World Cup 2026 Australia thread

[JS96]

I get thats how i should feel but I am more eager to make the olympics to be honest

The trouble is a lot of countries send a developmental U23 squad. We pack the best we can in and it's still not enough.

The squad sizes are ridiculously small and lead to fatigue and the slight overlap with the club season makes it tricky.

The Asian Cup has annoying become a Middle Eastern based tournament. Good facilities and European timed games but it's got to get moving around the confederation.

 

[JS96]

Just reflecting over the cycle and so much has happened. It started with a Souttar header against Bangladesh and he was there at the end missing much of the middle. Baccus just disappeared. We had the Wembley friendly too. Irankunda in and out and so much dual nationality drama.

 

[Alex M]

Yeah olympic qualification is higher priority than asian cup win for me

It's not to me. Olympics don't require mandatory release of players and is really a second tier tournament these days. The Asian Cup is the priority.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

It's not to me. Olympics don't require mandatory release of players and is really a second tier tournament these days. The Asian Cup is the priority.

Yeah I agree. As much as I’d love to see us in the Olympics and think we should work very hard to getting there, the Asian Cup is the big dance.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

How can people seriously be saying Mo Touré isn’t good enough for the Roos?

 

[Alex M]

How can people seriously be saying Mo Touré isn’t good enough for the Roos?

Lots used to say the same about Mitch Duke when he was clearly the best central striker we had at the time. A lot used to say that about Mark Viduka in those days as well and he's the best striker we ever produced. Toure deserved his selection, and hopefully he can become a solid striker for us in the future.

 

[jimshady]

How can people seriously be saying Mo Touré isn’t good enough for the Roos?

Has one bad game (half a game) and the reaction has been a bit much

 

[Punchanello]

I've deliberately avoided any commentary on our exit until now. Now that I've processed it all a bit I've landed on a big fat "meh".

For weeks before the tournament Poppa's creeping paranoia and stubborn refusal to answer any question in any way that might constitute an answer built a kind of tension. It was all very cloak and dagger. What was his plan? What did he really think? What did he know we didn't?

And with Turkiye we got what we thought was an answer. Shock selections, stubborn resistance, two concealed knives puncturing Turkiye with lightning speed and precision, a bloody-minded strategy executed to perfection. The quintessential smash and grab heralding the potential for more shocks to come.

And that was the high watermark, not even close to being met again in the subsequent 3 games.

All of that would be ok, I suppose, including a round of 16 exit. Except that I can't help but feel we learnt very little. Did we see the birth of a bright future against Turkey or a mirage of one? Do we have a team of amazing potential or one that flattered to deceive and wilted when it meant something? Is Poppa building a foundation or has he reached his ceiling?

Based on his approach so far, nothing Poppa will say in the coming months will shed any light on those questions. “I had one more sub to make and I made it”. We just to wait for the Asian Cup.

 

[Cunningstunt]

I've deliberately avoided any commentary on our exit until now. Now that I've processed it all a bit I've landed on a big fat "meh".

For weeks before the tournament Poppa's creeping paranoia and stubborn refusal to answer any question in any way that might constitute an answer built a kind of tension. It was all very cloak and dagger. What was his plan? What did he really think? What did he know we didn't?

And with Turkiye we got what we thought was an answer. Shock selections, stubborn resistance, two concealed knives puncturing Turkiye with lightning speed and precision, a bloody-minded strategy executed to perfection. The quintessential smash and grab heralding the potential for more shocks to come.

And that was the high watermark, not even close to being met again in the subsequent 3 games.

All of that would be ok, I suppose, including a round of 16 exit. Except that I can't help but feel we learnt very little. Did we see the birth of a bright future against Turkey or a mirage of one? Do we have a team of amazing potential or one that flattered to deceive and wilted when it meant something? Is Poppa building a foundation or has he reached his ceiling?

Based on his approach so far, nothing Poppa will say in the coming months will shed any light on those questions. “I had one more sub to make and I made it”. We just to wait for the Asian Cup.

I'm admittedly optimistic, but I think this WC will be a defining experience for this group. Despite the disappointment of how we went out, big picture is the youngest side in the competition achieved this. Had to get a result to progress and then extra time and penalties. Not many experience this type of situation at this age.

The question now is how do they each progress in their club careers. Plus some of the other kids we have coming through to add to this group. There seems to be a lot of hype around some of these guys. What will that translate into in terms of moves and playing time. Herrington seems like he is a guaranteed transfer to a fairly big club. Bos too, injury aside. What happens to Irankunda, Italiano, Okon and Beach is probably the bigger question marks. Can they get themselves to a big 5 league and play regularly?

If things go to the lower end, we get Cicati, Bos, Volpato, Herrington as big 5 players. Still probably better than any cohort outside the GG. If things go upper end, Cicati, Bos, Volpato, Herrington go to big clubs, play champions league etc, some number of the others also make it in a big 5 league. This would equal or maybe surpass GG? We have a good showing 2030 and are a dark horse for 2034.