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2026 World Cup Squad

Talking to a few friends in the US. The feeling over there is much more nuanced than just after the draw for Group D. Their main concern is the US tactics to try and dominate possession vs 3 counter- attacking sides. They all think Turkey may be a step too far but also worry that if Australia stacks the team with speed they will be a handful and of course a very strong aerial presence. They think they will get away with a win in the first game vs Paraguay.
 
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rebelliousfeminist974 said:
I think we might be underestimating Awer Mabil a bit given his recent goalscoring form for CD Castellon, and also he brings much-needed World Cup experience to the squad having been with the Socceroos in Qatar last cycle.
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Always been a disappointment at NT level. He's had a few chances but that won't stop Popa picking him ahead of (say) Segecic.
 
JM47 said:
So who are our RB options?

Italiano, Silvera, Strain, Geria, Overy?

Anyone else I'm missing?

Very light on isn't it...
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I've long regarded Strain as our best RB but he's had a dreadful run with injuries. If he can stay injury free to the end of the season then he's a great option.
 
Now that our hand has been forced it may even be prudent to start Behich at right back and then ensure Bos and Elder at left back. In rate the others but if there's an insistence on calling up Behich he should on be replacing Miller in a squad total rather than replacing Bos and Elder.
 
JS96 said:
Now that our hand has been forced it may even be prudent to start Behich at right back and then ensure Bos and Elder at left back. In rate the others but if there's an insistence on calling up Behich he should on be replacing Miller in a squad total rather than replacing Bos and Elder.
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Not a bad shout. Elder is having probably the best season of his career. I would have preferred a right-footer at rwb, someone who can get to the byline or at least well forward and cross because I think that suits Toure's game best but Behich can shoot pretty well with his right foot so maybe he can cross well also.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
I've long regarded Strain as our best RB but he's had a dreadful run with injuries. If he can stay injury free to the end of the season then he's a great option.
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I think his form has not been as good as in previous seasons. Hard to say but Johnny K might have had a better season. I still would have Strain in the mix given our paucity of options.
 
JM47 said:
So who are our RB options?

Italiano, Silvera, Strain, Geria, Overy?

Anyone else I'm missing?

Very light on isn't it...
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Yep, when I put together that 12 months + injuries squad, it was Geria, Karacic, Miller, and Behich (kind of being able to be used on both sides) were the main ones that were there. Then again - I didn't look much further down the depth chain of who could be selected that have rarely played/never been selected (as the Australian pool in this game for all positions was bout 120 players)
 
NicCarBel said:
Yep, when I put together that 12 months + injuries squad, it was Geria, Karacic, Miller, and Behich (kind of being able to be used on both sides) were the main ones that were there. Then again - I didn't look much further down the depth chain of who could be selected that have rarely played/never been selected (as the Australian pool in this game for all positions was bout 120 players)
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I think Geria will be Popovic's choice. With Goodwin's absence I suspect Behich will definitely be in the squad - so at a pinch he can cover there. The other player that can be though of as a RWB (not RB) is Sammy Silvera. I see him more as a quick direct dribbling player to replace Irankunda ar RW when he tires - but he can and has played as a straight RB for both Middlesboro and Australia.

I think I have also seen Metcalfe fill in for periods at RB/RWB during NT games.

This is where your 120 players comes in. I think Popovic is someone that likes players that he can use in multiple positions and he will be looking at that. Karacic is probably a bit shoehorned here as really a specialist RB only.

The other thing that I think Popovic will be looking at is speed. Geria and Silvera both have speed and recovery speed. Karacic less so.
 
patjennings said:
I think Geria will be Popovic's choice. With Goodwin's absence I suspect Behich will definitely be in the squad - so at a pinch he can cover there. The other player that can be though of as a RWB (not RB) is Sammy Silvera. I see him more as a quick direct dribbling player to replace Irankunda ar RW when he tires - but he can and has played as a straight RB for both Middlesboro and Australia.

I think I have also seen Metcalfe fill in for periods at RB/RWB during NT games.

This is where your 120 players comes in. I think Popovic is someone that likes players that he can use in multiple positions and he will be looking at that. Karacic is probably a bit shoehorned here as really a specialist RB only.

The other thing that I think Popovic will be looking at is speed. Geria and Silvera both have speed and recovery speed. Karacic less so.
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I'll have to look at the different pools this PES mod has - as it will realistically only have Top 2 divisions of the big Euro leagues, plus the Eredivisies, Bundesligas, Turkish, etc, plus half the MLS, the big South American Leagues, China, Japan, Saudi, Thai and the rest of the Champions League elite. There's no A-League in there except Sydney FC.

The version on FC 26 mod will be a bit more comprehensive as it will likely have most of the same leagues in addition to the A-League, so the pool is much larger (even though the mod doesn't let you use them unfortunately)
 
Degenek's team lost, but he got a goal. With him in Cyprus, I was thinking that he has dropped down the pecking order. Do others still think he'll make the WC Squad?
 
Hillbilly55 said:
Degenek's team lost, but he got a goal. With him in Cyprus, I was thinking that he has dropped down the pecking order. Do others still think he'll make the WC Squad?
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Popa speaks of Degenek in the highest terms. I reckon he's a shoe in to go - even though I don't really rate him myself but he has had some decent games for the NT during Popa's reign.
 
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