In the long run, the Socceroos will hope that they can look back at this game as a building block rather than something momentous in and of itself. They weren’t particularly good but they found a way to win, which is a skill in and of itself, and they looked like they were able to work on a few things.
Bos, in his first ‘Roos game in nine months, was a bright spark in the XI and the young substitutes provided a real bolt of energy off the bench – giving reason to be hopeful for the future.
The play of Toure, in particular, was impressive even before he set up Balard’s goal but the patience and poise he should in the build-up to providing the assist was first-class. He’s just 21 but, especially given that he’s playing regularly at Randers, he looks ready to shoulder a larger role.
Updated
Full-time: Australia 1-0 New Zealand
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Socceroos spent a lot of pinned back and lacking in inspiration and played some pretty ugly football at times but, ultimately, found a goal that has delivered them a result.
Max Balard’s 87th minute goal on debut ensures that Tony Popovic remains unbeaten as Socceroo boss and Australia remains in the box seat to retain the Soccer Ashes.
Updated
87' | INSTANT IMPACT!!! 🔥
— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 5, 2025
Max Balard breaks the deadlock here on his debut! 🙌
🇦🇺 1-0 🇳🇿#AUSvNZL #Socceroos #ForeverGolden pic.twitter.com/k1Lfpttnax
90 Mins: Both sides create chances in the aftermath of the goal, which has provided a further jolt of energy after the substitutes.
Goal! Australia 1-0 New Zealand (Balard 87')
It’s Max Balard with a debut goal! After all of 120-odd seconds on the pitch!
But a massive amount of credit has to go to Toure. The striker, who has been Australia’s best since he came on, single-handily retains possession on the left and keeps an Australian attack alive before spearing a pass into the feet of Balard.
The midfielder then turns and places an effort into the bottom corner, giving the Socceroos the lead.
85 Mins: The Socceroos make another change as Teague makes way for Balard, who joins Izzo and Milanovic in making his debut tonight.
82 Mins: Almost Irankunda! Australia works the ball down the right and Miller does exceptionally to lunge forward and lift the ball to the top of the six-yard-box before it rolls out. Irankunda rises over his defender to meet it at the back post but his header goes over the bar.
81 Mins: Rufer wins up from range for the visitors but it’s always going wide and sails harmlessly out for a goal kick.
80 Mins: Milanovic makes a darting run central but his subsequent outside-of-the-boot pass sent central finds naught but defenders.
79 Mins: There will be no spectacular free kick from Irankunda, then; his attempt to dink the ball in easily cleared away by the Kiwis. I’ll tell the children.
78 Mins: Here we go, Irankunda has won a free kick. He’s standing over it but it would take something special from here.
78 Mins: 19,115 hardy souls have made the trip to Bruce Stadium for tonight’s game. Unfortunately, the football hasn’t done much to warm them up.
74 Mins: The Socceroo changes are official: Touré, Milanović, and Irankunda replace Hrustic, Boyle, and Metcalfe.
Singh, meanwhile, has been replaced by Finn Surman.
Updated
73 Mins: Touré, Milanović, and Irankunda are all up and preparing to come on. Looks like a new frontline for the Socceroos.
70 Mins: De Vries can’t continue and, joined by Just, makes way for James McGarry and Ben Old.
Updated
69 Mins: De Vries is down on the left flank for the All Whites and scoots over the touchline as the doctor makes his way over to him. Looks like he’ll need subbed off.
68 Mins: I promise I’m not being deliberately sparse with the updates, there’s just not been a lot to justify one in these past few exchanges.
A few Socceroo players are warming up on the touchline but nobody has the tracksuit off preparing to come on.
64 Mins: A nice turn from Boyle gets him facing goal and advancing towards the penalty area but he opts to cut the ball back rather than go himself and the pass is wayward.
62: Wood, Thomas, and Payne make way for the Kiwis, replaced by Callan Elliot, Alex Rufer, and Kosta Barbarouses. The most likely-looking goal scorer for either side departs.
