Australia's World Cup aspirations have been reignited following a 3-1 victory over China in Adelaide on Thursday night. Facing a 1-0 deficit just before halftime, the Socceroos found themselves in a precarious position, with the threat of World Cup elimination looming large. However, Lewis Miller's equalizer, along with goals from Craig Goodwin and a stoppage-time strike by Nishan Velupillay, turned the tide and secured a crucial three points for the team in Tony Popovic's debut as head coach. This comeback victory not only boosts Australia's chances in the World Cup qualifiers but also marks a promising start for Popovic at the helm of the Socceroos.

Low expectations in China are adding pressure on the Socceroos as they prepare for their World Cup qualifying match. Australia's opponents in Adelaide are still in search of their first point in this stage of qualification, making the stakes even higher for the Socceroos. Group C of the third round of Asia’s World Cup qualification initially appeared challenging, but for Australia, it has turned into a tough situation. With only one point from matches against Bahrain and Indonesia, the team's performance has not gone as planned. This situation became even more dramatic with the recent resignation of Graham Arnold as head coach, followed by the appointment of Tony Popovic. Popovic's first match in charge will be against China in Adelaide on Thursday, and it is crucial for the team to secure a win, especially with a tough match against group leaders Japan looming just five days later. On a positive note, Popovic has a proven track record in Asian football, having led the Western Sydney Wanderers to victory in the Asian Champions League in 2014. One of the highlights of that campaign was a semi-final win against the Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande, a time when Chinese football was gaining significant recognition on the global stage.