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Socceroos vs Mexico/Switzerland - Pre-World Cup Friendlies 2026 🇦🇺🇲🇽🇨🇭

Bbouy said:
Irankunda probably the least injury prone player in the team thankfully. He's just extremely strong.
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Only except for the fact he runs to loose balls that the keeper wants life a staffy happy to snap its knees.

Thankfully he's got some robustness muscle protection. The lack hack from behind against Cameroon was scary.
 
Bbouy said:
If Tete Yengi's in the squad then I would love for him to get some minutes. I think you have to start all the fringe players, no point risking a player like Bos for no reason whatsoever.


Ryan
Bennie
Souttar
Herrington
Burgess
Behich
Irvine
Devlin
Metcalfe
Robertson
Yengi

It won't happen but would be nice to try Robertson up higher. My team is extremely random but just need to test players out. Against Switzerland, I'm definitely putting more starters in and starters coming off the bench too.
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I keep forgetting Robertson. Out of sight out of mind.

We'll have to okay our near best eventually but after and hour we can sub and then see.

In 2018 we had 2 intensive hitouts against Czech Rep and Hungary.
 
JS96 said:
I keep forgetting Robertson. Out of sight out of mind.

We'll have to okay our near best eventually but after and hour we can sub and then see.

In 2018 we had 2 intensive hitouts against Czech Rep and Hungary.
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The difference is we are picking our squad straight after the game. Therefore, the game is very important to test fringe players. Popovic probably knows 90% of his squad already barring injuries but a few players on the fringes like Bennie really need a hit-out. I don't mind starters playing but anyone super important and injury prone is best on the sidelines if not a late-cameo off the bench. Against Switzerland, once the 26 man squad is set, we can definitely get most of our team out there and really test ourselves. I am treating the Mexico game as an audition for many players.
 
Bbouy said:
The difference is we are picking our squad straight after the game. Therefore, the game is very important to test fringe players. Popovic probably knows 90% of his squad already barring injuries but a few players on the fringes like Bennie really need a hit-out. I don't mind starters playing but anyone super important and injury prone is best on the sidelines if not a late-cameo off the bench. Against Switzerland, once the 26 man squad is set, we can definitely get most of our team out there and really test ourselves. I am treating the Mexico game as an audition for many players.
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I don't get the timing of it all. It's a knife edge of last minutes.

I find it awkward we have a game where we could potentially try anyone from 38 or so blokes so get a confirmation.

Are we maybe going to forgo all locks and play even someone like Borrello for 20min?

I think it's a good opportunity for Popovic to get one last show or commitment from some individuals. Undoubtedly he'll have discussions and tell the player to show him and get himself over the line. Someone like Stensness.
 
I'd actually like a trial of Okon next to Robertson. A protector and a creater and both can feed Irankunda and Bos forward. I'd even go at lopsiding the formation and having no inside left and just allow Bos and Robertson to headnuo there and then Devlin does all the tidying and covering.
 
Bbouy said:
If Tete Yengi's in the squad then I would love for him to get some minutes. I think you have to start all the fringe players, no point risking a player like Bos for no reason whatsoever.


Ryan
Bennie
Souttar
Herrington
Burgess
Behich
Irvine
Devlin
Metcalfe
Robertson
Yengi

It won't happen but would be nice to try Robertson up higher. My team is extremely random but just need to test players out. Against Switzerland, I'm definitely putting more starters in and starters coming off the bench too.
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I go for more protection and asking for the fringe to step up and prove it.

Gauci for GK.

Okon and Hrustic for Irvine and Devlin. RBR in Bennie further forward and Metcalfe out. . Degenek and Geria in - Souttar and Burgess or Herrington out.

Mexico will be a test. I don't care about keeping cohesive parts of the squad - that can happen after the squad is picked. Let's not hide some of youngsters by playing them with more experienced players that will provide cover for them. Let them fight for their spot. If we get creamed at least it will tell us who not to pick.

Switzerland can be used to be a lot closer to the final starting XI after the squad is picked.
 
JS96 said:
I think Okon must start one of these friendlies. We need to see him in the first half of a game.
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Definitely. It'll show if Okon will sink or swim. Mexico and Switzerland are quality. He's got a lot of potential and stylistically is exactly what the team needs. I'm not convinced he can do it at this level yet. I think we need to know an answer to that. These games are a perfect opportunity for that.
 
JS96 said:
I'd actually like a trial of Okon next to Robertson. A protector and a creater and both can feed Irankunda and Bos forward. I'd even go at lopsiding the formation and having no inside left and just allow Bos and Robertson to headnuo there and then Devlin does all the tidying and covering.
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If Robertson isn't in our double pivot he should be an inside forward. He needs to be played.
 
I think Okon and Hrustic for the Mexico game. I don't want either picked on what I have seen. That said I haven't seen Hrustic for ages who I always considered lazy - but reports are that he is playing better sitting deeper.

They both are playing supposedly as HMs (though Okon seems to be more interest in playing as a left attacking midfielder and leaving the hard work to his Sydney partner) - so if they can do the job against Mexico then I would be convinced.
 
JS96 said:
Mexico beat Ghana 2:0. Ghana have been in a bad way lately.
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Looking at the squad last week for Ghana though that they picked for that friendly - I doubt many of them make the squad - 27 players selected, 4 without a cap afterwards, and only 7 that have more than 2 after the match as well.
 
tsf said:
Extremely frustrating his laziness in the past. Not chasing, or when losing the ball just trotting around.

As I said, has the Bernard Tomic's about him.
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Nepo kid whose Benfica tag has gone to his head. I don't like his casual style. We saw it enough at U20 WC.
 
Last edited:
vanlassen said:
Hrustic?
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Okon. Hrustic is much of the same. The attitude occasional gets thins don't but opens a lot of vulnerabilities too. Baccus was the same.
 
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