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2026 World Cup Squad

grazorblade said:
If you could choose any socceroos from any era but had to stick to poppas system and formation who is your starting xi?
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Kalac
R Grant
T Popovic
K Popovic
Cornthwaite
Davidson
Okon
Okon
Djite
McDonald
Someone inept at left wing.

A shoddy left back escapes me. McKay was criticised in the role. Carney only copped it due to the 2011 Asian Cup final.
 
verrelli said:
Is anybody else struggling to understand how Leckie is suddenly in the conversation? Yes, he's been a wonderful servant but at 35 years of age and very injury prone at this stage of career, I just don't get it. Surely there's better options at this point. As far as I can work out, he's had just 2 caps since the last World Cup (against Argentina in Jun 2023 and Palestine in Jun 2024). He's played a couple of decent games recently and suddenly he's under consideration.
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He was off the radar due to injury but a return to come form, his experience and availability made it go so fast. I'm disappointed we've reverted to this.
 
I think Kalik is an intelligent footballer and he's another who gets shortlisted but he's so far away from minutes that we'll never know.

We knew Mooy would develop but the way he was introduced and became so important made it feel like a bonus as we were in a time of midfielder transition worried about quality.
 
To go a poppa xi im going to ignore players before my time since i cant comment on them

Then i will choose the players im trying to fit the team around

Cahill
Viduka
Kewell

Kewell creates no headaches, but vidula and cahill do. Viduka is a player who needs the ball fed to him by a midfielder that likes to be high on the pitch and keep the ball on the deck. Poppa also needs a strong presser with decent speed for his inside forwards. This means sacrificing a high quality player for the best profile which makes me choose holman for right inside forward

For cahills midfield partner, he is basically an upgrade on irvine, very mobile hard worker wins a lot of aerial duals and scores a lot, but is weak at forward progression and ball winning. So i would have someone who is a good ball winner and can progress the ball - grella

For rwb the obvious choice is emerton and id flip a coin between bos and lazaridis on the left

Back 3 he likes a big body at ccb so thats souttar. Then rcb id have neill shade circati which means im playing circati out of position at lcb

For gk he wants a ball player so ryan shades schwarzer due to his profile
 
I feel like if we end up selecting old dogs like Behich, Degenek, Geria, Boyle, Mabil, Leckie in our final squad we're going to be leaving better players out. I'm steeling myself for some disappointment.
 
I think we really lack a player that can change a game and make things happen in centre midfield. We have Robertson as a stand out. Then I can only think of Hrustic, Kalik, Nisbet. It's an area we lack quality and depth. Am I missing anyone?
 
Quicky said:
I think we really lack a player that can change a game and make things happen in centre midfield. We have Robertson as a stand out. Then I can only think of Hrustic, Kalik, Nisbet. It's an area we lack quality and depth. Am I missing anyone?
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There’s this one… wait. Help, I’m getting baited!
 
Quicky said:
I think we really lack a player that can change a game and make things happen in centre midfield. We have Robertson as a stand out. Then I can only think of Hrustic, Kalik, Nisbet. It's an area we lack quality and depth. Am I missing anyone?
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yes being others been looking way back but not that long ago a bloke called Rogic would fill your question :)
Mind you Poppa prob wouldn't pick him haha
 
LFC said:
yes being others been looking way back but not that long ago a bloke called Rogic would fill your question :)
Mind you Poppa prob wouldn't pick him haha
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Recently saw him score and set up a goal v germany at the 2017 confed cup. Serious player

But he wouldnt fit in poppas system as he is a cam so wouldnt be picked haha
 
JS96 said:
Paul sprinting to Popovic* after Bos scored against Cameroon shouting 'my son, my son' trying to claim and deflected assist. Okon wasn't on the radar until his dad joined the coaching team.

The issue is Okon is selected ahead of better players who are ready. Okon isn't ready just yet but the next cycle should see him grow. We have much better ball players and I think he's too much like James Holland with a casualness on the ball and defensive lapses.
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My view is that Okon is simply unexceptional which is obviously what Benfica concluded as well.
 
Frankly Speaking said:
My view is that Okon is simply unexceptional which is obviously what Benfica concluded as well.
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While it's good he served an apprenticeship there, the way these kids at big clubs get put on a pedestal is frustrating as few actually make it. Brook, Francois, Peupion with EPL feature articles. As if they ever had a chance.
 
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