Australia's Subway Socceroos displayed resilience and flair during their World Cup qualifying clash against Indonesia, securing a decisive 5-1 victory under pressure.
Head coach Tony Popovic expressed contentment with Daniel Arzani’s recent form after previously criticizing his training. The match took place at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on March 20, 2025, as part of the qualification process for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Popovic's faith in Arzani has rekindled hopes for the talented young player, who, eight years post his debut as a prodigy, faces a pivotal moment in his career.
In preparations for the crucial encounter, Popovic praised Arzani’s contributions in training, signaling a positive change in the player’s performance levels. “He is doing a great job so far in training. I think all the players have, so I’m not singling him out,” Popovic remarked on March 19, 2025. Reflecting upon past concerns, he added, “Obviously in October, he wasn’t good,” indicating the significance of Arzani’s recent improvements.
Arzani, who made his World Cup debut in 2018 as the youngest player at the tournament, once captivated fans with his extraordinary talent while at Melbourne City. His initial successes led to a transfer to Manchester City and subsequent loan spells at Celtic, where he faced an unfortunate knee injury that stunted his career development. After several underwhelming stints across Europe, including temporary moves to clubs in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium, Arzani returned to the A-League in 2022, but his journey has been tumultuous.
Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine underscored Arzani’s legacy: “He’ll always be that Daniel to me.” Fans have eagerly awaited the revival of Arzani's promising career, particularly as he fights to regain his former spark before the next World Cup. With Popovic now leading the team, there’s hope that Arzani can harness his skills to become a game-changer once again.
The match against Indonesia unfolded with high stakes; Popovic emphasized the critical nature of accumulating points toward World Cup qualification. Australia entered the match needing to solidify their footing in Group C after previously drawing with Indonesia six months earlier and suffering a less-than-desirable start to their qualifying campaign.
As the match commenced, Indonesia posed a notable challenge. Despite the Socceroos being the favorites, Indonesian players, largely naturalized citizens with Dutch roots led by coach Patrick Kluivert, opened the game robustly. Indonesian fans filled the stadium, creating a hostile environment for the Australian team.
Indonesia came perilously close to scoring first after a corner kick led to a penalty opportunity, but Indonesian defender Kevin Diks's spot-kick hit the post. The Socceroos breathed a sigh of relief at this reprieve.
Australia quickly turned the corner, taking control when Martin Boyle converted a penalty after a corner, followed shortly by goals from Nishan Velupillay and Jackson Irvine, solidifying their lead to 3-0.
Lewis Miller heightening the scoreboard with a diving header early in the second half, followed by Irvine’s second goal, sealed a dominant performance for the Socceroos. Despite a late consolation goal from Indonesia’s Ole Romeny, the match concluded with a 5-1 scoreline favoring Australia.
This emphatic victory not only bolstered Australia’s standings in Group C, placing them four points clear but also improved their goal difference significantly, which is vital in the battle for World Cup qualification.
Popovic’s tenure so far has seen him remain undefeated, instilling a newfound confidence into the squad. Following the match, he emphasized the importance of character displayed during the game; the pressure they faced was immense, but their reactions were commendable.
With one more crucial match against China coming up on March 25, 2025, the Socceroos are on the precipice of direct qualification for the World Cup, showcasing resilience and the promise of returning to their former glories.
