Australia Coach: We Need to Play Against the Best More Often to Earn Respect

Australia's national team coach, Tony Popovic, believes the country needs to establish itself among the global football elite to command more respect from referees, following his team's penalty shootout exit against Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16.

Popovic's squad lost the shootout 4-2 after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time, marking the third time in their history they've failed to win a knockout stage match at the tournament. However, the Australian specialist suggested that several key decisions during the game went against his team, emphasizing the nation's need to join the leading footballing countries.

"The only way we can change this is by competing against the best more often in major tournaments. Our performances should already be a significant step in that direction. We will have to continue doing this to earn the necessary respect, whether that's in this room, from people in general, from referees, or from opponents. This can change many things. We are on our way to achieving this, and we know we have to earn it," Tony Popovic stated after the match.

Australia participated in their sixth consecutive World Cup but has now been eliminated in their first knockout match three times. Before the loss to Egypt, they fell to eventual champions Italy in 2006 and Argentina four years ago in Qatar. "I want this to inspire us to be better. I hope we take a step forward at the Asian Cup, which is coming up in January. And then in four years, let's have bigger goals, bigger expectations," the Australian coach added.

Six of Popovic's starting players were under 23, including teenager Lucas Herrington, who hit the crossbar during the penalty shootout. However, Australia's coach defended his decision to allow the young central defender to take a penalty despite his lack of experience. "He played in the previous two matches as an 18-year-old, so if I trust him to play in a game where we needed a result against Paraguay, when we could have been eliminated, then what's the difference with a penalty?" Popovic explained.