´There are no real friendlies in football´ – Popovic taking New Zealand clash seriously

Australia head coach Tony Popovic insisted that their upcoming match against New Zealand is more than just a friendly.

The Socceroos qualified for the 2026 World Cup in dramatic fashion during the last international break as a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia booked their spot in next summer’s tournament.

Australia are unbeaten in their last nine matches and have won each of their previous four games, including victories over Japan and China, without conceding.

With New Zealand also qualifying for the World Cup, Popovic disagrees with the sentiment of friendly internationals.

“I don’t really like that word, to be honest, ‘friendly’,” said Popovic.

“I also want us to win, and not lose that mindset.”

CommBank #Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic selected a squad full of youth for tomorrow night’s #SoccerAshes, but the mentality stays the same

v – 5.9.25, 7:45pm AEST
: https://t.co/6PqIECs2ZQ
: GIO Stadium… pic.twitter.com/mwal5jB0Sv

— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 4, 2025

“When you play for the Socceroos, it’s an international, it’s a cap that you can get. And if you ask any of these young boys that could debut now whether it matters to them if it’s a friendly or not, I’m sure they say no.

“So we have to take this game very seriously. We’re excited that we’re playing New Zealand. We know how big that rivalry is in all our codes, so this should be no different.

“And also, congratulations to them. They’ve made the World Cup. So we’re playing a World Cup opponent.”

Aberdeen forward Nicolas Milanovic, who is looking to make his senior debut for Australia, mirrored Popovic’s point of view.

“That’s the message. There are no real friendlies in football anywhere, to be fair,” said Milanovic.

“It’s [the message is] to win, and the best way we can do that is – we’ve got a few new boys now to get comfortable with the system and play the way the coach wants to play, and hopefully that’ll win us two games.

“It’s refreshing, because everyone dreams of that first cap. I’ve been waiting a bit now for mine, and still striving every day and working every day at club level to try and achieve those goals of making not one cap, but hopefully 10, 20, 30.”