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2026 World Cup Squad

Frankly Speaking said:
Teague is absolutely not required standard.
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Neither is Okon yet. I get his potential and he has improved but this expressway to stardom is due to his dad and he's had the jewel tag on him.

I want him to succeed and be world class but I'm not sure he's going to on his own accord. Of course Benfica is a massive ask and he's got a lot of sloppy aspects of his game to clean up. I find him too casual on the ball and runs riskly at the back in build up. He got caught out for junior national teams so the world cup as a bigger number will catch on to those vulnerabilities.
 
JS96 said:
Neither is Okon yet. I get his potential and he has improved but this expressway to stardom is due to his dad and he's had the jewel tag on him.

I want him to succeed and be world class but I'm not sure he's going to on his own accord. Of course Benfica is a massive ask and he's got a lot of sloppy aspects of his game to clean up. I find him too casual on the ball and runs riskly at the back in build up. He got caught out for junior national teams so the world cup as a bigger number will catch on to those vulnerabilities.
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Agree 100%.
 
socceroosmad said:
Evidence?
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Paul sprinting to Popovic* after Bos scored against Cameroon shouting 'my son, my son' trying to claim and deflected assist. Okon wasn't on the radar until his dad joined the coaching team.

The issue is Okon is selected ahead of better players who are ready. Okon isn't ready just yet but the next cycle should see him grow. We have much better ball players and I think he's too much like James Holland with a casualness on the ball and defensive lapses.
 
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rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Connor Metcalfe hasn't been getting much game time for St. Pauli this year but his experience as part of the Socceroos playing list during previous World Cup cycles would likely make him a lock for the final 26-player squad.
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If it were chess, Metcalfe would be a queen. He'll be going for the versatility. Intensive camp and the practice games and he'll actually be fit and fresh and not sore post season.
 
jimshady said:
Wait did this actually happen?
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Yes, post goal replay. Look I get the father joy but this is no different to Robbie Cornthwaite hugging Holger then Kennedy scored against Iraq basically saying 'please pick me for the word cup'. Call me cynical but when people aren't in on merit they resort to brown nosing, which I suppose is what happens the majority of the time.
 
Then compare Segecic being flown all that way to be benched. Balard to be stuffed around then to score on debut and Popovic to say 'yeah he had an alright day'.
 
DandyCasey said:
Popas most consistent selections seem to be Irvine, O'Neill and Okon Jr.

I feel either Leckie or Caceres will probably partner Okon if the first two are ruled out or can only play managed minutes... or maybe Brattan, perhaps Jedinak can make a comeback from retirement 😉
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Below are the CMs (and a couple of WF a Defenders that are relevant) that Popovic has used.

O'Neill's knee, Irvine fitness cloud, Yazbek potentially out is a huge issue for Popovic given his preferences.

I just hope it forces him to pick better more progressive players. Robertson and Balard please!!!

Okon and Balard look like bigger chances to me now. I hope it isn't Metcalfe shifted wide to central.

(Games) (Started-Subbed on)

CM
  • O'Neill (15) (12-3)
  • Irvine (8) (7-1)
  • Baccus (1) (0-1)
  • Brattan (1) (1-0)
  • Yazbek (7) (2-5)
  • Caceres (4) (1-3)
  • Balard (5) (4-1)
  • Teague (4) (3-1)
  • Kalik
  • Devlin
  • Okon-Engstler (1) (1-3)
  • Robertson (1) (0-1)
WF
  • McGree (10) (5-5)
  • Hrustic (8) (4-4)
  • Metcalfe (10) (10-0)

D
  • Trewin (4) (3-1)
 
Is anybody else struggling to understand how Leckie is suddenly in the conversation? Yes, he's been a wonderful servant but at 35 years of age and very injury prone at this stage of career, I just don't get it. Surely there's better options at this point. As far as I can work out, he's had just 2 caps since the last World Cup (against Argentina in Jun 2023 and Palestine in Jun 2024). He's played a couple of decent games recently and suddenly he's under consideration.
 
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