Tony Popovic lauded his players’ ‘experience of a lifetime’ after Australia’s narrow 1-0 win over New Zealand, thanks to Max Balard’s late goal. Popovic praised debutants Balard, Nicolas Milanovic, and Paul Izzo, particularly Izzo’s saves against Chris Wood. Despite the win, Popovic seeks improvement for the return leg in Auckland, aiming for better cohesion after numerous changes impacted the team’s flow.
Australia's coach, Tony Popovic, expressed his delight, stating that his players savored "an experience of a lifetime" following their dramatic triumph over New Zealand in a friendly encounter. The Socceroos secured a narrow 1-0 victory at GIO Stadium Canberra, marking the beginning of the two-game Soccer Ashes friendly series.
The hero of the hour was debutant Max Balard, who etched his name into Socceroos' folklore with an 87th-minute goal. Just two minutes after stepping onto the pitch as a substitute for Ryan Teague, Balard showcased remarkable composure to control the ball and slot it past New Zealand's goalkeeper, Max Crocombe.
This victory extended Popovic's team's unbeaten streak across all competitions to an impressive 10 matches, while also registering their fifth consecutive win. The match itself, whilst a friendly, was fiercely contested, with New Zealand proving to be resilient opponents. The Socceroos had to dig deep and find that moment of inspiration, which ultimately came through Balard's moment of magic.
"I'm certain it'll be a day he'll never forget," Popovic beamed, referring to Balard's match-winning contribution. "A lot of young boys out there today got their opportunity. It was nice to get the winner in that way. We got the win and a lot of boys got an experience of a lifetime. The first half, we found it a little bit difficult, but we got there."
When you score on your CommBank #Socceroos debut#AUSvNZL #ForeverGolden pic.twitter.com/00oe0N8ZF6
— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 5, 2025
Popovic also granted debuts to Aberdeen forward Nicolas Milanovic and Randers goalkeeper Paul Izzo. The head coach lauded Izzo, who pulled off four crucial saves to deny the visitors, including two impressive stops to thwart skipper and Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood. Izzo's performance was a major positive for the Socceroos, giving Popovic a welcome selection headache for future games. He proved to be a calming presence in goal, displaying excellent handling and distribution skills.
However, Popovic remains grounded and hopes to see further improvement ahead of the return fixture in Auckland on Tuesday. He acknowledged that the team performance was not perfect, with the numerous changes impacting the flow of the game. This is understandable given the number of debutants and young players involved, but Popovic will be expecting a more cohesive display in the second leg.
"The best compliment I can give him is he looked like he belonged," Popovic said of Izzo. "He certainly helped us against a top-class striker. Today, with all the changes and players finding their feet, it looked disjointed at times. That comes with giving all the players opportunities and trying them out for the first time. Let’s hope we can do better in Auckland."
The Socceroos' victory provides a valuable platform for Popovic to build upon. The blend of youth and experience in the squad is promising, and the emergence of players like Balard and Izzo will only strengthen the team in the long run. However, they will need to address the issues of cohesion and consistency if they are to achieve their goals.
Looking ahead to the return leg in Auckland, Popovic will be aiming for a more dominant performance. New Zealand will undoubtedly be determined to avenge their defeat and level the series. The Socceroos will need to be at their best to secure another victory and end the Soccer Ashes series on a high note.
Popovic will be hoping that his players can carry the momentum from this victory into the next match, and continue to develop as a team. With a blend of youthful exuberance and experienced leadership, the Socceroos have the potential to achieve great things in the future. The 'experience of a lifetime' gained by the debutants in this match will undoubtedly serve them well in their careers.
The match in Auckland will be a stern test of the Socceroos' mettle, but with Popovic at the helm, they are well-equipped to overcome the challenge and emerge victorious.