The Socceroos' youth revolution at the World Cup was overlooked back home, according to defender Harry Souttar, with the squad the second-youngest ever sent to a World Cup by Australia and coach Tony Popovic fielding the tournament's youngest starting XI in the win over Turkey. While the team's pragmatic style drew criticism in some quarters and Souttar said the penalty shootout loss to Egypt still stung the playing group nearly five months later, recent results and a shift to aggressive gameplay suggest the long-term plan is working.
Three other starting XIs also ranked inside the tournament's top eight. Popovic later explained a long-term plan to accelerate the development of a talented new generation and set them up for the next two to three World Cup campaigns.
Souttar said the team's achievement had not received the coverage it deserved. "I don't think that's probably got the kind of coverage that at the time, or now [that it deserved] … to be the youngest team at the World Cup and to not really have any expectations from the outside," Souttar said. "We had a lot of belief going into the World Cup, but from the outside, probably not."
The Socceroos' 3-0 win over two-time defending Asian champions Qatar on Saturday demonstrated the team's progress. All three goals came from turnovers forced by a high press, and four debutants entered in the second half, expanding the team's depth. Souttar is excited about the direction, though the Asian Cup has been pushed back to December 2027.
Popovic's men will play Jordan on Wednesday (3am AEDT) in Doha, after the match was moved from Amman due to player security concerns. Souttar thanked the Jordan FA for agreeing to switch venues. "Once again, it's going to be a really tough game," he said. "The lads are going to have to be absolutely on it. But with the guys that we have in the squad and the belief in the togetherness, obviously we're going to go for the win."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Socceroos' youth-driven approach could reshape the national team's future, showing that investing in young talent can produce competitive results.
- The shift to a more aggressive playing style, from the counter-attacking tactics at the World Cup to the high press seen against Qatar, signals a strategic evolution that may improve Australia's standing in Asian football.
- With the Asian Cup postponed and a young squad gaining experience, the team is building continuity for campaigns beyond the immediate cycle.
Background
The Socceroos entered the recent World Cup as the second-youngest squad Australia had ever sent, but faced criticism for their pragmatic playing style. They advanced past the group stage but were eliminated on penalties by Egypt in the round of 32. Coach Tony Popovic has since emphasised a long-term plan to accelerate the development of a talented new generation, aiming to peak over the next two to three World Cup cycles. The Asian Cup, originally scheduled for January 2024, has been postponed to December 2027.
What to Watch
- The match against Jordan on Wednesday, which will test the team's new aggressive approach against a side that has troubled previous Socceroos line-ups.
- Whether the debutants introduced in the Qatar match continue to feature and how the team's depth expands.
- The fate of Tony Popovic's tenure: the source notes it remains to be seen how much longer he will be in charge, with the Asian Cup delay adding uncertainty.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Socceroos’ youth revolution is now impossible to ignore.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The Socceroos’ youth revolution was overlooked. Now it’s impossible to ignore.”
- SupportedSouttar says the team’s World Cup achievements did not receive enough credit back home.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Harry Souttar, who is convinced the side’s achievements at the World Cup were not given enough credit back home.”
- SupportedPopovic has a long-term plan to develop a new generation for the next two to three World Cup campaigns.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “a long-term plan for the national team, to accelerate the development of a talented new generation to set them up for the next two to three World Cup campaigns.”
- SupportedSouttar said: “I don’t think that’s probably got the kind of coverage that at the time, or now [that it deserved] … to be the youngest team at the World Cup and to not really have any expectations from the outside.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I don’t think that’s probably got the kind of coverage that at the time, or now [that it deserved] … to be the youngest team at the World Cup and to not really have any expectations from the outside,” Souttar said.”
- SupportedAustralia sent the second-youngest squad it had ever sent to a World Cup.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “the squad that went to North America was the second-youngest ever sent to a World Cup by Australia”
- SupportedPopovic fielded the tournament’s youngest starting XI in the win over Turkey.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Popovic fielded the youngest starting XI for the entire tournament in their win over Turkey”
- SupportedThe team’s pragmatic style drew criticism in some quarters.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Popovic’s side was pilloried in some quarters for their pragmatic style of football at the tournament”
- SupportedSouttar said the penalty-shootout defeat to Egypt still stung the playing group nearly five months later.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “the manner of their round-of-32 defeat on penalties against Egypt – an outcome that Souttar admits still stings the playing group nearly five months later.”
- SupportedAustralia beat Qatar 3-0, with all three goals coming from turnovers forced by a high press.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The Socceroos’ 3-0 win over two-time defending Asian champions Qatar on Saturday was another emphatic marker of progress, with all three goals coming as a result of turnovers forced by their high press”
- SupportedThe Asian Cup has been pushed back to December 2027.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Although the Asian Cup they were supposed to be preparing for in this window has been pushed back to December 2027”
- SupportedAustralia will play Jordan on Wednesday at 3am AEDT in Doha after the match was moved from Amman over security concerns held by players.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Popovic’s men will play again on Wednesday (3am AEDT) against Jordan”
- SupportedSouttar said: “Once again, it’s going to be a really tough game. The lads are going to have to be absolutely on it. But with the guys that we have in the squad and the belief in the togetherness, obviously we’re going to go for the win.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Once again, it’s going to be a really tough game. We know what they’re going to bring. The lads are going to have to be absolutely on it. But with the guys that we have in the squad and the belief in the togetherness, obviously we’re going to go for the win.””