The Socceroos have fallen to a 1-0 defeat in their World Cup warm-up against Mexico at the famous Rose Bowl Stadium, but an impressive display after half-time has given coach Tony Popovic plenty to ponder with less than two weeks to go until their opening fixture.In their penultimate outing before their June 13 clash against Turkey in Vancouver, Popovic’s side recovered from a flat opening to outperform El Tri in all aspects but the scoreboard, with Johan Vasquez’s spectacular 28th-minute header proving to be the difference in a true game of two halves.Popovic appeared to treat it as a dress rehearsal for their World Cup opener, rolling out close to his preferred starting XI and asking them to play as they likely will then: with numbers behind the ball.One of a few tense moments throughout the game.Getty ImagesThey were mostly successful in restricting Mexico to precious few clear-cut chances, aside from Vasquez’s effort from a corner kick - and, a few minutes before that, a fantastic reaction save from Maty Ryan to deny the crafty Alexis Vega.It was tough to watch, and most of the 78,479 fans in attendance occupied themselves with repeated Mexican waves.But the Socceroos were far too passive, and showed too much respect to their hosts. In attack, Australia offered very little. Almost nothing, actually, in the opening 45 minutes.To the first drinks break – held a few minutes after Mexico’s goal – the Socceroos had seen just 15 per cent of possession. Granted, an early foul by Edson Alvarez on Mohamed Toure, as he threatened to break through Mexico’s defensive line – which could have been a card of either colour – was puzzlingly not paid and, had it been, the game might have unfolded very differently.Mo Toure misses an empty goal.Paramount+ Australia/XMaking his first appearance for the national team in 2026, Toure also had an open goal at his mercy just before half-time but screwed his shot wide after receiving a gift from Mexico’s Mateo Chavez, who got a defensive header horribly wrong and should have been made to pay.Outside those moments, though, and despite the ever-threatening spectre of the speedy and powerful Jordan Bos on the left, there wasn’t much to get excited about from an Australian perspective.That all changed in the second half. From the moment the match resumed, Popovic’s men came out with a completely different mindset, previously clogged spaces were stretching open, and the game turned on its head.Suddenly, they were dominating possession and pinning El Tri back in their own defensive half. Toure was getting loose, drawing fouls and causing chaos in the channels, while Australia’s attacking midfielders came more into the game.Nestory Irankunda in an aerial contest with Israel Reyes.Getty ImagesTwice they tested Mexico’s veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa: once in the 48th minute, when a long-range Aiden O’Neill effort forced an outstanding save, and then again after Popovic’s first raft of changes, in a move where substitute Ajdin Hrustic was unleashed and should have finished from close range.The hosts thought they’d jagged a second goal with about 15 minutes to go from a free kick, but were pulled back by the referee for going too early, with protests from Australian players sparking a brief push-and-shove session between the two sides.Though Australia’s late rally for an equaliser proved unsuccessful, they showed enough to provide reason for optimism about what they can do at the World Cup. Provided they get the balance right in their approach. And of course, take their chances when they come.