Craig Goodwin of Team Australia attends a press conference prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers match between China and Australia in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Xie Sida/Xinhua)
ADELAIDE, Australia, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Australia's new head coach says he expects determination and desperation from China in Thursday night's World Cup qualifier.
Tony Popovic told reporters on Wednesday that his side will have to remain calm to beat China in their crucial Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, on Thursday night.
"You have to expect a real determination and desperation from the opponent - desperate to get a result any way they can and we have to match that desire," he said.
"We will be confident tomorrow night. I'm sure that we can win the game, we just have to get that balance right between being calm with and without the ball and also having that dynamic edge when we get our opportunities to be creative in that front third."
It will be the first match as head coach of the Socceroos for Popovic, a three-time coach of the year in Australia's A-League and an Asian Champions League winner as coach of the Western Sydney Warriors in 2014, who was appointed to the role following the resignation of Graham Arnold in September.
Arnold was the longest-serving coach in Socceroos history and was contracted through the 2026 FIFA World Cup but stood down after Australia were beaten by Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in the opening two games of the third round of AFC qualifying for 2026.
Australia are currently fifth in Group C of the third round as the Socceroos aim to qualify for a sixth consecutive World Cup.
The top two teams in the group will qualify directly for the tournament and the next two will progress to a fourth round of qualifying.
Following Thursday night's game in Adelaide, the Socceroos will play group leaders Japan in Saitama on October 15.
The Socceroos have won their last three matches at Adelaide Oval - the most recent of which was in 2017. ■
Tony Popovic, head coach of Team Australia attends a press conference prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers match between China and Australia in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Xie Sida/Xinhua)
Craig Goodwin (C) of Team Australia attends a training session prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers match between China and Australia in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Xie Sida/Xinhua)
Tony Popovic (R), head coach of Team Australia attends a press conference prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers match between China and Australia in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Xie Sida/Xinhua)
Mathew Ryan, goalkeeper of Team Australia attends a training session prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers match between China and Australia in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Xie Sida/Xinhua)
