Socceroos v USA preview, Tony Popovic and Harry Souttar press conference, Mauricio Pochettino press conference, latest news

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has declared that his team are trying to “put Australian football on the world map” on the eve of their blockbuster Group D World Cup clash against the USA in Seattle on Saturday morning.

Speaking to the media alongside new Socceroos skipper Harry Souttar on Friday morning AEST, Popovic had little interest in engaging in the war of words between the two nations that has dominated the build up to their meeting.

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Instead, the 52-year-old is determined to let his teams’ efforts on the pitch do the talking.

“We know that by our performances we can put Australian football on the world map and that’s what we aim to do,” Popovic told reporters in Seattle.

“We started off well against Türkiye winning, now we want to back it up and we’ll continue striving to do that to improve our football and improve our standing in how people perceive Australian football.

“It’s not through words, it’s through what we do on the pitch and tomorrow’s another opportunity to do that.”

Despite all the trash talk from their pundits, the Americans are set to be testing opponents for Popovic’s young Socceroos.

The tournament co-hosts made a mighty statement in their first up 4-1 victory against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

In particular, they blew away their South American opponents in a powerful first half with three goals, all coming off the back of blistering pace to get in behind the Paraguay defence.

Popovic is well aware of the challenge that awaits, however.

“Different challenges, different teams. Türkiye were more European style in terms of their technical build up, slower build up, fantastic possession. I think the US team has a good mix of the two, very powerful, very athletic,” he explained.

“So we know (it will be a) different type of challenge. Playing the host nation here as well is a wonderful challenge but also a wonderful opportunity for us and we know that we need to be better than we were against Türkiye to get the result we want.”

Popovic also gave the nation the reassuring news that “everyone is fit and available” after striker Mohamed Touré suffered cramp shortly before being subbed off against Türkiye.

Meanwhile, in the opposite camp, doubt continues to remain about American star Cristian Pulisic, who was subbed off at half time against Paraguay with a calf issue.

“I think as you know he was training individually all week,” Pochettino told reporters before Popovic’s press conference.

“Like always, I think tonight or the day before the game we have a meeting with our medical area, we will assess the whole group, and tomorrow we will communicate if we agree on something tonight. He is evolving, he is much better from Friday, we’ll see.”

Speaking of evolution, Popovic was full of praise for how his group of players have grown over time.

He took over the role from Graham Arnold in the middle of the qualifying campaign in 2024 and is proud by the development he has overseen.

And the Türkiye victory was the culmination of all that work.

“In terms of where we started this journey together, and we’ve seen the evolution of the team, the growth of the team; we’ve seen players maturing individually, but also being able to add collectively as one,” he said.

“It’s just been building.

“That was a game that it all came together in terms of the belief being present in the moment, understanding it’s a World Cup for a lot of the boys for the first time, but playing as if they belong there. We’ll need that again tomorrow. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us. I wouldn’t say in terms of thinking about too far ahead. I think the opportunity for us is to get another win.”

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The other talking point leading into Saturday morning’s clash was the two nations’ fiery clash in a friendly in Denver last year.

The USA won that encounter 2-1 but three of Australia’s starting XI from that game – Martin Boyle, Nick D’Agostino and Max Balard – did not even make the World Cup squad.

Despite defeat on that day and several scuffles, Popovic said the encounter served its purpose.

“We wanted to experience playing in the US. We experienced playing at altitude. We tested ourselves with travel. For us, I can only speak for us, we got what we wanted out of that game,” Popovic said.

“We had a fantastic hit out against a very good opponent. So, we were very pleased with that.

“Since then we feel we’ve improved. We’re a better team now than what we were in October and I’m sure the US is as well.

“So, it should be a really good game tomorrow.”

Another important tune-up was Australia’s final pre-World Cup against Switzerland in San Diego.

They kicked off at 5am Australian day to prepare for doing the same against the Americans after playing in the evening Vancouver – 2pm AEST – against Türkiye.

“It was a great dress rehearsal,” Popovic said.

“I think both games were. The Mexico game playing in front of almost 80,000 people, everyone against you in the stadium, so that was a good little test for us.

“The Switzerland game, playing at 12, we tested logistically how that would look for us ahead of this match.

“We got some learnings from that and we put them in place for this game.

“We’re confident that we’ll be ready for kick off tomorrow.”

‘BIGGEST HONOUR OF MY CAREER’

Socceroos captain Harry Souttar has reflected on what it means to be him to lead the nation.

Many Australians were stunned when regular skipper Mat Ryan was demoted to the bench against Türkiye and Souttar donned the captain’s armband as he did against Switzerland.

The Leicester City defender had hardly played in the last two years due to an Achilles injury and it marked a stunning effort to get back from the World Cup.

“I think I said after the game, it was the biggest honour of my career,” Souttar said.

“To follow in the footsteps of Maty Ryan, who I regard as the best captain I’ve ever played for in terms of what he does on the pitch and off the pitch with the lads (is a big honour).