61 Mins: An hour now gone at Bruce Stadium. If either of the coaches had planned substitutions, now is about the time you’d be expecting to see them.
60 Mins: Payne is back up and we’ve resumed play.
Izzo denies Wood not once, but twice in the first half! 💪 🚫
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) September 5, 2025
Watch the #SoccerAshes live now on 10 Drama. Stream free on 10 pic.twitter.com/LMEL8fmfqY
59 Mins: Bos and Payne both fly for a ball played down the right, with the latter copping a head knock in their resulting collision and needing treatment.
57 Mins: A threatening ball into the box just falls for Michael Boxall but the Australians converge around him and, led by Izzo, deflect his shot away for a comer that’s then cleared away.
56 Mins: A slip from the Kiwi defence allows Boyle to burst in behind but then the Hibs man himself slips over at the crucial moment, preventing him from getting a shot off!
55 Mins: McCowatt, having shaken of his knock, gets off a shot but Cameron Burgess gets across to block it away for a corner the Aussies, eventually, scramble away.
52 Mins: Metcalfe cleans up Callum McCowatt and gives away a free kick, with the Silkeborg attacker slow in getting back to his feet.
50 Mins: Metcalfe and Bos, their connection dating back to their time together in the Melbourne City academy, continue to combine on the left but they can’t create a scoring opportunity on this occasion.
49 Mins: The Kiwis have picked up where they left off and are doing the early running – Wood laying the ball off for Singh atop the box only for the midfielder to prove unable to pull the trigger.
2H Kick Off
We are back underway at Bruce Stadium.
Miller has replaced Silvera for the Socceroos, while O’Neill has replaced Yazbek.
Updated
You might have noticed this series being referred to as the Soccer Ashes and be wondering why. Created back in 1923, they served as the prize during meetings between the Socceroos and All Whites until 1954, when they slipped into anonymity.
The titular ashes are the remains of cigars smoked by Australian captain Alex Gibb and New Zealand captain George Campbell following 1923 meeting. They were then placed into a special silver-plated razor case that was carried at the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli in 1915, which itself was then contained in a wooden casket built from a combination of New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple.
After being lost in 1954, they were then found 69 years later, when they were found in the garage of the former home of Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) chairman Sydney Storey.
It’s almost certain that Popovic will utilise all five substitutions available to him in the second-half, the question is what they’ll be.
Given that they’ve been amongst the Socceroos’ best, you’d be hesitant to take off Bos and Metcalfe on the left flank but, this being a friendly where, no matter what the coaches say, there are bigger things at play than the result, that might not mean much.
Certinaly, the Socceroos attack feels like it could use an injection of impetus from the likes of Milanović, Segacic, Touré, or Irankunda but who will it be? Likewise, the midfield feels like it could use a bit more drive and a bit more movement, especially when trying to play through the Kiwi press, but does that mean Balard? Or perhaps it’s the time for O’Neill to come on.
With Silvera copping a knock during the opening stanza he could be withdrawn for Miller as a precaution – lord knows that after Riley McGree’s injury issues Boro fans must already be pretty miffed with the Socceroos.
What a way to mark your @Socceroos debut from Paul Izzo! 🧤
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) September 5, 2025
The best chance of a tense first half fell to @NFFC and @NZALLWHITES forward Chris Wood, with Izzo equal to the challenge to leave the scores level at the break 💪
Watch the second half of #AUSvNZL live on Paramount+… pic.twitter.com/tR8Obzmkmi
HT: Australia 0-0 New Zealand
A first-half in which not a lot happened comes to a scoreless end. Bazeley will be the happier of the two coaches heading into the break as his Kiwis had more of the ball, more shots, and the best of the chances – with Izzo called into action on multiple occasions to deny Wood.
Indeed, the Nottingham striker has been slowly getting closer and closer to opening the scoring at Bruce Stadium and while this Socceroo side has a proven adeptness at absorbing pressure, their aren’t many strikers in world football right now that you’d want less to build into a game than the All White skipper.
