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2027 Asian Cup

JS96

JS96

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Oct 17, 2024
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Getting it set up and can be renamed for Australian games once it gets closer.

AFC confirms #AsianCup2027 Final Draw to take place on May 9, 2026, in 🇸🇦 Riyadh at the historic At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah!

Annoying they're doing this before a world cup. While we're professional enough to ignore it, I wish it were post world cup to kick start the next cycle.
 
JS96 said:
Getting it set up and can be renamed for Australian games once it gets closer.

AFC confirms #AsianCup2027 Final Draw to take place on May 9, 2026, in 🇸🇦 Riyadh at the historic At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah!

Annoying they're doing this before a world cup. While we're professional enough to ignore it, I wish it were post world cup to kick start the next cycle.
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I believe from the following Asian Cup, they're going back to the old cycle (in line with Euro/Copa America
 
Which players do you think won't make the World Cup squad but will make the Asian Cup squad? Probably looking at younger players mostly here. Basically in the six months after the World Cup, which players will make their case?

Though, I think he should make at least the WC train-on squad, I think Marcus Younis is a name that I can see being apart of Asian Cup squad.
 
Bbouy said:
Which players do you think won't make the World Cup squad but will make the Asian Cup squad? Probably looking at younger players mostly here. Basically in the six months after the World Cup, which players will make their case?

Though, I think he should make at least the WC train-on squad, I think Marcus Younis is a name that I can see being apart of Asian Cup squad.
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I ask the other question - who would you move on (won't make 2030 World Cup).

To me that is Izzo, Goodwin, Duke, Behich, Irvine, Boyle, Elder, Leckie and Burgess. Not all these will make the 2026 World Cup. But realistically I wouldn't want to be considering them for the 2030 World Cup.
 
patjennings said:
I ask the other question - who would you move on (won't make 2030 World Cup).

To me that is Izzo, Goodwin, Duke, Behich, Irvine, Boyle, Elder, Leckie and Burgess. Not all these will make the 2026 World Cup. But realistically I wouldn't want to be considering them for the 2030 World Cup.
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I mean move on may be the wrong term as a lot of those guys probably will retire from international football with Duke after the WC or after the Asian Cup. If you're asking who won't be at the 2030 WC, then everyone you mentioned + Degenek, Geria, Rowles, Hrustic and Mabil.

I'd say everyone over 30 besides Ryan, probably won't feature. Though, I do think we will see the massive transition after the Asian Cup.
 
Bbouy said:
Which players do you think won't make the World Cup squad but will make the Asian Cup squad? Probably looking at younger players mostly here. Basically in the six months after the World Cup, which players will make their case?

Though, I think he should make at least the WC train-on squad, I think Marcus Younis is a name that I can see being apart of Asian Cup squad.
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A lot of 'next cyclers' could make the AC squad. I wouldn't take Trewin to the WC but he may make the AC.

I wholeheartedly disagree with using the Asian Cup as some sort of World cup rehearsal. Continental tournaments are too valuable to shirk. In saying that it is a good chance to get the right players in for the next cycle and have the hand forced to cut deadwood. Behich and Duke should be nowhere near the next AC.
 
JS96 said:
A lot of 'next cyclers' could make the AC squad. I wouldn't take Trewin to the WC but he may make the AC.

I wholeheartedly disagree with using the Asian Cup as some sort of World cup rehearsal. Continental tournaments are too valuable to shirk. In saying that it is a good chance to get the right players in for the next cycle and have the hand forced to cut deadwood. Behich and Duke should be nowhere near the next AC.
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Equally - there are plenty of the ones I mentioned that are there for their experience in the World Cup that I wouldn't want to consider for the Asian Cup. We may well have the opportunity for some changes in the AFC Nations League before the Asian Cup.
 
I don't think we have the talent to move through generations in the way Japan seems to. A few guys might retire alongside Duke, but the rest will likely continue to be available and selected until someone forces them out through performance.

Maybe the younger cohorts are starting to be stronger. People seem to be more hyped and I have bought into that a bit. But people always get excited by the potential and it seems more likely we will be making small steps forward rather than any single big leaps across a cohort.

