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Socceroos vs Cameroon/ Curaçao March 2026 🇦🇺🇨🇲🇨🇼

How should Australia do March?

  • European based camp

    Votes: 7 38.9%

  • North American based camp

    Votes: 6 33.3%

  • Australian based camp

    Votes: 4 22.2%

  • Middle Eastern based camp

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • Total voters
    18
Maybe Daniel Bennie would have been good to get a look in. But he has only really started getting some bench minutes since January.
Sapsford seems to have lost his starting spot at Dundee.
Ballard is probably unlucky again, seems they just rate the others over him. Team form is pretty dire.
Is there anyone else who might have got a look in that wouldn't be considered a bolter?

Squad also appears to have quite a bit more experience than previous squads. He probably could have fit in another kid in place of a Boyle even with Irvine out.
 
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HappyGuus said:
I'm a Vuck man but Nish shouldn't be in the Socceroos squad, he's been nowhere near up to standard this season.


I think Popa said if Volpato chooses us then he won't be in our squad until after the World Cup.
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He didn’t say that. What he said was that if he wants to go to the World Cup, he can tell us—and then we can take it from there. Right now, he hasn’t indicated that. Volpato's discussion with Australia, was about the idea of playing for Australia whether that's now or for the future—like the possibility of him playing for Australia at the Asian Cup in nine months. If he wants to, he can. Volpato holds the leverage.

Obviously if Volpato is having serious thoughts about playing for Australia then I don't see why he wouldn't take the opportunity for the World Cup instead of deciding to play afterwards. We will probably find out from now till May what decision he makes.
 
No Balard but Okon in is ridiculous. Waste of time bringing Mabil back, and Velupillay has not been impressive since returning from injury. I presume Irvine is being given a break so he can continue his injury recovery? No Rowles either? Good to see Herrington given a chance, but I suspect he will not be given any game time. Haven't seen Suto play so let's see what he can do. I do not have high hopes for Deni Juric.

Surely Segacic would have been a shoe-in to this squad if he hadn't defected?
 
Agree with the Nish sentiments

12 months ago, looking like in our brightest forwards, and was very, very good for Aus. But hasn't regained his form enough
 
Keeper66 said:
No Balard but Okon in is ridiculous. Waste of time bringing Mabil back, and Velupillay has not been impressive since returning from injury. I presume Irvine is being given a break so he can continue his injury recovery? No Rowles either? Good to see Herrington given a chance, but I suspect he will not be given any game time. Haven't seen Suto play so let's see what he can do. I do not have high hopes for Deni Juric.

Surely Segacic would have been a shoe-in to this squad if he hadn't defected?
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Yep - that and the Boyle and Hrustic (luxury player that is not good enough to be a luxury player) inclusions are the only ones that are my issues. The Okon over Balard is the big one. While Okon looks good in a dominant team he goes missing like Teague when the going gets tough and doesn't offer himself for the CBs as a outlet. When we are going to the World Cup where we are under the pump these are two players that are not ready for that. Against Cameroon and Curacao when we expect to dominate Okon will probably look good - but so what - it proves nothing.

Okon and Teague will develop and will be around - but blood them in the AFC Nations League not where they will be liabilities
 
One thing about Nish is he has proven he can create things and score for the NT....he's got more potential to turn a game than boyle or Awer imo. But he has been slow in his progression from injury.

I guess popa thinks he will recover his form and fitness fully and be on the plane so needs him in preparations.
 
I think you can start to see the World Cup squad he'll select. This will be the basis of it with added players like Souttar, Irvine, Toure maybe Volpato etc and a few fringe players being dropped or selected but overall, you could probably name 20 of the players he'll select barring injury.
 
tsf said:
One thing about Nish is he has proven he can create things and score for the NT....he's got more potential to turn a game than boyle or Awer imo. But he has been slow in his progression from injury.

I guess popa thinks he will recover his form and fitness fully and be on the plane so needs him in preparations.
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3 goals in 5 qualifiers puts a lot of money in the bank.
 
1000018674.jpg

My thoughts:

Gauci > Beach
Balard > Okon-Engstler
Sapsford > All forwards bar Irankunda
Bennie > Karacic
Rowles > Degenek, Geria

Degenek, Geria, Behich, Mabil all very meh.

Velupillay, Boyle, Juric very lucky.

I wanted to see T. Yengi.

If Suto can be brought in Segecic should have been a no brainer (spilt milk)

This squad feels very weak, particularly for depth.
 
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Bbouy said:
I think you can start to see the World Cup squad he'll select. This will be the basis of it with added players like Souttar, Irvine, Toure maybe Volpato etc and a few fringe players being dropped or selected but overall, you could probably name 20 of the players he'll select barring injury.
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Well that worries the shit out of me because I only want 15 of that squad - then add the 4 you mentioned - that means I have 7 different to Popovic. (I really don't expect Volpato for the World Cup)

That said - I want to take Popovic at his word 'we want to do something special'. I guess we will find out at the end of May.
 
Quicky said:
View attachment 5936

My thoughts:

Gauci > Beach
Balard > Okon-Engstler
Sapsford > All forwards bar Irankunda
Bennie > Karacic
Rowles > Degenek, Geria

Degenek, Geria, Behich, Mabil all very meh.

Velupillay, Boyle, Juric very lucky.

I wanted to see T. Yengi.

If Suto can ne brought in Segecic should have been a no brainer (spilt milk)

This squad feels very weak, particularly for depth.
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I would bring in Farrell at LWB over Behich. We know what Behich offers. At the moment Farrell is playing at LCB at WSW. I think that is a big tactical miss for Popovic.

Intrasquad games give Farrell the job to piss off Irankunda. When that happens and Irankunda reacts use it as a teaching moment. everyone knows his flair ups and he will obviously be targeted in June. Teach him now that is to be expected and proves he is doing them damage.
 
Bbouy said:
I think you can start to see the World Cup squad he'll select. This will be the basis of it with added players like Souttar, Irvine, Toure maybe Volpato etc and a few fringe players being dropped or selected but overall, you could probably name 20 of the players he'll select barring injury.
Click to expand...
I think this has been the case for a little while. Having said that no one has really kicked the door down and demanded selection. There are still just a bunch of players who are about the same level as each other, and it is just personal preference.

There were a lot of moves in the off season, followed by a lot of injuries and lack of minutes. Up front we had Carter, Stama, Botic, Yengi, Goodwin who all dropped off. Milanovic is nowhere to be seen. Ballard's team has gone from mid table to relegated. Nisbett has been unable to pull his side into promotion contention. Farrell and Matthews injured and not playing. Even Sapsford and Segacic (before he defected), they've had decent seasons and minutes, but are back to being sometimes starters.

Any of these could have gone differently and been right in contention. The positives moves have been Bos, Italiano, Toure and Robertson coming back into the side for Cardiff. Still not really a great success rate.
 
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