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2026 World Cup Squad

Decentric said:
I haven't completed all my stats for the last 2 games against USA, Ven and Colombia, but Rowles has been outstanding defensively at Left Wing Back.

I'm not as sure against Colombia - yet, but every time he has played Left Wing Back he has dominated his direct opponents 1v1 against Canada and the Kiwis.

Deg has struggled against the big physical forwards - being outmuscled. If these big units haven't been on the pitch, he has done well as a central CB.

Having said this, already Trewin is shaping as having a superior skill set to Deg - jockeying, being more nimble on his feet, and a decidedly superior distributor to all other CBs we have, possibly apart from Circati. He just needs to put on some muscle!
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Rowles is excellent defensively but should not be our LWB. We play a system that requires the LWB to provide the teams width. Rowles offers very little width and almost nothing offensively.

Rowles has a lot to offer but LCB should be his primary position. Very useful having him cover Bos's back at LWB. ATM (with Souttar out) I think our best back 3 is Rowles, Burgess, Circati. I prefer Rowles on form to Geria and Degenek in the back 3 and its easy to shuffle and accomodate him. He makes us more mobile. It'll get interesting when Souttar gets back how we structure. Burgess, Souttar, Circati is quality but slower comparatively.
 
Quicky said:
Rowles is excellent defensively but should not be our LWB. We play a system that requires the LWB to provide the teams width. Rowles offers very little width and almost nothing offensively.

Rowles has a lot to offer but LCB should be his primary position. Very useful having him cover Bos's back at LWB. ATM (with Souttar out) I think our best back 3 is Rowles, Burgess, Circati. I prefer Rowles on form to Geria and Degenek in the back 3 and its easy to shuffle and accomodate him. He makes us more mobile. It'll get interesting when Souttar gets back how we structure. Burgess, Souttar, Circati is quality but slower comparatively.
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He makes intercepts high up the pitch and can hit a difficult pass back inside when double teamed. Both actions opened up attacking chances for us
 
grazorblade said:
He makes intercepts high up the pitch and can hit a difficult pass back inside when double teamed. Both actions opened up attacking chances for us
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Rowles is a good player. I'm not saying he can't play and make good progressives passes from time-to-time. But he does not give us the forward momentum and drive we need from our LWB.

The wing backs are our only players that consistently stay wide. We have a back 5 and two pivots that sit deep in a block. I don't think we can afford to have a wing back offer so little offensively. I have mixed feelings about Miller but even he gets dangerous.
 
Quicky said:
Rowles is a good player. I'm not saying he can't play and make good progressives passes from time-to-time. But he does not give us the forward momentum and drive we need from our LWB.

The wing backs are our only players that consistently stay wide. We have a back 5 and two pivots that sit deep in a block. I don't think we can afford to have a wing back offer so little offensively. I have mixed feelings about Miller but even he gets dangerous.
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I get what you are saying and Rowles isn't a powerful ball carrier, but he does a lot for defense and attack that shows up in the replay. I suspect though if boro keep flying and silvera keeps getting game time, he might be overtaken
 
grazorblade said:
I get what you are saying and Rowles isn't a powerful ball carrier, but he does a lot for defense and attack that shows up in the replay. I suspect though if boro keep flying and silvera keeps getting game time, he might be overtaken
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Rowles game reading and ball winning are his best traits. Offensively thats handy because you can catch the opposition in transition which hopefully means their defense isn't set when we transition.

Rowles passing isn't any better than the minimum you'd expect for the level these guys play. His passing isn't very dangerous particularly over range. He doesn't dribble. He doesn't get in dangerous crosses. He isn't really a goal threat.

I don't see many game scenarios we should ever favour Rowles as a LWB back-up in this set-up. Unless we want to lock-up on a particularly dangerous opponent on their right side.

Agree Silvera is worth consideration and I want to see more of Elder. I'd like to see him in a closer to full strength team.
 
Overall, Rowles suits a defensive-minded LWB role or LCB role, Silvera is probably more offensive one and his defensive game is developing, Elder is probably a more balanced LWB.

My preference, until I see more of Elder to ratre hi either better than Kye or Sammy in either categories would be Kye and Sammy. I think we will need the defensive strength at times and he provides good LCB cover. Sammy while he is deployed at LWB is right footed and could equally be deployed at RWB or even on either side of a front three. Our LW and RW options have to track back for any of our wide wing backs to be effective. That's why Hrustic must miss out. He is too lazy for Poppa's set up.

Elder is probably the one you pick for your club starter. Can cover most situations on the left, probably not as good defensively as Kye or offensively as Sammy. In a world cup squad though you will either be under pressure and want Kye or you need to attack and Sammy offers more there.

In my mind Rowles has to stay then the decision is between Silvera and Elder.

With Bos, Rowles, Silvera and Elder I think we are pretty well covered at LWB.

RWB loses in comparison with Miller, Geria, Italiano and Silvera the options.
 
Think I'd still be set on this but dropping Rowles and Degenek as stated in AA doesn't make things as thin as months ago because Miller is sound at centre back.