For the hosts, you can see that they’re trying to execute certain patterns and movements in possession – Popovic highlighted their play with the ball as an area of focus for this window – but, being generous, it’s clear it’s still a work in progress. The Australian’s best moments have come when Bos is able to get on the ball and run at the Kiwis.
Updated
45+ Mins: Multiple corners from the All Whites can’t break the Socceroos resistance and it’s cleared away.
45 Mins: Izzo with another big save to deny Wood! The New Zealand skipper receives a pass atop the box, opens up an angle and sends a well-struck effort towards the bottom corner, only for the keeper to get down low to his right and palm the attempt out for a corner.
43 Mins: Australia with a shot on target, their first of the game! The hosts work the ball forward and find Metcalfe at the top of the box, with his resulting shot stinging the palms of Crocombe.
Updated
42 Mins: Australia don’t do much with the ball when they have it: pegged into their own half and eventually booting it long to give it back.
41 Mins: Yazbek brings down Singh for a free kick. It’s recycled short and after knocking it around their backline for a while… well the Kiwis have actually been knocking it around their backline for about two minutes now. No wait, they just turned it over when they attempted to go forward.
Updated
37 Mins: Payne gets into a bit of space but his cross gets away from him and finds Izzo rather than intended recipient Wood. The Nottingham Forest striker may have been offside had it found him.
35 Mins: After mostly been ineffectual with implementing the patterns and movement they’ve worked on during training to this point, there’s a glimmer of promise from the Australians. Eventually, though, it peters out when Bos’ cross goes too close Max Crocombe and the Kiwi keeper claims.
35 Mins: Silvera is back to his feet, gingerly, and the Australians re-start things with a free kick.
34 Mins: Silvera remains down on the turf, receiving treatment to what looks to his left ankle. Concerning signs for Boro fans given his role in their winning start to the Championship season.
32 Mins: Silvera is crunched in a pincer movement by De Vries and Elijah Just and goes down in quite a bit of pain. Popovic not happy with the defender’s treatment from his position on the touchline.
Updated
31 Mins: Metcalfe slips a ball through to Bos on an overlapping run down the left. He slides a pass across the turf looking to place it into the path of Boyle but it’s cleared away before it can reach the attacker.
28 Mins: The game’s rhythm at this point can be basically summed up as New Zealand has more of the ball without creating much and the Australians really only look dangerous whenever Bos goes on a run.
24 Mins: A mixup from the Australians almost sees Thomas pounce on a ball loose in the penalty area but the hosts are just able to recover and clear in time.
22 Mins: Life from the Australians! And its delivered by easily their best player tonight in Bos!
The Feyenoord flanker goes on a run down the left that eventually sees weave around multiple Kiwi defenders and get to the top of the penalty area, from where he blasts a shot over the bar.
21 Mins: The Kiwis have taken control of the game at this point, with the hosts struggling to string much in teh way of passes together and mostly being forced to defend.
18 Mins: A big save from Izzo on Wood! The Kiwi captain bursts in behind the Socceroo lines after a superb pass from Singh and is one-on-one with the debutant. The keeper, however, is quick to come out to close off the angles and force a shot from range, which he subsequently gets down low to his right to keep out.
Updated
15 Mins: More Kiwi build-up. It’s all been rather tepid thus far, with moments that would quicken the pulse struggling he break through the generally laborious periods of possession from both sides.
14 Mins: Another extended period of Kiwi possession – they’re seeing a lot of the ball in these last few exchanges – ends with Tim Payne whipping in a cross that’s cleared away for a corner.
11 Mins: A dangerous looking effort from Singh! The midfielder finds a yard of space atop the box and flashes an effort on goal, sending Izzo diving to his left as it sails just wide of the post.
