Australia left San Diego with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and, more importantly for Tony Popovic, a final hit-out that did its job before the World Cup begins. The Socceroos were tested early, shuffled the side heavily and still found enough to leave their coach satisfied ahead of this weekend’s opener against Turkiye in Vancouver.
That is why the result matters now. Popovic said the Socceroos got exactly what they needed from the match, and the timing could hardly have been tighter with the opening group-stage game coming up this weekend. The draw at Snapdragon Stadium was also another chance to expose players to minutes, with only one man — goalkeeper Paul Izzo — still having not featured in the lead-up.
Switzerland showed why this was a useful examination. Dan Ndoye, who made 37 appearances for Nottingham Forest across all competitions this season, scored in the 14th minute for a side that had lost only one of its previous 13 games. Australia had to ride that pressure after Popovic made seven changes from the defeat to Mexico, including handing the gloves to Patrick Beach.
Beach again looked at home on a stage like this. The 22-year-old had already been sensational on debut against Venezuela in Houston in November, and he was part of a changed Australia side that also brought in Riley Volpato, Tete Yengi and Kai Trewin. Volpato, who had represented Italy at youth level before making himself eligible for Australia just before the squad was named, became Socceroo cap number 660. Yengi followed as cap number 661.
Popovic used the game to push more of the group through a meaningful test. Australia fielded Yengi up front with Volpato on the right and Nestory Irankunda on the left, while Paul Okon-Engstler partnered Aiden O’Neill in central midfield. The setup reflected a coach trying to see as much of his squad as possible before the tournament starts, not one chasing a settled XI at all costs.
The unresolved part is the most important one. Australia now heads to Vancouver to face Turkiye with a stronger sense of who can handle the moment, but not yet a confirmed final starting side. That is the selection Popovic still has to make, and it is the one that will matter when the World Cup proper begins this coming weekend.
