“They are not real friends in football” – New Zealand popovic collides with a serious collision star-news.press/wp

Australia headed Tony Popovic underlined that the next matches against New Zealand are more than friendly.

Socceroos were classified in the 2026 World Cup of the 2026 World Championships, when they won Saudi Arabia.

Australia are not in their last nine games, and they have won the previous four games, including victories from Japan and China, without giving.

With New Zealand with World Cup rankings, there is no popovent popovent friendly feeling.

“I don’t like that word so much, to be honest,” Popovic said.

“We want to win, and don’t miss the loss of that thought.”

Kombank #Socceroos Tony Popovic coachman chose a quadram filled in tomorrow’s youth youth youth #SoccerashesBut the mindset is the same

V – 5.9.25, 19:45 ONEST
: https://t.co/6pqiecs2zq
: Gio Stadium … pic.twitter.com/mwal5jb0sv

– Commbank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 4, 2025

“When you play SOCCEROOS, it’s a hat that you can get. And if you ask for any of these young guys who can debut it, if it is friendly, I’m sure I’m sure.

“So we need to take this game very seriously. We are excited that we play New Zealand. We know how great competition is in all our codes, so it should not be different.

“And besides, congratulations to them. They have made a World Cup. So we play a World Cup opponent.”

Aberdeen Forward Nicolas Milanovic, who wants to be the main premiere of Australia, reflected Popovic’s perspective.

“That’s the message. There is no real friend in football, to be fair,” Milanovice said.

“It’s the message (message) is winning, and that’s the best way we can do. We’ve got some new boys to be comfortable with the system and the way we want to play and hope that we will win two games.

“It’s refreshing because everyone dreams of that first hat. I’ve been waiting for me to do mine, and I still try to get these goals at the club, but we look forward to 10, 20, 30”.