Tony Popovic on the sidelines at Adelaide Oval during a World Cup qualifier in 2024 against China. Photo: Dani Brown/Round Ball Australia

Tony Popovic on the sidelines at Adelaide Oval during a World Cup qualifier in 2024 against China. Photo: Dani Brown/Round Ball Australia

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has stressed that his side will not underestimate Indonesia as their crucial World Cup qualifier edges closer.

Australia welcome Indonesia to Sydney Football Stadium on Thursday night with high hopes of moving one step closer towards securing automatic qualification.

As it stands, the Socceroos sit nine points behind Japan in second spot in Group C, but only one point separates second and sixth, outlining the significance of each remaining fixture.

Although Indonesia will enter the clash having won once throughout the third phase of qualifying, that sole victory occurred against Saudi Arabia in a 2-0 win.

A stalemate back in September to Indonesia cost Graham Arnold his job in September, and Popovic hasn’t forgotten about that particular affair.

“We drew with them away, the group is very tight, so there is no reason to underestimate Indonesia. Their last result proves that against Saudi Arabia,” Popovic said.

“The expectation of the Australian public, that’s what it should be. They should expect the national team to produce and to play good football.”

Popovic believes the occasion won’t unsettle his playing group, as he feels his squad has prepared accordingly, but highlighted patience as key.

“I think the players know the magnitude of the games and how important they are, but we also know that we’re in a position that we can retain our second spot,” he stated.

“We have to be patient. If they press, we have to be able to exploit the spaces left there. If they sit deep, we need to exploit the spaces between the lines and trying to penetrate around the box.

“We just have to be prepared to do whatever the moment allows us. And if it’s not on, be patient and wait for the opening.”

When Arnold announced his resignation from the top job, Football Australia was left with little choice but to scramble for a suitable replacement that fit the bill for what they envisioned.

Receiving a phone call while in Croatia with his family, Popovic didn’t hesitate to accept the honour, but he had limited amount of time to work with the squad before his first match in charge against China in a 3-1 win.

Now having settled into life as Australia’s manager for the best part of six months, the 51-year-old declares that the players are becoming increasingly familiar with his philosophy and tactical approach.

“I think it’s natural that when you first come in, it all happened within a couple of days before the game against China, and then November was soon after, so you’re consolidating a little bit of the work that you tried to instill,” Popovic said.

“Now we feel there’s a better understanding of the foundation, the template so to speak of what we want to put into place. The coaches have done a great job in helping the players understand their roles, [they have] given them a lot of feedback.

“It’s been a good break of four months [since the last international window]. The players look confident – certainly understanding – and it’s always nice when you get some fresh faces.”

Despite being in touching distance of a first World Cup appearance since 1938, a change in personnel on the bench will see Dutchman Patrick Kluivert manage his first game for Indonesia.

The FC Barcelona legend is no stranger to Australian football due to his short spell as Brisbane Roar’s assistant manager under Ange Postecoglou in 2010.

Albeit unaware of how exactly Kluivert will address the match, Popovic and his staff have completed their due diligence.

“I wasn’t there for the Jakarta match [in September], but as we should, we’ve analysed Indonesia, we know there is a new coach,” Popovic said when asked about what he anticipates from an Indonesian perspective.

“We don’t know how he’ll set up. Of course, we’ve seen what he’s done previously at various jobs that he’s been involved in, in terms of the structure and the shape that he plays.

“But we have to focus on us and know that we can deal with any structure that comes our way. We’re confident to deal with that, [and] we’re confident to play the football we want to.”

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