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World Cup 2026 Australia thread

patjennings said:
Irvine just seems to be getting a lot of injuries (or that could just be my impression.
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Jackson Irvine has had his fair share of injury struggles this year but I'd say he should be starting in central midfield ahead of Degenek who hasn't really been getting game time at club level for much of the season.
 
patjennings said:
I really had him in for Italiano and Robertson for Irvine.
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Agree that Alex Robertson is also a good option in the midfield line but personally I wouldn't include Degenek altogether if he isn't getting game time at club level as we have other players who could fill in for Italiano instead.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Totally agree that Milos Degenek should not be on the plane to the United States for the World Cup as he isn't getting minutes on the pitch for APOEL and we have much better options who can fit into Popovic's different tactical systems.
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As a defensive RWB I'm struggling to think of one that I rate. I can see a utility type player and Italiano as the offensive RWB. I suppose I'm looking at having options in how we set up. I suppose Karacic is the closest but I don't rate him either and he has his own injury problems
 
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patjennings said:
As a defensive RWB I'm struggling to think of one that I rate. I can see a utility type player and Italiano as the offensive RWB. I suppose I'm looking at having options in how we set up. I suppose Karacic is the closest but I don't rate him either and he has his own injury problems
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I'll go real left field here: what about Devlin?
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Lucas. He’s performing well in a better league.
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I'm in two minds. I don't think in terms of level or performance there is much between them. But Burgess experience has to be important at a big tournament. But I really like Herrington mobility and passing.

I'd rate the Championship well above the MLS personally.
 
Quicky said:
I'm in two minds. I don't think in terms of level or performance there is much between them. But Burgess experience has to be important at a big tournament. But I really like Herrington mobility and passing.

I'd rate the Championship well above the MLS personally.
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Oh fuck me dead I thought you meant Max Burgess 😂

I still feel inclined to start Lucas but Cam is definitely more experienced and should be part of the squad.
 
I am still not convinced that Souttar will be in the final squad.Everyone saying that he played magnificently at the 2022 WC after coming back from a serious injury and indeed he did but he is four years older and apart from the last match against Millwall he will have had little first team as the season is nearly finished.I hope I am proved wrong as he is definitely an aerial threat at set pieces and can hit those lovely raking diagonal passes to the wide man on the other wing.Will he still have the pace,timing and confidence to go in hard ?The Seppos have fast forwards and Turkiye has some excellent forwards and the talented Arda Guler in midfield who likes to get into the box though I believe he is injured at present.
 
booney52 said:
I am still not convinced that Souttar will be in the final squad.Everyone saying that he played magnificently at the 2022 WC after coming back from a serious injury and indeed he did but he is four years older and apart from the last match against Millwall he will have had little first team as the season is nearly finished.I hope I am proved wrong as he is definitely an aerial threat at set pieces and can hit those lovely raking diagonal passes to the wide man on the other wing.Will he still have the pace,timing and confidence to go in hard ?The Seppos have fast forwards and Turkiye has some excellent forwards and the talented Arda Guler in midfield who likes to get into the box though I believe he is injured at present.
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Souttar will only have two club games + there are two friendlies prior to the World Cup. I think Popovic will bring him along and see how he goes in the friendlies. If he does well he'll be in the squad.
 
Quicky said:
That was an interesting listen. He had a decent understanding of the squad. Did chuckle when he said we change our formation too much. I wish! We have chopped around the players a lot though.
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He has Turkiye at 43% probability to top the group, USA at 38%, Paraguay at 16% and us at 6%. Hope Poppa has the nous to turn this obvious underdog status to our advantage.
 
patjennings said:
I think we will and also on the left

------------------------------------------Ryan------------------------------------------
-----------Circati------------------Souttar------------Burgess-----------------------
--Degenek---------------Robertson---------Balard----------------Rowles-------
------Irankunda--------------------Toure----------------Bos----------------------

Let that front three roam and swap. Bos is great as an offensive LWB but against Turkiye i want his offensive talent but also want to shut down at the back.

Irvine just seems to be getting a lot of injuries (or that could just be my impression.
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I don't think we can afford to leave McGree out of starting line up. He's one of the smartest and best ballers if not the best we have
 
socceroosmad said:
I don't think we can afford to leave McGree out of starting line up. He's one of the smartest and best ballers if not the best we have
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Maybe. But I think what can be part of our squad strength is that we can be multimodal. Hit them one way and then ask different questions with different players with different strengths. Whether it speed, height or smarts.
 
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