Tournament football often rewards reliability as much as flair, and Geria appears to offer exactly that. He first worked under Popovic at Melbourne Victory in 2021, and that relationship seems central to this recall.
“I've learned the most off him than I have probably from any other coach I've had, and he's instilled a lot of belief in myself in elevating my game and making me a better player,” Geria said.
That matters. Popovic has long valued defenders who stick to structure, win their duels and stay switched on. Geria may not be the headline-grabber in the squad, but he looks like the kind of player a coach trusts to follow a game plan under pressure.
Geria’s international story has never followed the expected script. He made his Socceroos debut under Ange Postecoglou in 2016, then waited eight years for his second cap. He was overlooked for long stretches and seemed to drift out of the picture before Popovic brought him back.
“It's not ideal, your first one at 33 - but then again, I was away from here for eight years, that's not ideal either,” Geria said. “My story is not exactly the ideal script.”
That honesty is part of why this call-up resonates. Geria is not arriving as a novelty pick; he has stayed in the frame since Popovic took charge in October 2024. “Really gets the best out of me,” Geria said of the coach, and that may be the simplest explanation of all.
Now the challenge is turning an emotional breakthrough into a meaningful tournament role. As Australia move closer to the World Cup, Geria’s place in Popovic’s defensive plans will be one of the more compelling stories to watch.