World Cup 2026 Australia thread

[SocceroosFan]

Toure and Duke are almost certainly our preferred number 9's. We will probably only take one other but lots of wider forwards. It's a real fight for that spot especially as Borello has fallen back.

Botic and Stamatelopoulos are best performed at club level from those who have made squads. We need to integrate them and Sapsford. I also like Yengi as an option.

Yengi isn't even making the squad at club level at the moment. Popovic will play a 9 next to Irankunda moving forward I reckon

 

[Quicky]

But he has hit the ground running - missing just 17 minutes out of 11 games in a club that is well placed for promotion (not as if they are bottom of Netherlands 2). How many central midfielders would you look at taking.

The world cup squad is 27. There will be 10 defenders and 3 goalkeepers. So 14 to split between forwards and midfield. I'd take 7. Some with flexibility for the wide roles. We could also drop one of the 10 defenders but doubt Popovic will.

I'll be more interested in Nisbet if he does well in the Eredivisie, which I think he's good enough to. But playoff spot for a 2nd division Dutch team isn't a high level. Peupions team is doing better and no-ones talking about him as an option.

 

[Quicky]

Yengi isn't even making the squad at club level at the moment. Popovic will play a 9 next to Irankunda moving forward I reckon

It's been a terrible move for Yengi. I rate him but he has to be playing. I reckon somewhere like Switzerland would be a good league for him.

 

[onedaywinners...]

For me I'd take most other options than Duke. I get it he always gives his all and has been a solid contributer yada yada...the thing is he will only be coming off the bench at the WC and for that reason I don't think he serves that role well.

I'd rather D'Agostino/Stama/Sapsford/Botic to come off the bench at the WC with Toure as starter and then if Toure can't start due to injury or fitness I'd again prefer either of those than having to start a 35 and a half year old Mitch Duke by that stage.

Simple fact is we have better players in the striker position now and there is no reason for Duke to be on that plane other than sentiment.

 

[Quicky]

For me I'd take most other options than Duke. I get it he always gives his all and has been a solid contributer yada yada...the thing is he will only be coming off the bench at the WC and for that reason I don't think he serves that role well.

I'd rather D'Agostino/Stama/Sapsford/Botic to come off the bench at the WC with Toure as starter and then if Toure can't start due to injury or fitness I'd again prefer either of those than having to start a 35 and a half year old Mitch Duke by that stage.

Simple fact is we have better players in the striker position now and there is no reason for Duke to be on that plane other than sentiment.

I agree but looking at Popovic's selections I think Duke's a certainty. He was getting selected irrespective of form. Injuries are the only thing I can see keeping him out.

 

[patjennings]

These guys I wouldn't take

[ ] Triantis
[ ] Teague (4)
[ ] Kalik
[ ] Caceres (4)
[ ] Brattan (1)
[ ] Baccus (2)
[ ] Tilio (1)
[ ] Milanovic (1)
[ ] Hrustic (6)
[ ] Boyle (7)
[ ] Arzani (3)

Then for 7 midfielders and I do take Nisbet. Remember a certain player from League One that was picked and then went onto play almost 80 Socceroo matches, playing at 2 World Cups. No-one was talking about him either. In fact I would probably take 3 midfielders and 2 forwards that Popa has not picked

O'Neill (11)
Irvine (6)
Balard (4)
Devlin
Robertson
Yazbek (8)
Nisbet

The problem then is the forwards

I have 9 - probably could take 8 at a pinch and trim the defenders to 9. I'm loathe to drop Goodwin because of his corners.

Toure (6)
Duke (8)
Sapsford
Irankunda (5)
McGree (5)
Metcalfe (7)
Segecic
Vellupillay (5)
Goodwin (4)

 

[Cunningstunt]

I agree but looking at Popovic's selections I think Duke's a certainty. He was getting selected irrespective of form. Injuries are the only thing I can see keeping him out.

For me I'd take most other options than Duke. I get it he always gives his all and has been a solid contributer yada yada...the thing is he will only be coming off the bench at the WC and for that reason I don't think he serves that role well.

I'd rather D'Agostino/Stama/Sapsford/Botic to come off the bench at the WC with Toure as starter and then if Toure can't start due to injury or fitness I'd again prefer either of those than having to start a 35 and a half year old Mitch Duke by that stage.

