, but it's another step up when you go to Europe. He's playing regularly, he's a young player. He's had some very good performances this year. We've been monitoring him prior to last camp, but I think in the last month, his game’s become even more consistent, more balanced in his play with and without the ball, and one that gets an opportunity in this camp.

On Rhyan Grant returning to the squad

I think Rhyan Grant plays a position on the right side where we don't have enough or a lot of experience in that area. I've known him for a very long time, from way back when I was at Sydney FC and watching him come through, and he's had a wonderful career with Sydney FC and the Socceroos, and I don't believe that the doors close for anyone, whether they are young or whether they are an experienced player. So this is an opportunity for him.

On Anthony Caceres’ call-up

Caceres has been a player that I've admired for a very long time, and I think he's doing a wonderful job with Uffy [Ufuk Talay] at the moment, playing great football, and he deserves his chance. I think every coach has their ideas, and this is his chance now. You've just got to look at it in that way and regardless of age, they all have an opportunity to impress the new coaching staff. He's there because he deserves an opportunity to come in for us, to see him, observe him. And once you're in camp, you have a chance to play. So, whether it's Hayden Matthews at 20 years old, or Caceres or Rhyan Grant, they're not selected to just make up the numbers. They're here to impress, to train well, and if given an opportunity, to play with that honour of representing your country.

Tweet: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1854681490602574313 On taking on Saudi Arabia

They’re very technical, with some wonderful individuals in terms of their talent. That hasn't changed from the World Cup. We've seen some games of their World Cup under, obviously the coach - the new coach they have now, who they had at that time [Hervé Renard]. They had some good matches with [Roberto] Mancini and were probably unlucky, missing some penalties - that happens. We feel they'll be full of energy and obviously, with the change that they've had, they're very comfortable with this coach. They had him for three or four years, I believe, as a coach. So we expect the morale to be very high, energy, enthusiasm. So we expect a really tough game, but we're also hoping to improve on our last performance, our last two performances. And here at home, we're really determined to get those three points.

On his start as Socceroos head coach

I’ve learned a lot, actually. It was a bit of a whirlwind, the start, but also very enjoyable and very exciting to be in this role, and the challenge that we had with the first two games and the changes we tried to implement, that feels like it was only yesterday. So it's still very early in terms of our journey and where we believe we can get the Socceroos to. But also, on the other hand, that doesn't diminish the expectation that we have, and the expectation that we want, of the wonderful crowd that will be here in Melbourne, and hopefully they'll really get behind us, create some great noise. And expect the Socceroos to win and expect them to play well. So, we feel that, and we don't want to shy away from that expectation.

On Brandon Borrello and Kusini Yengi rejoining the squad

Brandon obviously didn't get a lot of minutes in pre-season, they [Western Sydney Wanderers] didn't go far in the Australia Cup, so it was very hard to judge his level. So, it's a chance to look at Brandon and I'm sure in March, there will be other players that we'll look at. And if players are playing well, regardless of the results, they'll get an opportunity.

Kusini [Yengi] was very close, we had him initially in the squad [in October], but then he was injured, so we didn't select him. So I'm interested to see where he's at. He's been playing quite regularly in the last three weeks. He's got a couple of starts and one off the bench. 

On Martin Boyle’s return after injury

Like the other players that have come in for us for the first time, we'll get to see him, a chance for him to work with a new coaching staff. But in the last month, he's played a lot of football. They've had a lot of midweek games as well, so he's been backing up. He had a wrist injury, so it wasn't a leg injury that stopped him from maintaining his fitness. I can still remember how many great games he played for the Socceroos not so long ago, so he deserves an opportunity now that he's fit to show us what he can do.

On building a foundation after a positive start

I probably use both games in terms of performance for what lies ahead and what we can do now. Firstly, against Saudi Arabia, we really are trying to build a foundation in what we're trying to do, in the playing style we're trying to create. That is not nailed down after one camp. So we really need to cement that foundation and try and add a couple of layers to our game, and try and improve a few areas in this short space of time. Then, hopefully we can get the results that match that and then move on to March and try and add a few more little layers. And we anticipate by June, we may have a clearer picture of the squad that we really believe or the numbers that we believe can take us forward. 

On Nestory Irankunda not making the squad

It's just a selection decision. We know he's a young, young man with a lot of potential who's signed with one of the biggest clubs in the world. We just feel it's an opportunity for him to settle in at Bayern [Munich], get the development that he needs there and the growth and just settle into a new culture, new country, new language. And hopefully, this will help him grow and settle. We really see this potential moving forward from him in the national team in years to come.

On Alex Robertson making himself unavailable for selection

That sits in his hands now. If he wants to play for the Socceroos, he needs to make himself available. It's Alex’s decision on what he wants to do. So, if he wants to make himself available for the Socceroos, then we can look at whether we select him, but at the moment, we don't have that option.

Match Details

Subway Socceroos v Saudi ArabiaThursday, 14 November 2024Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, MelbourneKick-off: 8:00pm AEDTBroadcast: 10, 10 Play and Paramount+

Bahrain v Subway SocceroosTuesday 19 November 2024 Bahrain National Stadium, RiffaKick-off: 9.15pm local (5.15am AEDT – Wednesday, 20 November)Broadcast: Paramount+