Socceroos striker and Perth Glory captain Adam Taggart opens up on World Cup hopes and experiences

Not many West Australians can say they have represented the Socceroos at one FIFA World Cup; if Adam Taggart has his way, he will be the first to reach two. The Perth Glory skipper’s experiences at the 2014 World Cup have permeated the fabric of his life and sculpted the finer points of his career across the ensuing decade. More than a decade on from his appearance at the 2014 World Cup, Taggart has vowed to do everything in his power to help the Socceroos qualify for the 2026 event. Taggart was not selected for either of the Socceroos’ squads for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, the latter coming after being involved in qualifying but eventually missing out. Two and a half years on from that devastation, the striker says the pain is driving him to make sure he is on the flight to North America in the event of Australian qualification. “Missing out on the last one has been a bit of a motivation factor. Those little setbacks usually push you forward,” Taggart told The West Australian. “Knowing there’s one coming up, it’s definitely a big part of what pushes me to try and develop and get better every day. It would mean the world to experience that again.” Taggart was just 21 years old when he journeyed to Brazil for the 2014 tournament, called up by then-Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou for what proved to be a formative event in his career. “Being so young for me, it was an eye-opener into the real world of football and to experience and understand what it really meant,” Taggart said. “When you’re young and naive and haven’t experienced a massive tournament like that, you realise the level you need to be at, the level of interest, the level of the pressure of a big game. “Being around top players, staff and professionalism, everything magnified the meaning of what a big opportunity that was.” Taggart came off the bench against the Netherlands as the Socceroos chased the late equaliser, which never eventuated in their brave 3-2 defeat and with Tim Cahill suspended for the final game of the group, Taggart started in their 3-0 loss against Spain. Spain featured a who’s who of generational talents: Real Madrid centre back Sergio Ramos, Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, midfield maestro Xabi Alonso and striking duo Fernando Torres and David Villa, while their three substitutes were superstars Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata and David Silva. “Being able to play against players you’ve been watching on TV growing up, it was great to experience that, to see what level you needed to be at to succeed, progress and be the best player that you can be,” Taggart said. “It gave me a clear understanding of where I needed to get to, and it was a big learning of knowing what I wanted to be and realising the level I needed to get to. “That was always a big part of my motivation in the development of my game. For all the years that have gone by since then, I always think about it and remind myself of what I wanted to be and what I want to be.” Getting the chance to play under current Tottenham coach Postecoglou, was also an eye-opener. “To see the standards he set and his tactical awareness, the way he spoke and motivated people was unbelievable,” Taggart said. “It was something to experience at a young age, which was invaluable in moving forward. I tried to make the most of every moment I had.” Taggart’s inclusion in Australia coach Tony Popovic’s most recent squad and subsequent starting berth against Indonesia indicate the current boss has faith in his ability to contribute at the international level. The man himself is not getting ahead of himself, particularly when Australia are still yet to qualify, but he already has one eye on preparation in case the call is forthcoming. “There’s a mixture of things, but to simplify it, it’s to be as fit as I can and to be scoring goals regularly,” Taggart said. “You break it down and realise what you need to do on a daily and yearly basis, and I’m looking forward to that challenge. Being older, you understand what you need to do; it’s just about executing it.” Of course, Australia still need to qualify, and they took a huge step towards doing so with two wins in their most recent international window. A win against Japan in front of potentially more than 50,000 fans at Optus Stadium would effectively punch the Socceroos’ ticket for the 2026 showpiece event, given their three-point buffer over Saudi Arabia and vastly superior goal difference. Taggart scored in his last Socceroos game in Perth and would love nothing more than to be in the side for the June blockbuster. “Playing that last game in Perth was one of my most enjoyable games of my career. For me, that was a fantastic moment — to play for my country in front of friends and family in a city that I’m born in meant a lot,” he said. “Being able to have experienced that before, I would be over the moon if I could be involved again.”