10 Mins: Degenek plays the ball back to Izzo, who promptly hears the footsteps of Wood. Rather than panic, however, the on-debut keeper drags the ball back and sends the Kiwi captain to the shops.
9 Mins: A long throw in from De Vries is headed away by Circati but the Australians are unable to clear their lines and their Kiwi opponents resume possession.
8 Mins: An extended period of possession for the Kiwis takes place but they can’t find a way through Australia’s organised shape and their eventual long, speculative ball forward for Francis De Vries is cleaned up by Silvera.
5 Mins: Bos again gets down the left but pulls up when he reaches the opposition penalty area and plays a pass backwards, which allows the defence to get back into position and forces the Socceroos to reset.
4 Mins: Oof. Metcalfe feeds Bos into space and he bursts all the way down the left and into the Kiwi box, before his attempted squaring ball deflects off a defender, hits the post and goes out of play. The All Whites clear the resulting corner.
3 Mins: The first shot of the game goes the way of the Kiwis, who are pressing high early, but it’s tepid and well over the bar.
2 Min: Izzo goes long looking for Boyle, who has started as the nine as anticipated, but it’s comfortably cleared away by Joe Bell.
1 Min: New Zealand quickly work the ball forward from kickoff but after some scrambling defending the ball gets knocked free and Izzo comes out to claim.
Updated
Kick Off
We are underway at Bruce Stadium!
Australia will be wearing their green and gold kits, dark green shorts, and white socks in this contest. As you might expect from a team called the All Whites, the Kiwis are wearing a retro-inspired all-white kit.
Getting warm 😤
— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 5, 2025
🇦🇺 v 🇳🇿 - 5.9.25, 7:45pm AEST
🏟️: GIO Stadium
📱💻📺: 10 Drama, Paramount+#ForeverGolden #VisitCanberra #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/3ok8ZicO2P
At least someone is warm… it’s freezing up here in the grandstand.
Teams are out on the pitch and the anthems are being sung. Kickoff is moments away here in the Australian capital.
Now, the question most of you are probably asking. When do we get to see the kids?
For a start, anyone hoping to see Noah Botić is going to have to wait until at least the return leg in Auckland, with the former Western United stiker joining Anthony Kalik in missing out on the 23-player squad for tonight’s game.
When it comes to attacking options off the bench, Popovic isn’t exactly shy of options with Touré, Milanović, Irankunda and Segečić all sitting behind him in the dugout. But it’s also difficult to see him introducing all four of them into the one game tonight. Instead, he’s likely earmarked some players for use in New Zealand on Tuesday, while others will play tonight.
With Teague and Yazbek starting in the midfield, Balard will have to make his international debut off the bench tonight but given his consistent form and work to improve since he was in a pre-June window training camp he has to be close to getting that cap at this point.
Updated
It’ll be an incredibly proud moment for Degenek tonight, who has been given the honour of wearing the armband for the Socceroos for the first time.
Settling in Sydney as a refugee after escaping conflict in the Balkans as young child, Degenek often speaks for the deep love and appreciation he has for the Socceroos and what it means to him to get to represent his country on the international stage.
Amid injuries and an absence from the Crvena zvezda team sheet, he had found himself in the international wilderness in recent times – his absence from the Socceroos squad at the last Asian Cup, where he likely would have been introduced to see off South Korea in the quarterfinals, still burns – but after making the move to TSC he’s been brought back into the fold by Popovic.
An exceptional professional, resolute defender, dressing room tone-setter, and now international captain, he’s a great asset to Australia heading towards a World Cup.
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It’s somewhat flown underneath the radar amidst all the excitement about the youngsters but Silvera’s return to the starting XI continues a remarkable few months for the former Mariner.
Last picked for the national team for their 0-0 draw with Indonesia in Jakarta – back when Graham Arnold was coach – Silvera had a couple of unspectacular stints on loan at Portsmouth and Blackpool during the offseason and was expected to be shown the door at parent club Middlesbrough during the offseason.