Simple fact is we have better players in the striker position now and there is no reason for Duke to be on that plane other than sentiment.

At the moment I think that is true, but Popa is clearly open to someone else.

If any of these other guys have a 15-20 goal season they come in. If they don't, there is no reason to select them other than a punt on talent. But he has taken that punt on Toure, he doesn't need to do it twice.

 

[Quicky]

These guys I wouldn't take

[ ] Triantis
[ ] Teague (4)
[ ] Kalik
[ ] Caceres (4)
[ ] Brattan (1)
[ ] Baccus (2)
[ ] Tilio (1)
[ ] Milanovic (1)
[ ] Hrustic (6)
[ ] Boyle (7)
[ ] Arzani (3)

Then for 7 midfielders and I do take Nisbet. Remember a certain player from League One that was picked and then went onto play almost 80 Socceroo matches, playing at 2 World Cups. No-one was talking about him either. In fact I would probably take 3 midfielders and 2 forwards that Popa has not picked

O'Neill (11)
Irvine (6)
Balard (4)
Devlin
Robertson
Yazbek (8)
Nisbet

The problem then is the forwards

I have 9 - probably could take 8 at a pinch and trim the defenders to 9. I'm loathe to drop Goodwin because of his corners.

Toure (6)
Duke (8)
Sapsford
Irankunda (5)
McGree (5)
Metcalfe (7)
Segecic
Vellupillay (5)
Goodwin (4)

That's fairly close for the mids and forwards. It would mean we need to select 8 defenders though.

 

[Quicky]

At the moment I think that is true, but Popa is clearly open to someone else.

If any of these other guys have a 15-20 goal season they come in. If they don't, there is no reason to select them other than a punt on talent. But he has taken that punt on Toure, he doesn't need to do it twice.

I think Popovic is open to looking for more forwards to support Toure and Duke. Duke I think is safe though, but that's just my read of it.

 

[patjennings]

That's fairly close for the mids and forwards. It would mean we need to select 8 defenders though.

I cheated and moved Goodwin to a LWB that can also play further forward and I didn't consider Massimo because of what is currently expected to be an ACL injury on the weekend. If he is fit and firing then one of the other mids miss out.

Of course this is all on form and fitness months away but my current 27 would now be

GK 3
Mat Ryan (c), Paul Izzo, Joe Gauci

DF 9

Miller, Rowles, Souttar, Geria, Burgess, Degenek, Circati, Bos, Goodwin

MF 7
O'Neill, Irvine, Balard, Devlin, Robertson, Yazbek, Nisbet

F 8
Toure, Duke, Irankunda, McGree, Metcalfe, Segecic, Sapsford, Vellupillay

 

[JS96]

Silly Triantis. He can play midfield and as an emergency centre back. Stensness was called up for Japan away, wasn't he?

The challenge is we can't just pick Miller and Bos. They need cover. This is the thing that keeps Geria in. Personally I'd like to try and trim it down by having Metcalfe, Irankunda and even Yazbek as emergency RWB and Rowles, Goodwin and McGree as emergency LWB. Were an injury crisis to occur, we could have enough added central mids to offer support.

We've had too many tournaments where we don't bring enough midfielders and get exhausted. I really like the squad above.

 

[patjennings]

Silly Triantis. He can play midfield and as an emergency centre back. Stensness was called up for Japan away, wasn't he?

The challenge is we can't just pick Miller and Bos. They need cover. This is the thing that keeps Geria in. Personally I'd like to try and trim it down by having Metcalfe, Irankunda and even Yazbek as emergency RWB and Rowles, Goodwin and McGree as emergency LWB. Were an injury crisis to occur, we could have enough added central mids to offer support.

We've had too many tournaments where we don't bring enough midfielders and get exhausted. I really like the squad above.

Nisbet can play RM - close enough to RWB - good defensively and would feed Irankunda better than Miller. Goodwin can also cover LWB as can Rowles depending on the type of game you are setting up for. Leave Irankunda forward but Metcalfe and Nisbet could both play RWB.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

Silly Triantis. He can play midfield and as an emergency centre back. Stensness was called up for Japan away, wasn't he?