I'd warmed up to Baccus against given his form and versatility and I think new fire is needed in the squad as the regulars are slacking.


October, changes in bold:

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

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

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Yazbek, Hrustic, Robertson

Goodwin, McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Segecic, Sapsford

December changes

Omit Rowles and Degenek and add Italiano and Velupillay? Deep mids a bit thin so maybe Devlin.
 
Matthews is in with a shout given his ball play but perhaps it's one cycle too soon.

I still think Overy would be fine at senior level given how he performed underage at the U20 tournament. 17 at an U20 tournament is telling.

Yeah, Volapto just isn't doing enough in a Popovic mentality sense so I don't think it'll happen.
 
My twenty six:
Ryan,Izzo,Beach
Miller,Italiano,Circati,Souttar,Burgess,Trewin,Rowles,Bos,Elder
Irvine,O'Neill,Balard,Metcalfe,Devlin,Yazbek,Hrustic
Irankunda,Mo Toure,Kuol,,McGree,Goodwin,Sapsford,Segecic

I am concerned that Souttar has still not played so if he cannot reproduce form bring back Degenek.If McGree has injury problems Velupillay or Silvera.
 
booney52 said:
My twenty six:
Ryan,Izzo,Beach
Miller,Italiano,Circati,Souttar,Burgess,Trewin,Rowles,Bos,Elder
Irvine,O'Neill,Balard,Metcalfe,Devlin,Yazbek,Hrustic
Irankunda,Mo Toure,Kuol,,McGree,Goodwin,Sapsford,Segecic

I am concerned that Souttar has still not played so if he cannot reproduce form bring back Degenek.If McGree has injury problems Velupillay or Silvera.
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I wouldn't have Trewin. You have 5 CBs, 2 LWBs and 2 RWBs. I would just take 4 CBs for the 3 positions with O'Neill an emergency CB (subject to Souttar's recovery) - allowing an extra CM or attacker. I also would not have Hrustic though the Socceroo media would suggest that he will be favoured.
 
I selected Trewin more as a long term prospect.He will be the right sort of player for the next WC cycle as are Matthews,Overy,Bennie,Herrington,Leonard and Kikianis.Trewin may also progress to the DM position as Irvine and O'Neill reach their use by dates.I know 5 CBs seems excessive but I have put Rowles in there for his utility value .He can play LB(he is a good defender) if Bos is to play further up the field.It maybe that Elder might find playing as a LB will be a different kettle of fish in WC finals while Rowles has been there.Of course we are not sure how Popa will set up the team and he may put out different combinations for different opponents.Utility players like Metcalfe,Rowles and Hrustic are important in tournament squads.I actually don't like Hrustic particularly but his patch of form in the Eredivisdie does give him credibility and he has played enough games under Popa to understand his methods.
 
patjennings said:
I wouldn't have Trewin. You have 5 CBs, 2 LWBs and 2 RWBs. I would just take 4 CBs for the 3 positions with O'Neill an emergency CB (subject to Souttar's recovery) - allowing an extra CM or attacker. I also would not have Hrustic though the Socceroo media would suggest that he will be favoured.
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Like it. Feels like we are down to a pool of about 30 players. I would be ok with Trewin or Matthews from a forward planning perspective. Assuming Robertson continues to get the minutes he needs to improve his fitness, I take him in front of Yazbek. The never ending debate aside, strongly consider Volpato if he declares, instead of Hrustic.
 
booney52 said:
I selected Trewin more as a long term prospect.He will be the right sort of player for the next WC cycle as are Matthews,Overy,Bennie,Herrington,Leonard and Kikianis.Trewin may also progress to the DM position as Irvine and O'Neill reach their use by dates.I know 5 CBs seems excessive but I have put Rowles in there for his utility value .He can play LB(he is a good defender) if Bos is to play further up the field.It maybe that Elder might find playing as a LB will be a different kettle of fish in WC finals while Rowles has been there.Of course we are not sure how Popa will set up the team and he may put out different combinations for different opponents.Utility players like Metcalfe,Rowles and Hrustic are important in tournament squads.I actually don't like Hrustic particularly but his patch of form in the Eredivisdie does give him credibility and he has played enough games under Popa to understand his methods.
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All of Popovic's squads have selected 6 CBs so I think it's likely we'll see at least 5. He usually has 4 wing backs too.
 
Matthews if he continues playing every week in championship has to be picked. With popas formation he always takes 6 centre backs so barring injury you'd think it would be souttar Matthews circati Burgess rowells and degenek.
 
It's really going to be that dire, isn't it? Watch us go thin up top and have a few injuries and a red then be really thin on the ground. Can play 9 defenders.
 
JS96 said:
It's really going to be that dire, isn't it? Watch us go thin up top and have a few injuries and a red then be really thin on the ground. Can play 9 defenders.
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How big is the squad going to be? If its back to 23 then we have 3 keepers, 10 defenders and 10 attackers. That's cover for every spot.
 
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