The 24-year-old, however, has reinvented himself as a wing-back for new Boro boss Rob Edwards and went from unwanted to a constant presence at the Riverside: starting every game amidst an undefeated start to the season that sees Boro sitting top of the Championship.
All Whites XI
The starting team to take on the Socceroos in Canberra 🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 5, 2025
🏆 Soccer Ashes 2025 - Match 1/2
🇳🇿 All Whites v Socceroos 🇦🇺
🏟️ GIO Stadium, Canberra
🕰️ 7:45pm local / 9:45pm NZT
🎥 Watch live and free on FIFA+ and TVNZ
👕 Get your retro kit from https://t.co/96XJC7W0Cu pic.twitter.com/8sMEFj5NXv
New Zealand secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup back in March, beating New Caledonia 3-0 to claim Oceania’s lone place at the newly expanded, 48-team tournament and an argument can be made that, even with a couple of notable absences tonight, Darren Bazeley will have one of the most talented Kiwi sides ever at his disposal at next year’s tournament.
The star of the show and leading the line tonight is Chris Wood, the Nottingham Forest striker – the lone Premier League player on the park tonight – who is poised to overtake Mark Viduka as Oceania’s greatest-ever goal scorer in the top-flight.
Marko Stamenić and Liberato Cacace have both been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury but the Kiwis still have the likes of Sarpreet Singh, a teammate of Degenek at Serbian side TSC Bačka Topola and PEC Zwolle’s Ryan Thomas, making his return to international football for the first time since 2019 after a horror injury run, to call upon.
Socceroos XI
📋 Your CommBank #Socceroos starting XI against New Zealand in Canberra.
— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 5, 2025
©️ Milos Degenek captains the side for the first time
🧢 Paul Izzo to become Cap No. #650
🇦🇺 v 🇳🇿 - 5.9.25, 7:45pm AEST
🏟️: GIO Stadium
📱💻📺: 10 Drama, Paramount+#ForeverGolden #AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/OQWTgyhdbX
For all the talk of young blood, Popovic will deploy an XI mostly filled with tried and tested players for tonight’s fixture – which while not as exciting as a widely experimental lineup makes sense from a World Cup preparation standpoint.
Martin Boyle looks set to lead the line, the centre forward role not something Socceroo fans are used to seeing him do but one that he has often filled for club side Hibernian. He’ll be flanked by Connor Metcalfe, who scored his maiden international goal in Australia’s win over Saudi Arabia back in June, and Ajdin Hrustić.
Patrick Yazbek and Ryan Teague will fill the double pivot at the base of the midfield while Jordy Bos and Sammy Silvera will flank a back three of Cameron Burgess, Miloš Degenek, and Alessandro Circati.
We do, however, have a debut between the posts, with Paul Izzo’s regular and strong performances with Danish side Randers rewarded with a first-ever international start.
Lewis Miller takes a spot on the bench for the first time in the Popovic era, as do youngsters Max Balard, Segečić, Irankunda, Nicolas Milanović and Mo Touré.
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Preamble
Howdy all, Joey Lynch here, and welcome to a new chapter in the Tony Popovic era of the Socceroos: their first game following their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with focus now well and truly shifting towards preparations for the global showpiece.
Aptly, it will come against an opponent that has also already punched their ticket to North America, too, in the form of New Zealand, with tonight’s fixture and the return leg in Auckland next Tuesday also marking the resumption of the Soccer Ashes rivalry between the two sides.
From an Australian perspective, much of the build-up for this game has centred on the young and uncapped players that have been selected in Popovic’s squad – chief amongst them star boy Nestory Irankunda and rising Portsmouth dynamo Adrian Segečić.
While the coach has preferred continuity and experience throughout qualifying, with World Cup qualification secured, the A-League was still in its offseason, and several key contributors either injured or just resolving their club situation, there are seven uncapped players in the 25-player squad that has been selected for this window, and a further eight possess fewer than ten international appearances.
We’ll be back with lineups shortly.