After 32/33 some players can't maintain the physical capacity needed to perform at the high levels that got them selected. But I feel like predicted who this will be is about as consistent as picking the next 10 year socceroo from the under 20s. On paper I would expect Irvine, Izzo and Burgess to continue well into next cycle but who really knows. We traditionally have significant overlap of generations and slow transition, and this is broadly the correct strategy for the way we produce talented players.
 
Cunningstunt said:
I don't think we have the talent to move through generations in the way Japan seems to. A few guys might retire alongside Duke, but the rest will likely continue to be available and selected until someone forces them out through performance.

Maybe the younger cohorts are starting to be stronger. People seem to be more hyped and I have bought into that a bit. But people always get excited by the potential and it seems more likely we will be making small steps forward rather than any single big leaps across a cohort.

After 32/33 some players can't maintain the physical capacity needed to perform at the high levels that got them selected. But I feel like predicted who this will be is about as consistent as picking the next 10 year socceroo from the under 20s. On paper I would expect Irvine, Izzo and Burgess to continue well into next cycle but who really knows. We traditionally have significant overlap of generations and slow transition, and this is broadly the correct strategy for the way we produce talented players.
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I think we should pick our best squad. But I do think there is opportunity to strategically bring in some developing players for squad depth without losing much in quality. For example Overy and Bennie v Karacic. The difference is quality v experience. Picks like that are opportunities that can help our future without sacrificing much if anything.
 
Cunningstunt said:
I don't think we have the talent to move through generations in the way Japan seems to. A few guys might retire alongside Duke, but the rest will likely continue to be available and selected until someone forces them out through performance.

Maybe the younger cohorts are starting to be stronger. People seem to be more hyped and I have bought into that a bit. But people always get excited by the potential and it seems more likely we will be making small steps forward rather than any single big leaps across a cohort.

After 32/33 some players can't maintain the physical capacity needed to perform at the high levels that got them selected. But I feel like predicted who this will be is about as consistent as picking the next 10 year socceroo from the under 20s. On paper I would expect Irvine, Izzo and Burgess to continue well into next cycle but who really knows. We traditionally have significant overlap of generations and slow transition, and this is broadly the correct strategy for the way we produce talented players.
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I would be very surprised if Izzo is picked as number 2 past the World cup. He has too many technical flaws. He is basically there as the more experienced backup. Gauci is better and Beach should be picked as the up and comer.

Behich we have a couple who if not injured that are better than him.

Irvine, though many don't like him, I do, but he seems to be in a position where we will get eased out soooer rather than later.

Burgess, is the one that I can see being the better player for a couple more years.
 
patjennings said:
Irvine, though many don't like him, I do, but he seems to be in a position where we will get eased out soooer rather than later.
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Agree that Jackson Irvine is going to be phased out of the Socceroos squad sooner rather than later especially given his recent struggles with injury and the fact that we have better players in the central midfield position who can step in come the start of the 2027 Asian Cup cycle.
 
Quicky said:
I think we should pick our best squad. But I do think there is opportunity to strategically bring in some developing players for squad depth without losing much in quality. For example Overy and Bennie v Karacic. The difference is quality v experience. Picks like that are opportunities that can help our future without sacrificing much if anything.
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Agreed. The fringes of the squad is where you can make these changes.

The examples you give are at fairly different points along the spectrum. Overy is a pure talent pick (like Kewell or Okon) whereas Bennie does have some runs on the board in the championship (and will hopefully have more by the AC). I generally prefer the Bennie route. People always remember the Kewell pick, but disregard all the forgettable wonderkids who never make it. Part of me does want Arena and G Okon picked for this reason though haha.

rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Agree that Jackson Irvine is going to be phased out of the Socceroos squad sooner rather than later especially given his recent struggles with injury and the fact that we have better players in the central midfield position who can step in come the start of the 2027 Asian Cup cycle.
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There are a few ways Irvine loses his starting spot. The body breaks down and he can't maintain his level of play. He loses motivation and retires. Two or more of the current young guys take a significant step up in level. While Irvine continues to play B1, none of the young guys are taking his spot unless they make a big step up in level. Aliga, MLS, Eridivisie / Eerste, League 1, are not displacing someone who consistently starts in the Bundesliga. If they are better players than him, they will naturally move/play at a higher level.

