Socceroos coach Popovic welcomes rise of young strikers

A fresh generation of strikers are jostling to show they can be Australia’s next big thing – and Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is embracing it.

Archie Goodwin has seven goals for Adelaide, Western United’s Noah Botic has scored six goals and notched four assists, while Brisbane’s Thomas Waddingham boasts four goals and an assist before joining Portsmouth.

Given Australia’s struggles to find a quality striker, and Kusini Yengi’s latest injury setback, the A-League Men trio’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I wouldn’t put one ahead of the other. I think they’re all contributing and playing well,” Popovic said.

“Obviously goals help for strikers, that’s their job, and they grow in confidence, especially younger players, that they’re helping their team to win when they score goals.

“I’m happy that they’re scoring and they’re playing.”

Popovic’s query is whether those youngsters are ready to play two cut-throat World Cup qualifiers mere days apart.

The Socceroos host Indonesia in Sydney on March 20 and play China away five days later.

“They’re all in the mix. Every player’s in the mix, regardless of age,” Popovic said.

“I don’t think that that should matter. I think it’s more about whether they can raise their level again.

“Because playing at club level is one thing. You have to raise your level again, and then you have to back up that performance four days later … we need the elite level in both games.

“And I’m encouraged that these young players are playing.”

Popovic noted Botic and Goodwin had benefited from several years of development.

“These boys haven’t just showed up in their first pre-season or their first A-League games, they’ve been in the system for a while,” he said.

“They’re now maturing. They’re physically stronger, which is why they’re more consistent.”

The key now is for the trio to show they can kick things up a gear.

“The question is, in three or four years time, can we be watching one of them playing in the bigger leagues in Europe? That’s the question. Can they take their game to another level?” Popovic said.

“The level they’re about now, it’s not good enough to play in Europe. That’s just the reality – that they will have to improve significantly.

“This is part of the journey, playing regularly, scoring goals in the A-League, but when you go to Europe, the expectation rises, and the biggest difference is the physical side.

“Physically, the demands are extremely high, and what you’re doing one day in training – that’s expected every single day.

“And if you can do that, well then you can make the jump. So hopefully we can get some of these boys overseas soon.”