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2026 World Cup Squad

patjennings said:
To me, if we are playing counter attacking football then we need speedsters. Nish is that. Then Irankunda, Toure and Kuol. Let them swap at will and keep the defence guessing with Irvine making late runs into the box.
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Nosh is also very creative on the ball around the box. One or two little moves and he’s created a scoring opportunity for a teammate.

Nish and toure excite me. I’ve gone a little cold on itankunda. Still lots of potential though.
 
It’s quite possible this lot of Socceroos will be a lemon 🍋 at the World Cup. I was right about the U20 and how they failed big time.
We still don’t know our starting 11 let alone a backline that can do there job. No one in the ALM has stood out so far so I doubt there is room for any players even Goodwin at Adelaide had been hit and miss.
Poppa has 2 games left to work it out and i doubt even then he won’t even know who he is fielding cum World Cup. The last 4 Socceroos games have been woeful with a fluke win over Canada being the highlight.
 
NoMates said:
We still don’t know our starting 11 let alone a backline that can do there job. No one in the ALM has stood out so far so I doubt there is room for any players even Goodwin at Adelaide had been hit and miss.
Poppa has 2 games left to work it out and i doubt even then he won’t even know who he is fielding cum World Cup. The last 4 Socceroos games have been woeful with a fluke win over Canada being the highlight.
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I've done a slow review of all 4 games.

After getting to the 53 min mark of the Colombia game, Paramount have taken the full replay off - so I haven't been able to scrutinise the last 37 mins.

Up until that stage, Aus had performed surprisingly well.

I think I got to 60 odd mins of the Ven game, and it was poor in the first half. Goodwin and Iran didn't combine at all well on the left flank. It was getting better, but it wasn't good.

In the USA game Aus performed better than against Canada, which they won against a better Canadian side.

The USA had barely any chances in the second half. They were lucky.

In all games Aus was on top in 1v1s, but at that 53 min mark against Colombia, the difference was the smallest it has been in all Socceroo games since I started doing them from China for the first time for a decade, when Aus won 3-1.

Popa blooded a lot of new players - at the expense of securing results against Canada, USA, Ven and Colom.

I was surprised how good Irvine was against Colombia. At the 53 min mark the Socceroos had a pretty experienced line up, with Trewin and Toure the youngest and least experienced players. I was surprised how effective Trewin was - up until the 53 min mark.

Hadn't seen enough of Elder to evaluate him.

There has been a lot of info to process for Popa.
 
Decentric said:
I've done a slow review of all 4 games.

After getting to the 53 min mark of the Colombia game, Paramount have taken the full replay off - so I haven't been able to scrutinise the last 37 mins.

Up until that stage, Aus had performed surprisingly well.

I think I got to 60 odd mins of the Ven game, and it was poor in the first half. Goodwin and Iran didn't combine at all well on the left flank. It was getting better, but it wasn't good.

In the USA game Aus performed better than against Canada, which they won against a better Canadian side.

The USA had barely any chances in the second half. They were lucky.

In all games Aus was on top in 1v1s, but at that 53 min mark against Colombia, the difference was the smallest it has been in all Socceroo games since I started doing them from China for the first time for a decade, when Aus won 3-1.

Popa blooded a lot of new players - at the expense of securing results against Canada, USA, Ven and Colom.

I was surprised how good Irvine was against Colombia. At the 53 min mark the Socceroos had a pretty experienced line up, with Trewin and Toure the youngest and least experienced players. I was surprised how effective Trewin was - up until the 53 min mark.

Hadn't seen enough of Elder to evaluate him.

There has been a lot of info to process for Popa.
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I think Popa has a pretty good idea of his side. But I don't think we have seen it in total anywhere yet. In spite of my previous criticisms of his approach I am seeing progress and I think he is deliberately keeping his likely squad hidden from his opponents while still trying certain combinations out. I think we well end up being defensively solid - competitive in midfield and very quick up front. Hopefully the quick counters will count towards goals.
 
patjennings said:
I think Popa has a pretty good idea of his side. But I don't think we have seen it in total anywhere yet. In spite of my previous criticisms of his approach I am seeing progress and I think he is deliberately keeping his likely squad hidden from his opponents while still trying certain combinations out. I think we well end up being defensively solid - competitive in midfield and very quick up front. Hopefully the quick counters will count towards goals.
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The tricky positions are clearly irvines partner and rwb

You need oniells mobility, and that midfield does best at keep possession and defending, but they arent creating a lot of chances.

Im curious if a fully fit robbo is defensively strong enough to handle poppas system
 
grazorblade said:
The tricky positions are clearly irvines partner and rwb

You need oniells mobility, and that midfield does best at keep possession and defending, but they arent creating a lot of chances.

Im curious if a fully fit robbo is defensively strong enough to handle poppas system
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I'd like to see Silvera tried again at RWB with Irankunda in front of him - not Hrustic
 
NoMates post is probably a windup, I feel that Popa does know his lineup, Popa will invite teams onto us, we will not keep opponents defensively honest, lack creativity, Toure will sit to deep to threaten on the counter and 90% of attacking impetus will come through Bos and the odd set piece.
 
DandyCasey said:
NoMates post is probably a windup, I feel that Popa does know his lineup, Popa will invite teams onto us, we will not keep opponents defensively honest, lack creativity, Toure will sit to deep to threaten on the counter and 90% of attacking impetus will come through Bos and the odd set piece.
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No Mates post is a good natured wind up, but I have done a lot of data compilation - which has been laborious and I cant stand doing anymore for a while!

However, what I've learned has been really interesting. There is constant clamouring from fans to select players based on club performances, but sometimes they don't extrapolate to international football.

Take forwards Boyle and Yengi for instance. Boyle is a star in the Scottish league, whilst Yengi was struggling to get a game.

