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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

JM47 said:
And who is gonna play in our front 3? I'd say Boyle is the only one deserving of a selection tbh. Especially with no Nish nor Goodwin. Missed opportunity not selecting Irankunda.
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Arzani, Tillio, Boyle, McGree or Metcalfe out wide.

Okon-Engstler did look quality for the under 20's.
 
Mo Toure is good but some of the other selections are baffling and biased.

Is Goodwin injured?
 
Goodwin needs foot surgery. I'm glad at the apparent depth we have and the hunger some of these raw players will get by being picked but it's sent the worst message to others who are way more justified.

Triantis, Balard, Segecic and Botic should rightly be livid.

Metcalfe has clearly convinced. I'm really glad Toure is in.

Velupillay out sucks but it gives Arzani and Tilio the chance.
 
What has Borrello ever done for the NT? Consistently selected and even consistently gets minutes yet I cannot remember one good game from him.

And better yet significantly more players in the A-League performing better than he and Taggart.

What Popa says and what he does re selections is just completely at odds.

Caceres over Ballard too.

Seriously seems you are better off being an average 5-6/10 32 year old in the A-League ever week over a young, performing talent in whatever league it is.
 
JM47 said:
What has Borrello ever done for the NT? Consistently selected and even consistently gets minutes yet I cannot remember one good game from him.

And better yet significantly more players in the A-League performing better than he and Taggart.

What Popa says and what he does re selections is just completely at odds.

Caceres over Ballard too.

Seriously seems you are better off being an average 5-6/10 32 year old in the A-League ever week over a young, performing talent in whatever league it is.
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Borello has been frustrating. I think it's the fact that he's versatile and a workhorse. He does work but his role hasn't exactly been one with the pretty stuff i.e goals. He gets thrown on either chasing or closing a game where the play is awkward or unorthodox and that makes scoring more difficult.

In saying that the breakaway chance against Saudi was his chance. He's a bit like Taggart where plenty of minutes are given and he struggles to get involved. It's up to him to seek the ball. This is why he should've been dropped already and we try Iredale and Toure.
 
It's funny how the eyes spot the raw players and overlook that Circati is actually there. I'd have preferred Gersbach over Bos.

Got to remember a lot of these call ups may never return once the others are fit. Kasey Bos surely won't be a future national team player compared to Jordan.

Okon just stinks of nepotism. He was just alright for me for the U20 as I found he didn't do as much dirty work as one would hope and played a lot of risky passes on build up. Good on him and good luck. Realistically 16-17 will play and the rest are squaddies.

You wonder what influence the coaching staff have on selections. I'm glad Metcalfe has convinced.

Look at the midfield though. Teague proved himself big time against China and Yazbek is one of our best brains. While they still seem raw, this is the power vacuum we need when Irvine isn't there.

O'Neill, Caceres and Duke are on borrowed time.
 
The wiki list has never been longer. Gives a great overview. Needs to sink it that Popovic has also selected Stensness, Silvera, Luongo. Deng, Grant will likely never been seen again.

Karacic and Baccus 2 of the biggest losers of the coaching change.
 
Balard must really be on the outer after turning up to the training squad, no Jackson Irvine and still not making the squad.
 
I hope Metcalfe can put in a performance worthy of Bundesliga or even Bundesliga 2 player.
 
Isn't it weird we had al Hassan toure and alou kuol burst on to the scene then get lost then their little brothers come in and kind of do the same although Mo is doing a bit better then garang
 
melbcityguy said:
Isn't it weird we had al Hassan toure and alou kuol burst on to the scene then get lost then their little brothers come in and kind of do the same although Mo is doing a bit better then garang
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Glad we've got a good line on production there. Wasn't No Toure already picked for the U23 camp?
 
Duke, FFS. What do these coaches (Arnold, Popovic) see in him that it seems like no one else can.

And Okon-Engstler has, according to Wikipedia, played 8 senior games in his career. And his father is an assistant coach? Where there is smoke, there's generally fire.
 
mkxx said:
Can anyone tell me what Paul Okon Engstler have done or what he looks like??? Never heard of him. He must be a golden boy like a young Kewell to go straight to this most important window of qualification.

The only chance we can score is frm the brilliance of set piece delivery from Craig Goodwin. None can bend the ball like him with set piece crossing. So now we have to rely on Arzani/Teague/Tilio for set piece.and go straight to the opposition? Especially we lost Irvine who has been good in the air. Maybe only Miller can score from the corner. Villupillay is a big loss as well.

Cam Burgess got the height but not known for being good with heading. Mitch Duke is okay in the air but anything with his foot almost zero chance to score. I dun think Popa follows his form in J League. If Im Segecic I would be pissed.

Kasey Boss is just okay tho and if you watch MV games he has been poor defensively with marking. But at least its not Joel King.

No ideas what Balard/Gerbach/Jack Iredale did in the camp to not get included.
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In short, at club level nothing. Frozen out at Benfica B. For the youth national team Okon-Engstler has been fantastic. He must have impressed in the training camp.

On potential he could be our best mid in time. He is incredibly calm on the ball, great screener and passer. But it's hard to say if that translates to seniors because he's never done it. It's very premature to get the call up.
 
dr. bellows said:
There doesn't appear to be a natural rwb in that squad. Both Miller and Geria have shown they are much better at rcb. Miller in particular will.be carved up in that position by the Japanese if they play close to their best team.
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It'll be Miller.
 
DandyCasey said:
Arzani, Tillio, Boyle, McGree or Metcalfe out wide.

Okon-Engstler did look quality for the under 20's.
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The left side is weird. Only Behich, K. Bos and McGree are naturally left sided. I imagine it'll be Behich LWB and McGree left forward.
 
JS96 said:
Mo Toure is good but some of the other selections are baffling and biased.

Is Goodwin injured?
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I reckon he must be. Surely. He did miss the last game for Al Wehda. I'd assumed it was because he was leaving but maybe it was an injury.
 
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