Defensive football isn't the only issue, it's negative tactics, an inability to try new things. It's going 1 nil up in a GF and deciding to remove your strikers

If he plays with a faster tempo and doesn't just rely on wingers winning 1v1 to score against teams then maybe we will at very least be 10% better off.

I'll forever be an optimist when it comes to Australian football, but as many have already mentioned, as long as we continue to play in a pragmatic basically fear (of conceding) based way then we will never fulfil any glimmer of talent or potential. And the rest of world football will pass us by.

Good luck to Popovic. Concerned we won't rid ourselves of the slackers. Hopefully he remembers attack is needed. 

You got to question who is behind this, what criteria if any they have so selecting coaches not just for the senior team but also the youth.

I just wished they had a strategy in place where a style of play could be in tact from senior team into the youth and then look at the type of players we are trying to bring in, this feels very short term oriented with not much purpose for the long term just to be at the World Cup but at what cost? More scrappy football? Another second round appearance if we are good enough to do it again?

Look at Spain they had put a plan for a style of play from the youth to the senior level and look at the success that followed we could follow a similar path to give us our best chance for success at international level.

Now it’s Popa, the football won’t be any different to Arnie he might pick some different players but this feels a very sideways step move when it poses larger issues that I’m not sure have been addressed.

Style issues aside, the nt coaches at least have had club success. The youth coaches are really unqualified ex roos

I wrote a roar article giving evidence it doed matterwho we chopse at youth

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/09/20/poor-selection-of-coaches-has-cost-australian-football-at-youth-level-for-more-than-20-years/

Nice plug! 😊

Ive checked it out, you make good points as well.

I wonder what Ernie Merrick is doing about it, such an important issue at youth level.

Might be good for football the mans team has Zero star power at the moment from a marketing POV might help the game 

Is RoosOnly one of those websites grazor?

I will always be a fan of the Roos - but not necessarily of the coach or how the teams play and perform.

In fact, I think it is actually because so many people are fans that the tripe we have been fed causes so much discontent.

If we get Popa and if Popa builds an attacking front third like he first did with Wanderers maybe we will see some attacking football that focusses on the goal and not on retention. He will still have two thirds of the team playing primarily defensive football based on his form but he is capable of making the front end produce. Unfortunately I have to think that whichever coach we get will start with most of the same players we have been fielding to date because of the timeframe alone (assuming that squads are locked into the competition from the start).

Poppa was always out managed by Arnie in the ALM. He would be a huge backward step.

Thanks! Yes curious what his job is

I do agree. I am just looking for something to be hopeful about if we get him.

Simply having a midfield that passes forward into space to meet an anticipating runner would be something - as opposed to passing back safely when anything looks remotely like a challenge.

The best thing about Popa is his reputation for playing shit football can't go any lower. He loses in his style, no one cares because no one will be watching by the 10th game, He wins in his style, we go to the world cup and lose by at most a respectable 2 goals. He wins and plays attractive football doing it (the least likely option), everyone wins.

KEWELL for me. Showed passion and leadership when playing for the Socceroos' and will bring that to the modern-day Socceroo's.

Just my 1 cents worth.

Was there even a process  ??? This is a mickey house appointment with no thought behind it. Easy option FFA  complete failure. 

new coach announcement at 1:45pm lol that was fast.

Well what an extensive and exhaustive process this must of been for the FA. They must of interviewed at least 10 candidates in the time from Arnie leaving to this announcement.

They clearly spent some time making sure all their metrics will be met with this new appointment.

I think if they had an actual process and interviewed some candidates with Poppa still coming out on top, then fine appoint him. I would be far more forgiving then what has gone on. 

The fact that they already had him lined up without any kind of process in place to secure the best possible candidate for this role, that is frustrating me.

He better get results straight away (not that the media ever push the hard questions in this country).

ah yep its popa LOL this going to be intersting. Sounds like he may bring in Kalik.

I was thinking that if it's going to be Popovic, I guess things could be worse?

On reflection now, yeah, they probably will be.

That WAs the process.

Step one - convince Popovic that despite his lacklustre career he will be the next Socceroos boss
Step two - gaslight Arnie into resigning
Step three - announce a worldwide talent search for the next greatest Socceroos manager.
Step four - prepare a chatGPT statement for when we dont qualify, something around the fact the we had to rush to hire a new gaffer... its not our fault.... blame the players or something something no Aussie DNA.

Wishing Tony the best of luck. Hope he can get us back on track.
Not an easy job to take on, especially with us dropping valuable points early on.

Aus football is so poorly run that it was obvious Poppa would take over. There was no extensive search or clear criteria. 

He has failed outside of Australia and we are now tasking him with leading the national team. The way football is run in this country is a joke. 

Sadly that is quite accurate, just step 4 to go.

Got to wonder, he has clearly been approached a while ago, Arnie must of known they were sounding him out. Did Arnie jump before being pushed? I wonder how far back they approached Poppa, end of the AL season? After Bahrain? 

Its sort of surprising that Arnie "jumping" has been seen as a "doing the best thing for Australian Football" selfless act of a true dinki di hero, yet a similar situation, with a manager that had completed his contractual obligation was met with a slightly less complimentary response...... 

Surely they approached him after the asian cup due to bad performance, which would make sense why he didn't renew with vic. Arnold is too loyal to the game to accept a payout so he was probably pushed imo

I wouldn't his call his coaching career stellar.

Official Statement from Football Australia

November 19, 2025

Football Australia announces that it has elected to move in a new direction and will not be continuing with Tony Popovic as Head Coach of the Socceroos, following the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tony Popovic has played a significant role in Australian football, and his contributions to the national team and the sport are greatly appreciated. His dedication and professionalism throughout his tenure have been commendable, and he has made a lasting impact on the development of the Socceroos.

After a thorough review of the recent World Cup qualifying campaign, Football Australia believes this is the right time to take the national team in a different direction as we focus on future competitions and long-term success on the global stage.

We sincerely thank Tony Popovic for his service and commitment to Australian football and wish him every success in his future endeavors.

Football Australia will commence the process of identifying a new head coach in due course and will provide further updates to the football community as we progress.

Football Australia Communications Team

Shit even AI is getting lazy now.... just Control + C Control + V and awwwwaaaayyy we go :)