Nine wins from 49: The next hoodoo the Socceroos are desperate to break

As the rest of Australia celebrated the 20-year anniversary of John Aloisi’s famous penalty kick against Uruguay over the weekend, the Socceroos refused to look back. But they did go backwards, ever so slightly.

Coach Tony Popovic did not sit his players through a communal re-watch in camp, nor did he ask them to channel the spirit of November 16, 2005, when they took the field against Venezuela in Houston, Texas.

Instead, he watched them produce the worst performance of his year-long tenure as Socceroos coach: a disjointed 1–0 defeat that extended a different South American hoodoo.

“It was a good lesson for us,” Popovic said, chalking it up largely to the inexperience in the experimental starting XI.

“Probably from the 15th minute onwards to the last 15, there wasn’t much good from us, with and without the ball.”

Australia has recorded nine wins from 49 matches against South American opposition. And two of them - friendly victories against Paraguay (2010) and Ecuador (2023) - have come in the 20 years since that night against Uruguay.

Nestory Irankunda and the Socceroos had a dirty day against Venezuela.Credit: AP

On Wednesday (12pm AEDT), an even bigger test awaits: Colombia, ranked No.13 in the world. They are another team Australia has never beaten from South America’s stacked 10-team confederation.

Popovic was not aware of Australia’s historically poor record against South American nations until after the Venezuela match, nor could he put his finger on any particular stylistic or tactical reasons why the Socceroos always seem to struggle. What he did note was South America’s relentless competitive ecosystem: even a team like Venezuela, who missed the last World Cup, are forged through qualifying gauntlets against Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and others.

“We wanted these matches for this reason,” Popovic said.

“When you’re exposed to that, you’re ahead of the game, and we’re not exposed to that. We have a very small group of players that are maybe exposed to the highest level, so we have to expose them to these games, these difficult matches, and difficult moments in a game.

“How do they handle that? How do they get through the period that they’re suffering in a game? When they’ve got the ball, how do they now have longer [periods of] possession to change the momentum? They’re all things that a Venezuela and a Colombia go through every time they play, home or away.

“That’s difficult for us to change. We have to find other ways to bridge that gap. And this is part of what we’re doing as a national team ... maybe it’s on Tuesday that we can turn that tide and beat a South American opponent. But ideally, if we get them in the World Cup, that’s where I really want to change that.”

Colombia is the highest-credentialed country Popovic’s side will have faced so far. They finished third in CONMEBOL (South American) qualifying; only defending world champions Argentina scored more goals than them, and the way they expertly moved the ball for the opening goal in their friendly against New Zealand over the weekend would send shivers down any Socceroo’s spine.

Their star player, Bayern Munich’s Luiz Diaz, will run amok should the Socceroos be as timid as they were against Venezuela.

Tony Popovic gives Aiden O’Neill instructions.Credit: AP

“We will be against the best players in the world come the World Cup,” Popovic said.

“When you look at where he’s come from, where he’s played at Liverpool, Bayern Munich, outstanding for Colombia ... [he’s] played at the highest level for 50, 60 games a year. That’s what you’re up against - but that’s what’s coming in June.

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“We can expose ourselves to that now. We know his strengths. We have to try and stop the service that gets to him in the areas that he likes it. He’s very strong in transition. His best moments are when actually they’re defending deep, and they play him a ball, and he’s one-on-one with the defender. We’ve got to try and avoid those moments of giving the ball away in areas that can hurt us. Great test, great challenge.”

Popovic forecast several changes to his starting side. At least one of them will be forced, with defender Jason Geria departing camp after suffering an injury in the first half against Venezuela.

He hinted at a new central midfield combination, which could present opportunities for fit-again star Jackson Irvine or the in-form Cameron Devlin, who is yet to play under Popovic.

Popovic understands the risk of constant experimentation. But with seven months until the World Cup, he is convinced the short-term turbulence is worth it.

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