Socceroos coach Tony Popovic full of praise for players after draw with Japan

It wasn’t pretty, and there is plenty to improve on, but the Socceroos defied the odds to deny Japan a win in Saitama.

Jackson Irvine (centre) and Keanu Baccus thank Socceroos fans after the team’s 1-1 draw with Japan. Picture: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has lauded his team for a “fantastic performance” in its 1-1 draw with Japan but admits there is plenty to work on ahead of next month’s matches against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Despite a compromised pre-match preparation due to the team bus’s late arrival at Saitama Stadium because of heavy traffic stemming from a car accident, the Australians defied the odds to become the first team to take points off Japan on the qualifying road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The stoic Socceroos were even dreaming of a first-ever win over the Samurai Blue in Japan when they went ahead 1-0 in the 58th minute courtesy of an own goal from defender Shogo Taniguchi.

However, Japan equalised 18 minutes later with the game’s second own goal, this time from Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess.

On the balance of play, a draw was the very least the hosts deserved; however, Australia’s defensive display was also worthy of the one-point reward.

“We’re happy with a point,” Popovic said.

“Obviously, we came here to win and had an opportunity by leading 1-0, but we have something to build on.

“Our aspirations are to challenge Japan at a better level than what we played today. That’s the goal for us.

“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.

“We have to improve all over the park.”

Luke Brattan made his Socceroos debut. Picture: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

However, Popovic was proud of his players’ ability to overcome the team’s rushed preparation in Saitama.

“We had a lot of difficulties arriving here. We were told it would take 90 minutes maximum. It took us two hours (and) 15 (minutes), so it wasn’t ideal preparation but we didn’t use that as an excuse.

“The players and staff were fantastic. We had a very short warm-up, players had 10 minutes to get ready and we just dealt with the situation.

“They showed a fantastic performance today. As a team, we were very well structured and organised.”

Popovic made six changes to the team that started in last Thursday’s 3-1 win over China, including giving veteran midfielder Luke Brattan his debut after illness ruled Aiden O’Neill out of selection contention.

Brattan became the oldest ever Socceroos debutant at the age of 34 years and 221 days.

“I’m sure it was a special day for Luke Brattan today,” Popovic said.

Macarthur FC’s Brattan was replaced at the start of the second half by Patrick Yazbek, who made just his second Socceroos appearance.

“It was difficult in the first half for everyone on the ball, but that’s the type of players we are looking for. We want to have one technical player, so we will be searching for that definitely,” Popovic said.

“The players that came in did a great job.”

The Socceroos’ next match is against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on November 14, with an away game against Bahrain to follow less than a week later.

Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are all on five points in Group C in the third round of AFC qualifiers, with Japan leading the group with 10 points.

Indonesia and China are each on three points. The top two teams from each of the three AFC groups at the completion of the third round of qualifiers will guarantee themselves spots at the 2026 World Cup.

“We’ve got to try to play better and get better results in the next window – that’s the challenge,” Popovic said.