The challenge is we can't just pick Miller and Bos. They need cover. This is the thing that keeps Geria in. Personally I'd like to try and trim it down by having Metcalfe, Irankunda and even Yazbek as emergency RWB and Rowles, Goodwin and McGree as emergency LWB. Were an injury crisis to occur, we could have enough added central mids to offer support.

We've had too many tournaments where we don't bring enough midfielders and get exhausted. I really like the squad above.

Popa was clearly happy with Italiano and it's unlikely that Behich misses out.

 

[Alex M]

I've just gone through each squad picked under Popovic and compiled some rough selection numbers. I wanted to get a clearer idea who we've been selecting, playing, assessing. The numbers may be little off in some places if I counted wrong but will be close.

Key takeaways:

• Teachers pets: Miller, Burgess, O'Neill, Ryan, Bos (most selected).
• Rising stars: Toure, Irankunda, Circati, Balard (started the campaign slowly but are now consistently selected)
• Fading away: Behich, Borello, Yengi (started strongly but not being selected)
• Injury impacted: Irvine, Souttar, McGree, Goodwin, Bos, Metcalfe, Circati, Velupillay (campaign impacted by injury)
• Ghosted: Trewin, R. Grant, A. Grant, Segecic, Botic, Stamatelopoulos, Iredale, Davidson, Triantis, Devlin, Kalik (selected but no minutes)
• Dogged: Luongo (Killing it at club level but completely overlooked)

I wouldn't put Behich in the fading away category yet. Popovic hasn't picked any A league players in the two friendly windows. If he misses out in November you could put him there.

Has Luongo been available? There was some talk a year ago about him returning to international football but he hasn't been on the selection radar since then.

 

[Quicky]

I wouldn't put Behich in the fading away category yet. Popovic hasn't picked any A league players in the two friendly windows. If he misses out in November you could put him there.

Has Luongo been available? There was some talk a year ago about him returning to international football but he hasn't been on the selection radar since then.

Luongo declared himself available but was never selected.

 

[Cunningstunt]

Luongo declared himself available but was never selected.

This is the one where maybe Popa has actually put a line through him after he pulled out. Because he had been playing at a higher level than the other options.

 

[Alex M]

Luongo declared himself available but was never selected.

I think he got picked the first time but pulled out, can't remember why. It seems he hasn't been in the picture since.

 

[patjennings]

The world cup squad is 27. There will be 10 defenders and 3 goalkeepers. So 14 to split between forwards and midfield. I'd take 7. Some with flexibility for the wide roles. We could also drop one of the 10 defenders but doubt Popovic will.

I'll be more interested in Nisbet if he does well in the Eredivisie, which I think he's good enough to. But playoff spot for a 2nd division Dutch team isn't a high level. Peupions team is doing better and no-ones talking about him as an option.

Yes they are - see the last line. Different positions so not a like to like comparison.

Nisbet 100% start 98% minutes 9% goal participation
Peupion 55% start 69% minutes 9% goal participation

Aussie stars as 'best team in the league' continues ridiculous start not seen for 37 years

Aussie midfielder Cameron Peupion continued his strong form in the Netherlands overnight, scoring an excellent solo goal in ADO Den Haag’s 3-0 win over Jong PSV.

football360.com.au

 

[Quicky]

Yes they are - see the last line. Different positions so not a like to like comparison.

Nisbet 100% start 98% minutes 9% goal participation
Peupion 55% start 69% minutes 9% goal participation

Aussie stars as 'best team in the league' continues ridiculous start not seen for 37 years

Aussie midfielder Cameron Peupion continued his strong form in the Netherlands overnight, scoring an excellent solo goal in ADO Den Haag’s 3-0 win over Jong PSV.

football360.com.au

I haven't seen anyone suggest Peupion for the World Cup squad. That article isn't even pushing that angle besides a hope from Peupion he might catch the eye of Popovic.

Nisbet needs to be playing well at a higher level to force the issue. Popovic doesn't seem to rate him.

 

[patjennings]

I haven't seen anyone suggest Peupion for the World Cup squad. That article isn't even pushing that angle besides a hope from Peupion he might catch the eye of Popovic.

Nisbet needs to be playing well at a higher level to force the issue. Popovic doesn't seem to rate him.

The author said it - not Peupion