I don't remember being as excited about the upcoming cohorts of kids for a WC cycle as this one. But they have to take the next step in their careers make themselves impossible to ignore.
 
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Cunningstunt said:
Agreed. The fringes of the squad is where you can make these changes.

The examples you give are at fairly different points along the spectrum. Overy is a pure talent pick (like Kewell or Okon) whereas Bennie does have some runs on the board in the championship (and will hopefully have more by the AC). I generally prefer the Bennie route. People always remember the Kewell pick, but disregard all the forgettable wonderkids who never make it. Part of me does want Arena and G Okon picked for this reason though haha.


There are a few ways Irvine loses his starting spot. The body breaks down and he can't maintain his level of play. He loses motivation and retires. Two or more of the current young guys take a significant step up in level. While Irvine continues to play B1, none of the young guys are taking his spot unless they make a big step up in level. Aliga, MLS, Eridivisie / Eerste, League 1, are not displacing someone who consistently starts in the Bundesliga. If they are better players than him, they will naturally move/play at a higher level.

I don't remember being as excited about the upcoming cohorts of kids for a WC cycle as this one. But they have to take the next step in their careers make themselves impossible to ignore.
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I think its okay to pick along the spectrum depending on circumstance. I do want to see us strategically cap promising young players and dual nationals as warranted. We should use our squad depth for that.

Some other recent sliding doors examples: Triantis v Brattan/Teague, Segecic v Borello.

Guys I'd be considering moving forward include Bennie, Arena, Okon, Leonard, Skoko, Chipperfield, Younis, Jovanovic, Memeti, Kutleshi, Walker, Overy, Scicluna.

You could make arguments for their inclusion over the actual depth guys we've picked during qualification (as an example) like Ryan Grant ( Overy, Bennie), Taggart, Borello, D'Agostino (Arena, Mehmeti, Jovanovic), Brattan, Caceres, Teague (Okon, Scicluna) Behich, Davidson (Walker, Kutleshi) A Grant, Deng (Leonard).
 
Quicky said:
I think its okay to pick along the spectrum depending on circumstance. I do want to see us strategically cap promising young players and dual nationals as warranted. We should use our squad depth for that.

Some other recent sliding doors examples: Triantis v Brattan/Teague, Segecic v Borello.

Guys I'd be considering moving forward include Bennie, Arena, Okon, Leonard, Skoko, Chipperfield, Younis, Jovanovic, Memeti, Kutleshi, Walker, Overy, Scicluna.

You could make arguments for their inclusion over the actual depth guys we've picked during qualification (as an example) like Ryan Grant ( Overy, Bennie), Taggart, Borello, D'Agostino (Arena, Mehmeti, Jovanovic), Brattan, Caceres, Teague (Okon, Scicluna) Behich, Davidson (Walker, Kutleshi) A Grant, Deng (Leonard).
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Both Okons? Gianluca and Paul Jr? Any thoughts on Luka Didulica?
 
Quicky said:
I think its okay to pick along the spectrum depending on circumstance. I do want to see us strategically cap promising young players and dual nationals as warranted. We should use our squad depth for that.

Some other recent sliding doors examples: Triantis v Brattan/Teague, Segecic v Borello.

Guys I'd be considering moving forward include Bennie, Arena, Okon, Leonard, Skoko, Chipperfield, Younis, Jovanovic, Memeti, Kutleshi, Walker, Overy, Scicluna.

You could make arguments for their inclusion over the actual depth guys we've picked during qualification (as an example) like Ryan Grant ( Overy, Bennie), Taggart, Borello, D'Agostino (Arena, Mehmeti, Jovanovic), Brattan, Caceres, Teague (Okon, Scicluna) Behich, Davidson (Walker, Kutleshi) A Grant, Deng (Leonard).
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Grant last played for us in 2022 in a WCQ against Japan. So Overy and Bennie would have been 15? Maybe? I do get the point, maybe Karacic is the better more recent example.

