World Cup 2026 Australia thread

[rebelliousfeminist974]

True but I meant of the 8 named so far.

Out of the eight players named so far only Harry Souttar and Hayden Matthews would be likely to make the final 26-player list for the Socceroos along with possibly Nishan Velupillay also.

 

[JS96]

Leckies mobility in midfield is elite, but a midfield of leckie and irvine would be the ugliest football in roo history lol

I think James Holland would feel left out here.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Who should take our penalties in the World Cup?

Mo Toure will probably be our first choice penalty taker at the World Cup with Nestory Irankunda maybe as a close second.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

The only thing that I can think of is that Popa wants a "B" training squad as the "A" players start dribbling in.

 

[JS96]

Who should take our penalties in the World Cup?

Depends who's on the pitch but Boyle, Goodwin, Irankunda. Toure's recent miss shouldn't be too concerning.

 

[patjennings]

Who should take our penalties in the World Cup?

With the proviso of who is on the pitch

Behich
McGree
Toure
Duke
Irankunda

 

[mkxx]

Popovic was very clear in his press conference that Leckie was picked for his experience and Younis was not due to inexperience, but that his time will come. He said Leckie was the best player for Melb City in the weekend game v AUK. I watched that game. Leckie was good. Younis could have been but perhaps because he was marked so tightly by Auckland, his teammates kept going left.

Leckie was good in that game ,really? I watched that game and didn't see Leckie standout or anything.

 

[Keeper66]

Out of the eight players named so far only Harry Souttar and Hayden Matthews would be likely to make the final 26-player list for the Socceroos along with possibly Nishan Velupillay also.

Matthews likely?? An outside chance I would have said, far from likely.

 

[Quicky]

Depends who's on the pitch but Boyle, Goodwin, Irankunda. Toure's recent miss shouldn't be too concerning.

With the proviso of who is on the pitch

Behich
McGree
Toure
Duke
Irankunda

I don't feel like we have an intuitive penalty taker. The first to spring to mind for me was Circati, Bos, Irankunda.

 

[JS96]

I don't feel like we have an intuitive penalty taker. The first to spring to mind for me was Circati, Bos, Irankunda.

I suppose Goodwin has done well in the last.

Boyle takes many of them and despite recovering after the Peru miss I'm always nervous. Hrustic was poor last time around. Not too sure how well Bos goes.

 

[Quicky]

I suppose Goodwin has done well in the last.

Boyle takes many of them and despite recovering after the Peru miss I'm always nervous. Hrustic was poor last time around. Not too sure how well Bos goes.

Yeah fair call on Goodwin. I also want Goodwin for set pieces. I like Elder for the same reason.

 

[Bbouy]

Popovic was very clear in his press conference that Leckie was picked for his experience and Younis was not due to inexperience, but that his time will come. He said Leckie was the best player for Melb City in the weekend game v AUK. I watched that game. Leckie was good. Younis could have been but perhaps because he was marked so tightly by Auckland, his teammates kept going left.

Sort of. Leckie was picked to be considered because of his experience but he is an early arrival selection due to his lack of minutes which is why Younis isn't in THIS squad. Very evident by Popa's wording that Younis will be included in the next few batches of players. Most of the 8 players selected are selected because of their lack of minutes and if they were to continue on for another two weeks without training, they'd have no chance to make the squad. That's it.

 

[JS96]

What I like about the Leckie recall is he should keep everyone honest and give some wise world cup advice.

It may or may not be a distraction and players need to work things out themselves but I've always wondered about the benefits and pitfalls of having a few more players involved in the camp.

Boyle hung around in Qatar didn't he? Sainsbury was there as a fan and probably paid the odd visit.

It's a bit like crashing your mates holiday and it could be enjoyable or you'd wish those not involve just go away.

 

[patjennings]

Yeah fair call on Goodwin. I also want Goodwin for set pieces. I like Elder for the same reason.

Can't see either making the 26.