2026 World Cup Squad

[JS96]

Absolutely. Don’t get me wrong I understand when comparing to apples and oranges, players in Europe etc. but when you can directly compare and watch these guys in the same league vs the same opposition, week after week…. It’s just a bit on the nose and I’d love to know what some of the players who didn’t make the plane think. Hope he proves us wrong somehow!

I still think there's a lot of poor thinking where an average form player with a Spanish club badge gets picked over someone who's never come in before with an A League badge. Adams and Younis would've been great for the camp.

I'd hoped this tournament we'd have McGree and Irankunda start then we have Volpato, Segecic, Younis and others and we can just terrorise the opponents with our options. We've got a decent set but we've picked a few who don't get me too excited.

 

[JS96]

+ dropped Robertson, Rodrigues and Bennie who are better by position than some who made the cut.

And I forgot Bennie again! It's basically Emerton 2.0 so imagine his tank for the final 35. If it went pear shaped with the starters imagine seeing Bennie and Robertson suiting up to come on against a tiring opponent.

 

[patjennings]

For me Beach, Borello, Hrustic and Okon-Englster.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Who are we cutting from the squad? Pat Beach, Brandon Borrello, who else?

Leckie has to go as he's regressing and will only increase the average age of the Socceroos playing list despite all the experience he brings, and we'll need to cull Jason Geria also given the amount of defensive depth we have as well as Aiden O'Neill if he isn't going to be right for our World Cup campaign.

 

[grazorblade]

I think borello stays because there are only 2 other strikers

Beach probably goes, poor form at the back end of the season

Degenek can go since we have both burgess and souttar that can cover ccm

One of boyle, mabile and vellupilay will go

One more, not sure who

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

For me Beach, Borello, Hrustic and Okon-Englster.

Paul Okon-Engstler will be retained in the Socceroos playing list as he'll be good as another option in midfield but definitely Patrick Beach and Brandon Borrello will be culled.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

I think borello stays because there are only 2 other strikers

Beach probably goes, poor form at the back end of the season

Degenek can go since we have both burgess and souttar that can cover ccm

One of boyle, mabile and vellupilay will go

One more, not sure who

I'd say either Leckie or Aiden O'Neill will go but knowing Popovic it's more likely that Cam Devlin is going to be delisted instead unfortunately.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

For me Beach, Borello, Hrustic and Okon-Englster.

I’d cut Nish Velupillay before Paul Okon-Engstler.

 

[grazorblade]

Elo of la liga 2 actually better than the netherlands

So mabils elo is similar to alkmaar. I think he is underrated

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I think borello stays because there are only 2 other strikers

Couldn’t we play Martin Boyle at striker?

One of boyle, mabile and vellupilay will go

Nish Velupillay out of them. Less experience plus he’s at a lower level (not that La Liga 2 or the Premiership are very high levels either to be fair).

 

[patjennings]

Paul Okon-Engstler will be retained in the Socceroos playing list as he'll be good as another option in midfield but definitely Patrick Beach and Brandon Borrello will be culled.

As a HM he does a great impression of an AM - gave the ball away in the game against Newcastle and the just loped back. If he put the effort in and put pressure on Adams then Adams might not score. i.e. doesn't do the job he is picked for and when forced to do doesn't put the effort in. Come back when you stop doing a James Holland impression.

 

[JS96]

For me Beach, Borello, Hrustic and Okon-Englster.

I want Hrustic to succeed but if he turns up with the Australian tennis boy attitude I'll rip his head off.

Stupid picks by Popovic mean Hrustic is actually ahead of a few others when we could've had Bennie, Robertson and Nisbet. We're ignoring our smartest footballers.

 

[patjennings]

I want Hrustic to succeed but if he turns up with the Australian tennis boy attitude I'll rip his head off.

Stupid picks by Popovic mean Hrustic is actually ahead of a few others when we could've had Bennie, Robertson and Nisbet. We're ignoring our smartest footballers.

he has had 36 caps to do something - how many more does he need.

 

[JS96]

I'll be livid if Devlin gets cut. The way Leckie sneaks his way back in here... Another who needs to deliver as all this faith has been shown when ties should've been cut.

 

[JS96]

he has had 36 caps to do something - how many more does he need.

I agree. The stupid stopping on the ball to try and hug his marker for a foul is so frustrating. He talks it all up and we're left disappointed every time. The Peru game and Vietnam away were his best shows for Australia. Otherwise it's been an attitude problem.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Leckie has to go as he's regressing and will only increase the average age of the Socceroos playing list despite all the experience he brings, and we'll need to cull Jason Geria also given the amount of defensive depth we have as well as Aiden O'Neill if he isn't going to be right for our World Cup campaign.

Jason Geria’s definitely one I’d consider cutting. He just doesn’t play at a high enough level. Preferably I’d want smokeys/young guns from the top of the A-League to be the lowest level we pick for the Socceroos and Matildas. Sky’s the limit from there but it’s also why it’s hard to justify picking John Iredale (even though I think he can play at a higher level).

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

I want Hrustic to succeed but if he turns up with the Australian tennis boy attitude I'll rip his head off.

Stupid picks by Popovic mean Hrustic is actually ahead of a few others when we could've had Bennie, Robertson and Nisbet. We're ignoring our smartest footballers.

There'll definitely be a please explain for Tony Popovic as to why he's decided to cull Alex Robertson from the Socceroos playing list despite the fact that Ajdin Hrustic ranks highly in chance creation and big chances created this season.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Random but could Tiago Quintal be a smokey for the Asian Cup?

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Random but could Tiago Quintal be a smokey for the Asian Cup?

If Tiago Quintal improves on his form for Sydney FC next season then there's no reason why he can't make the 2027 Asian Cup playing list especially since we should be transitioning towards a more youthful squad by the start of the next major tournament cycle.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Stupid picks by Popovic mean Hrustic is actually ahead of a few others when we could've had Bennie, Robertson and Nisbet. We're ignoring our smartest footballers.

Josh Nisbet’s had a good season in the Eerste Divisie. I reckon he should take a step up to the Eredivisie or perhaps another league like the BPL or 2. Bundesliga considering Roda JC didn’t go up.