“He has a real calm temperament; he doesn’t get phased by anything,” Popovic said of Teague, who he signed at Victory in 2023.
“I didn’t even need to, or want to, speak to him before the game. He knew he was playing the day before, and he just went out and executed and was confident to get on the ball, which helped us a lot to really silence the crowd in the first half. Him getting on the ball and controlling the tempo played a big part in that performance and result.
“[It was] his first time in with us, and he played, so the way I see it is someone else can come in now and do something that Ryan did: unexpected call-up, gets in, performs, and there’s an opportunity for him to continue growing and playing more games for the Socceroos.”
On the positive side, Italian-based centre-back Alessandro Circati has returned to full fitness just seven months after suffering an ACL injury. Yet to feature under Popovic for Australia, he has been named in three match-day squads for Parma in Italy’s Serie A in the past two weeks, but has not made it onto the field.
“The boy has already put his hand up that he wants to be involved, which is fantastic. He feels he’s ready, but we have to consider all factors before selecting him,” Popovic said.
Circati’s condition is to be further assessed at a 10-day training camp in Abu Dhabi in late May, being held to ensure European-based players continue to tick over as their club seasons finish in the coming weeks – and so the Socceroos’ medical staff can keep a closer eye on those like him, Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree, Portsmouth’s Kusini Yengi and others who have had disrupted seasons before a squad for the June window is unveiled.
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A crucial player at the 2022 World Cup under Arnold, McGree has made just two starts this year due to a hamstring injury, and with the English Championship season concluding this weekend, his chances would be minimal were it not for the upcoming camp, Popovic said.
“He’s told us that he’s fit … we will give him an opportunity to show us what he can do, but if he’s not at the level required due to his fitness, we won’t select him,” he said.
A win on June 5 at Perth’s Optus Stadium against Japan, who have already qualified for the World Cup, will seal Australia’s spot at the tournament, and would mark the first time since 2017 the Socceroos have been able to celebrate that achievement on home soil.
Popovic’s side defied expectations in holding the Samurai Blue to a 1-1 draw in Saitama in October, but will need to improve with the ball to inflict Australia’s first defeat on them in 16 years.
“We know it’s a challenge. We have to embrace it. We’re excited by it,” Popovic said.
“We know we’re in a good position, but we’re playing the best team in Asia now. The challenge is, can we put on a better performance than we did in Japan? We had a great result. Can we play better? And that’s what I’d love to see happen, to show our growth since that match.”
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