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2026 World Cup Squad

D'Agostino reported as having a leg injury. He was never going to make the squad but some depth in camp for training was important.
Nick D'Agostino has previously suffered from leg injuries though so this latest one may well be a recurrence of an existing injury.
 
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/24/riley-mcgree-injury-socceroos-world-cup-blow

"McGree briefly played on before being substituted, leaving the 27-year-old to watch on from the bench as his team conceded deep in injury time to shatter their dreams of reaching the Premier League – and set the alarm bells ringing for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic."
Geez that's completely false. Doesn't The Guardian have a journalist by the name of Snape? Pity...
 
How fitting McGree has his 609 cap number tattooed on the affected leg too.

No news today and I'd say that's good news as the urgent nature of everything you'd think they'd want to know right away.
 
I 'm putting up a starting eleven, despite injury probably causing changes. I now have a lot of data too.

I think Miller is definitely injured, so can't include him.

...............................Ryan

............Circati ......Souttar........Rowles

Italiano........O'Neill........Irvine..........Bos

......Irankunda..... Mo Toure.......McGree


There is plenty of depth for the CBs in terms of reserves.

Very little depth for the wing backs. Bos and Italiano ( with Miller injured) clearly the best.

Very little depth for central striker.

As a sub Connor Metcalfe can play DM, wing and wing back on both flanks.

Experience - Ryan, Souttar, Rowles and Irvine have previous WC experience.
 
I 'm putting up a starting eleven, despite injury probably causing changes. I now have a lot of data too.

I think Miller is definitely injured, so can't include him.

...............................Ryan

............Circati ......Souttar........Rowles

Italiano........O'Neill........Irvine..........Bos

......Irankunda..... Mo Toure.......McGree


There is plenty of depth for the CBs in terms of reserves.

Very little depth for the wing backs. Bos and Italiano ( with Miller injured) clearly the best.

Very little depth for central striker.

As a sub Connor Metcalfe can play DM, wing and wing back on both flanks.

Experience - Ryan, Souttar, Rowles and Irvine have previous WC experience.
McGree is in doubt. If he's out i'm going to absolutely huff n' puff alot!!
 
Lots of uncertainty depending on the fitness of certain players. I think it looks like the below list at the moment. Well at least it would if I was picking.

Not what I woild do but if McGree is fully fit then I think Popa will pick a midfield "box" of Irvine, O'Neill (or replacement), McGree and Metcalfe, with our width to come from overlapping wingbacks and Irankunda to be a supersub. As it stands I think Nestory starts because he is fully fit and there are doubts over the guys that would start ahead of him

GK: Ryan

RWB: Italiano

LWB: Bos

CB: Circati, Burgess, Souttar. If Souttar isn't ready, then Herrington.

MF: Irvine, O'Neill. If O'Neill isn't fit, then Devlin.

RM: Irankunda

LM: McGree. If unavailable, then Metcalfe

ST: Toure
 
If McGree is out, I’d be crying out for Adams to be selected. He plays that inside forward role really well and has also played plenty centrally. I can’t think of many other players who fit a similar profile to that and who can deliver in clutch moments like him. I’d call for Younis too, but he’s a different kind of player.
If we were stretching further out in the talent pool, I can only really think of Lachlan Brook who is a similar sort of player in the A-League (maybe Yull). But neither of them are close to NT standard.
It’s almost like we needed a little left footed guy who can dribble and score and who maybe performs well in leagues like the EFL Championship… 👀
Like all of those suggestions but it’s Popa so we will see none of them………
 
Part 2 of the Diaries.

Socceroos played a controlled-match against a local side with modified rules today. Seems to be some optimism on the McGree injury, which is good. They're reporting that another final 6 or so players will be joining the Socceroos tomorrow morning. We may get an update within the next 24 hours.

 
McGree is in doubt. If he's out i'm going to absolutely huff n' puff alot!!
In stats I’ve been surprised how many subtle things McGree does well - as well as the obvious.

It is apparent to all watching that Bos and Iran win lots of 1v1s through sheer pace.

McGree often wins them by reading where the ball is going more quickly than his opponents- anticipation.

He puts a lot of pressure on when he doesn’t have the ball.

Plus he supports teammates well in defensive positioning as second defender.
 
Hindsightbisna crazy thing. Considering all the possible injury issues in midfield I wonder if Segacic was a chance at least to make it camp
 
I 'm putting up a starting eleven, despite injury probably causing changes. I now have a lot of data too.

I think Miller is definitely injured, so can't include him.

...............................Ryan

............Circati ......Souttar........Rowles

Italiano........O'Neill........Irvine..........Bos

......Irankunda..... Mo Toure.......McGree


There is plenty of depth for the CBs in terms of reserves.

Very little depth for the wing backs. Bos and Italiano ( with Miller injured) clearly the best.

Very little depth for central striker.

As a sub Connor Metcalfe can play DM, wing and wing back on both flanks.

Experience - Ryan, Souttar, Rowles and Irvine have previous WC experience.
Assuming mcgree isnt injured that looks likely. Okon might compliment irvine more but not sure if he has been tested at a high enough level
 
We're not dropping Boyle. Maybe Velupillay misses out but we won't see a combination of Suto and Tete either. We then try to squeeze in Devlin when Okon is seemingly a lock.

This is where Geria, Trewin and Rowles fill a versatility need that means Bennie, Degenek and some others have weaker cards.
 
I know yet a few more weeks of training and he'd be back at it. Grest for set plays. Hrustic nudging himself in. It's going to be a tight squeeze. Metcalfe with a corner assist recently.
For a long while our most consistent goal avenue came from Goodwin's corner/cross/free kick to Big Harry's head
 
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