“So, obviously tor me to take some of that from him, little bits of knowledge and just try and do it my own way.

“Obviously everyone is different, whether you speak more or speak less, you can be a leader by action.

“There’s different ways of doing it, but like I said, certainly the biggest honour of my career.”

Souttar is certainly an inspirational leader on the pitch and that helps fuel his teammates’ growing confidence.

“I don’t think it’s a short term thing. I think it takes a long time to grow that belief,” Souttar said.

“But certainly being in camp since the start of May, every training session has gotten better. The standard has gotten better.

“The two friendlies were great for us in terms of different challenges that we faced, two different sides. There’s obviously stuff said about our start in one of the games and our reaction to it, and it’s how do we balance that, how do we start the game better?

“It’s just looking around the dressing room and looking beside you. You’re walking into the pitch room and seeing the effects that we’ve got on our team. We’ve got some really exciting players, some young, hungry players, and a mix of that experience as well. So when you blend that together, it’s a mix of a good start and a good end.”

US COACH PRAISES AUSSIES

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino has gone for a polar opposite approach to many American pundits by praising Tony Popovic’s Socceroos.

Speaking to the media less than 24 hours before kick off, the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager said “I really appreciate him” when talking about Popovic and added that he likes the only man to play for and coach the Socceroos at a World Cup as a person.

Popovic returned the flattery in his press conference shortly after.

“I’ve known the manager for a while. I don’t know him personally, but certainly someone I followed back when he was at Southampton when I was in the UK,” the Socceroos boss.

“So I already had an eye on him and the great work that he did there. It’s not surprising the career he’s had. I think the US national team has definitely got a winner in terms of Mr. Pochettino.”

Pochettino’s comments stand in stark contrast to much of the barbs that have been thrown Australia’s way out of the US before the tournament and since the Socceroos defeated Türkiye 2-0 on Sunday.

The Argentine manager instead kept it classy.

“What I can say about Australia is that way they play, for me is the mentality,” he said.

“They are a really strong team, really believing in what they are doing.

“When we play again, them (in) Denver, it’s really one of the most difficult games that we play.. until today. Plenty of good things that they do very well. But I think so, I think again, Turkey really saw the capacity to defend in medium block, in low block, in go to press, press high, transition. (Players) that are so fast, building in different ways, go back with three and two, with four and one, and I see a difference with flexibility in the way to play.

“That is made difficult to prepare the game against Australia because they have different registers of play. But for me the most important thing is how we need to match their…that mentality and so that make them very natural.

“Because for me we need to believe in the same way that they believe if we want to compete because they compete with us.”

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The clash in Denver that Pochettino referenced was a friendly between the two nations last year that turned heated.

The two teams came to blows after a several strong challenges with the Australians really taking it up to the Americans physically despite Pochettino’s side prevailing 2-1.

Popovic’s XI will look very different to that night, however, and Pochettino said he expects tempers to be kept under control.

“I trust the referees,” he said.

“When you play non-official games, can be different. Games become more street games. No friendlies, (it’s a) street game.

“Always it’s difficult, VAR, no VAR.

“Tomorrow, I think it’s no doubt that the referees are top level. The referees that will be in the VAR are top level. And I think I have no doubt. They are very professional.

“I think we need to play in the edge of the line, not crossing the lines of the rules. And I think we are going to try all to be very close to this thin line that allowed us to take some advantage of it.”

Pochettino also referenced that friendly against the Socceroos as a turning point in his time in charge of the US team.

Having taken charge in 2024 and tasked the build towards a home World Cup, things were looking shaky at times.

Jordy Bos struck first for Australia that night and Pochettino said he delivered some home truths in the dressing room at half time.

“A great opportunity for a coach to explain what will be explained from the player, from the team, from the team,” he said.

“I think it was a tough conversation on the half time, but I think it was necessary.

“I think we all need some time to wake up about some situation because always human being is about to be always comfortable. Even if you are 54 like I am or if you are 17, 19 or 25. I think for me it was necessary to (give a) wake up call and to say that is not the right way to do the things.

“Looks like it was a lot of time ago, but was only months ago. Think today, at very different level, I think we were capable, because of the players, because they deserved the credit, but after the staff and all the people, in one game, in a weeks, to make believe the people and to engage the people, for our fans who believe in the team and who control it. That is the most important thing that we need to keep in this way. I think we are so happy to arrive in this moment knowing that Australia is going to be a really tough opponent, player, good organisation, good coach.

“Four years ago, we were talking about Australia and they were (playing) France and Argentina in Qatar and I was in the game; Argentina, Australia, was really tough game for Argentina. They won the World Cup, that’s why. They were improving, improving every day, every week, every month, every year. Now they arrive in good condition, they beat a very difficult team, a very team like this, Türkiye.

“Only we can show when we got the draw, our full respect to them, but at same time we want to beat them. We are ready to fight.”