Yet Yengi has been far more effective as a Socceroo in recent times.

Also, Hrustic and Balard are playing in 2 bottom Eredivisie teams as midfielders. Balard is far more effective as a Socceroo since he has started playing.
 
DandyCasey said:
My squad, form and injury permitting.

GK Beach/Ryan/Izzo
RCB Miller/(Soutter or Degenak) CB Circati/Trewin LCB Burgess/Rowles
RWB Italiano/Bennie LWB Bos/(Silvera or Rodrigues)
DM O'Neil/Irvine DM Ballard/(Hrustic or Robertson or Nisbet)/Metcalfe
RW McGree/Segecic LW Irankunda/Velupillay/Kuol
CF Toure/Sapsford
Sub one other from above.

Irvine and Ryan automatically get in on international experience although realistically Behich and Boyle will get into Popas squad as well.

Not limited to but Miller, Rowles, Trewin, Metcalfe, Silvera have the advantage of covering multiple positions.

Yer got too much time on my hands, my current starting lineup, RWB still an experiment, two upfront and Metcalfe in behind to make it a midfield three.

---------------Beach
Miller-----Circati----Burgess
Rodrigues or Bennie-Irvine-Hrustic-Bos
---------------Metcalfe
---------Toure-Irankunda
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At this early stage, and conforming with Poppas preferred system, I'd go with:

‐‐-------------------------Ryan
---------- Circatti---Souttar----Burgess
Karacic--------------------------------------------Bos
--------------------McGree----Irvine
Irankunda-------------Toure---------Velupillay

A few caveats with that. Not sure if Burgess is going better than Rowles atm. Probably more of a threat at set pieces in his favour. Circatti better centrally but need to accommodate Souttar. Can McGree and Irvine defend well enough in central midfield? As someone asked a few days ago, is Irankunda better utilised as a sub coming on late against tired defenders? That's a watch and see for me.
 
dr. bellows said:
At this early stage, and conforming with Poppas preferred system, I'd go with:

‐‐-------------------------Ryan
---------- Circatti---Souttar----Burgess
Karacic--------------------------------------------Bos
--------------------McGree----Irvine
Irankunda-------------Toure---------Velupillay

A few caveats with that. Not sure if Burgess is going better than Rowles atm. Probably more of a threat at set pieces in his favour. Circatti better centrally but need to accommodate Souttar. Can McGree and Irvine defend well enough in central midfield? As someone asked a few days ago, is Irankunda better utilised as a sub coming on late against tired defenders? That's a watch and see for me.
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Popa always plays a DM next to Irvine, so McGree won’t be played there. McGree typically takes up one of the hybrid #10 / winger spots.

Also Miller is a lock for RWB. I think I saw the other day that he’s the most-capped player under Popa.
 
Bowden said:
Popa always plays a DM next to Irvine, so McGree won’t be played there. McGree typically takes up one of the hybrid #10 / winger spots.

Also Miller is a lock for RWB. I think I saw the other day that he’s the most-capped player under Popa.
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Indeed, if I had been trying to predict what Popa would do I would have put Miller at rwb and put a dm next to Irvine.
 
I've been thinking about this for a while. This would be my 2026 squad if I was manager (not who I think Popa will pick). Note: I am not considering Volpato at this time.

GK: Ryan, Izzo, Beach

DEF: Miller, Geria, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Matthews, Rowles, Bos, Behich

MID: Irvine, Balard, Devlin, Metcalfe, McGree, Hrustic, Irankunda, Goodwin, Segecic, Vellupilay

FWD: Toure, Sapsford, Caputo, Boyle

Notable Omissions: Gauci, Degenek, Trewin, Iredale, Italiano, Strain, Elder, Karacic, O'Neill, Robertson, Okon-Engstler, Yazbek, Nisbet, Silvera, Arzani, Tilio, Kuol, Milanovic, Duke, D'Agostino, Yengi, Stamatelopoulos, Badolato, Jovanovic
 
Popovic is the issue but if we can set up with Velupillay and Irankunda in different parts of the game, having them run through the defence will hopefully see the USA centre backs clip one of them. That afro bloke is susceptible.
 
In a way I'm glad most people are content and have very similar squads. It's been a long time since we were picking players I didn't like.

I think one or two or Arnold's qualifying windows annoyed me but otherwise they were decent picks.
 
Big drop on Australia Day as I'll be doing my official squads for the Socceroos (World Cup) and Matildas (Asian Cup). I pretty much have the Tillies squad in mind already, the Socceroos squad is still in progress.
 
So far I'm thinking (in order of surname):
  • Goalkeepers: Beach, Izzo, Ryan
  • Defenders: Bos, Burgess, Circati, Elder, Iredale, Matthews, Miller, Rowles, Souttar
  • Midfielders: Balard, Devlin, Hrustić, Irvine, McGree, Metcalfe, Volpato
  • Forwards: Bennie, Botić, Irankunda, Kuol, Sapsford, Segečić, Tilio, Mo Touré
Would be willing to consider many others. Any thoughts?
 
HonestSpursFan said:
So far I'm thinking (in order of surname):
  • Goalkeepers: Beach, Izzo, Ryan
  • Defenders: Bos, Burgess, Circati, Elder, Iredale, Matthews, Miller, Rowles, Souttar
  • Midfielders: Balard, Devlin, Hrustić, Irvine, McGree, Metcalfe, Volpato
  • Forwards: Bennie, Botić, Irankunda, Kuol, Sapsford, Segečić, Tilio, Mo Touré
Would be willing to consider many others. Any thoughts?
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I think I'm pretty much on this but have been looking at ways to cut a defender or two and just have Metcalfe and others as emergency wing backs.
 
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