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2026 World Cup Squad

We probably need to bring some back up for McGree if he makes it. Silvera, Goodwin, Suto are the left sided options.
 
If McGree misses I reckon they'll slot Metcalfe left forward with Irankunda right - or vice versa. Metcalfe has good chemistry with both Toure and Irankunda so it works okay.
I think it'll definitely be Metcalfe, would love to see Robertson try it as well in one of the friendlies. I've seen him play higher up at Cardiff and Portsmouth. Get's less of the ball but can score and is a good distributor.
 
What do you mean by that? When I see Herrington go from the ALM to the MLS and dominate so early it surely shows the development in the MLS is missing.

The players playing in the MLS who play for the Socceroos seem to be doing well for the national team, whereas for a few seasons, not many players doing well in Scotland extrapolated their club success to the Socceroos.

Rowles, Herrington, Trewin, Yazbek, O'Neill, are all currently playing MLS football. The skill set they are bringing to the Socceroos has been pleasing.

The Championship also has Burgess, Iran, McGree, playing regular minutes. They have impressed at national team level in recent times, with a skill set suited to international football.

Not sure how much Silvera ( liked the look of him for the Roos), Matthews, Bennie ( good at underage national team level), Adamson, et al, are playing in the Champ?

There might be more players I can't remember doing well in the Champ or MLS, and doing well for the Roos too?

I've taken note of Grazor posting the ELO of the Champ being similar to Portugal, Belgium and Netherlands. This is impressive! These are consistently the next most highly ranked leagues after the UEFA Big Five.

A decent percentage of Socceroos now ply their trade in the USA or English Champ.

The English Championship is the 6th richest league in the world after the UEFA Big Five.
 
All these stats and wagon wheels are great but are they compiled with the opponent and time of match considered?

Of course Okon looked better as the game was opening up. It's understandable Balard was pressured as Colombia started to press more at that time.

In the first 30min Colombia stood back and there were some big open spaces in midfield but we passed it back.
True.

Fresh legs can do well as subs come on against tiring teams.

However, over time distinct trends start to develop when one looks at data game in and game out.

There are a lot of O'Neill haters on this forum. Quite a few others are popular scapegoats too.

They cannot accept O'N's profiicency in 1v1s, causing Turnovers and making Intercepts is the best in the team in front of the back three.

Also, when I compile stats, a pass behind the halfway line, which is counted as a pass made in the defensive half, can be backwards, diagonally backwards, square, diagonally forwards or a straight ball forwards.

This is the same scenario in the attacking half.

For all of Robertson's skill in on the ball capability, it takes a lot more experience to make frequent Intercepts, cause Turnovers and win a high percentage of 1v1s - that O'Neill does ATM with greater experience. Ditto Irvine - if his body holds up.
 
If McGree misses I reckon they'll slot Metcalfe left forward with Irankunda right - or vice versa. Metcalfe has good chemistry with both Toure and Irankunda so it works okay.
Which game did Metcalfe has a good chemistry with Toure and Irankunda? Usually our game got a bit better once Metcalfe came off
 
The creativity between McGree an Hrustic is huge tho. Not saying McGree is anywhere near KBD but I ll give him 7/10 in terms of creativity. Hrustic on the other hand is 5/10 (MAX).
Hrustic can cross a ball, it’s every other facet of the game where he under delivers. It doesn’t look like his teammates enjoy playing with him either.
 
According to ESPN, a possibility Tete Yengi joins the squad replacing D'Agostino. Don't quote me on that though.
I wonder what happened with D'Agostino? Odd to send him away early if it isn't injury related. Tete in would be welcome.
 
My squad (using the preliminary squad):
  • Goalkeepers: Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Maty Ryan
  • Defenders: Jordy Bos, Cam Burgess, Ale Circati, Lucas Herrington, Jacob Italiano, Dylan Leonard, Harry Souttar, Gianni Stensness
  • Midfielders: Cam Devlin, Ajdin Hrustić, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Paul Okon-Engstler, Aiden O'Neill, Alex Robertson
  • Forwards: Eli Adams, Dan Bennie, Martin Boyle, Nestory Irankunda, Sam Silvera, Ante Šuto, Mo Touré, Tete Yengi
This is presuming the remaining players arrive. Remove Riley McGree if he’s injured, remove someone else if he’s not.

Thoughts? If I missed anyone I’ll tweak it and will update it depending on who gets selected after tonight.
 
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My Squad...1 week out:

- Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan, Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach

- Defenders: Jordan Bos, Aziz Behich, Jacob Italiano, Daniel Bennie, Lucas Herrington, Cam Burgess, Harry Souttar, Ale Circati, Kai Trewin, Milos Degenek

- Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Cam Devlin, Alex Robertson, Connor Metcalfe, Matthew Leckie

- Attackers: Nestory Irankunda, Martin Boyle, Riley McGree, Mo Toure, Mitchell Duke and Tete Yengi.


I obviously don't know the ratio of DEF/MID/ATT players Popa wants in his squad. I decided to bring an extra defender over an attacker.

I think Hrustic probably makes it but I'd personally prefer Leckie (he offers more in big games) but maybe both make it if McGree is out.

-Hrustic, Velupillay, Geria, Gauci and Mabil are in touching distance for this squad.
 
My Squad...1 week out:

- Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan, Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach

- Defenders: Jordan Bos, Aziz Behich, Jacob Italiano, Daniel Bennie, Lucas Herrington, Cam Burgess, Harry Souttar, Ale Circati, Kai Trewin, Milos Degenek

- Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Cam Devlin, Alex Robertson, Connor Metcalfe, Matthew Leckie

- Attackers: Nestory Irankunda, Martin Boyle, Riley McGree, Mo Toure, Mitchell Duke and Tete Yengi.


I obviously don't know the ratio of DEF/MID/ATT players Popa wants in his squad. I decided to bring an extra defender over an attacker.

I think Hrustic probably makes it but I'd personally prefer Leckie (he offers more in big games) but maybe both make it if McGree is out.

-Hrustic, Velupillay, Geria, Gauci and Mabil are in touching distance for this squad.
Sam sivera should be the 2nd RB for Italiano as Bos and Behich on another side. Don't tell me the coach gonna put Trewin there again.
 
Sam sivera should be the 2nd RB for Italiano as Bos and Behich on another side. Don't tell me the coach gonna put Trewin there again.
I've put Bennie there as I rate him higher than Silvera. There's definitely no "should be's" when it's come to the Socceroos right-back position. Trewin is a centre-back depth piece but also an option for a defensive midfielder or right-back. I'd be willing to take Borges-Rodrigues or Silvera as the backup right back but I'd need to replace an attacker/midfielder with Bennie. I'm taking Bennie regardless.
 
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