CORNERFLICK
Australia coach Tony Popovic praised his players’ discipline after a valuable opening win over Turkey at the 2026 World Cup, but said the group stage is only just beginning.
Nestor Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored for the Socceroos, who moved to the top of Group D on a temporary basis and boosted their hopes of reaching the last 16.
Popovic said he knew Turkey would provide a tough technical test and that many had expected them to win. He added that Australia carried out the game plan with strong tactical discipline and a high level of fighting spirit.
He also said the defence faced heavy pressure but stayed focused, while Australia were effective on the counter-attack. Popovic described the result as a collective effort rather than one built around one or two players.
Looking ahead, he pointed to matches against the United States and Paraguay as the next major challenges and urged his side to keep the same concentration.