Look at the last squad where Karacic was injured and we played Trewin at RB. No time to fly someone else in. We do this in a real match and it could cost points. Bring three strikers to a squad, Toure, Duke and Arena. Duke injures himself in warm up, Toure does something after 30 minutes and the only option is Arena. Then you find out he is Kaz Patafta, not Harry Kewell, it costs points and instead of qualifying directly we are into a playoff.

A lot of these guys are so young. You are really trying to predict careers when they aren't developed as people let alone footballers. Patafta is much more common than Kewell.

I'm not saying it can't or shouldn't be done. Just pointing out how difficult it is to when there is something on the line. Hindsight makes it look easy.

As a side note, would Popa be the first recent coach to do this with Overy (although he didn't play) and Okon? Arnold brought in Irankunda and Kuol, but they had actually played Aliga.
 
Cunningstunt said:
Grant last played for us in 2022 in a WCQ against Japan. So Overy and Bennie would have been 15? Maybe? I do get the point, maybe Karacic is the better more recent example.

Look at the last squad where Karacic was injured and we played Trewin at RB. No time to fly someone else in. We do this in a real match and it could cost points. Bring three strikers to a squad, Toure, Duke and Arena. Duke injures himself in warm up, Toure does something after 30 minutes and the only option is Arena. Then you find out he is Kaz Patafta, not Harry Kewell, it costs points and instead of qualifying directly we are into a playoff.

A lot of these guys are so young. You are really trying to predict careers when they aren't developed as people let alone footballers. Patafta is much more common than Kewell.

I'm not saying it can't or shouldn't be done. Just pointing out how difficult it is to when there is something on the line. Hindsight makes it look easy.

As a side note, would Popa be the first recent coach to do this with Overy (although he didn't play) and Okon? Arnold brought in Irankunda and Kuol, but they had actually played Aliga.
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These are all actual players that have been in Tony Popovic squads. Both Grants were in squads but neither played. A total waste of a squad spot that could have been better used on a development player.

Trewin played because Popovic replaced Karacic with Rowles. He should have brought in Bennie and played him.
 
Quicky said:
These are all actual players that have been in Tony Popovic squads. Both Grants were in squads but neither played. A total waste of a squad spot that could have been better used on a development player.

Trewin played because Popovic replaced Karacic with Rowles. He should have brought in Bennie and played him.
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I assume we are bringing in Bennie for R Grant in a WCQ squad. In hindsight Miller plays both games and it doesn't matter. But you bring in Bennie over Grant. Instead of with Blackburn, Miller ruptures his achilles v SA and we need a replacement for 70 minutes and likely the next match. Do we bring on Bennie, who had played 76 minutes across 15 matches that season and only played RWB 5 times for the under 20s. In a group we had picked up 5 points in 4 matches prior to this?

The exact details of the hypothetical are less important. My point would be that on paper and in hindsight there are always spots available. But the squad matters because sometimes people are needed
 
Cunningstunt said:
I assume we are bringing in Bennie for R Grant in a WCQ squad. In hindsight Miller plays both games and it doesn't matter. But you bring in Bennie over Grant. Instead of with Blackburn, Miller ruptures his achilles v SA and we need a replacement for 70 minutes and likely the next match. Do we bring on Bennie, who had played 76 minutes across 15 matches that season and only played RWB 5 times for the under 20s. In a group we had picked up 5 points in 4 matches prior to this?

The exact details of the hypothetical are less important. My point would be that on paper and in hindsight there are always spots available. But the squad matters because sometimes people are needed
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It's worth the minor risk imo. These guys usually aren't far off or are better than the players they'd replace. The earlier qualification hypotheticals could have had Triantis, Segecic, Robertson, Sapsford with game time. These recent friendlies could have seen Bennie or Jovanovic with minutes. The next cycle you may look at some of the younger names mentioned.
 
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