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2026 World Cup Squad

patjennings said:
Okon never really hit the heights of his talents (mostly because of injury) for Australia. Even if we said one of Australia's greatest midfielders there is plenty of competition especially for the national team.

Jedinak, Mooy, Bresciano, Cahill, Warren, Rogic, Wade, Zelic, Milligan, Grella and Culina.Thes players all had something whether it was grit, temp or goals or a combination of all when playing for the national team.

I rate Okon similar to Bosnich, probably one of, if not the most talented players in his position, just behind others in terms of delivery for the national team.

Injury curtailed his best, but his international peak was at the 1992 Olympics
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At least one person talking sense here, Okon, was better than all those players, but as you said injuries & other issues never a Socceroos superstar.Bar maybe Bresc.

A bit like Kewell & Dukes way better player than Cahill, but Cahill is the best Socceroo ever.
 
We need a miracle, This Socceroo side is just like the current Jamaican nation team, full of good players but woeful when it comes to team performance. After we lose ever game at this World Cup we need to sack Poppa and give Muscat a shot with the Asian Cup. Surely he would dismiss this”come good in the 2nd half” of football Poppa has brought in. We sit pretty much 3rd worse team currently at the World Cup and I don’t see anything changing any time soon. Losing to Mexicos B team was icing on the cake.
 
grazorblade said:
to be fair i think attack was a big weakness at the 2018 world cup

Peak leckie, Nabbout and post acl kruse stuggling for minutes in buli 2 were our front 3

rogic behind a good asset mind you
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2nd half against Denmark we really went for it and we actually we're decent against Peru but for a goal. It shows how much of a leash Popovic has us on. I hope he releases us during the tournament and we have that strong balance of defence and attack.
 
The only good part of playing Turkiye is that we are doing it up front.

One advantage is that none of the team have played at a World Cup, though they have played Euros. The question will be how nervous will they be in the first game at the first World Cup in over 20 years for their country. They also have a few under an injury cloud including some of their best and the fact that up to 3 spots qualify so no need to rush people back unless really needed.

Kenan Yıldız: Highly likely bench cameo. While initially a massive doubt due to a calf strain, Montella has recently confirmed he is back in full training and "looking in excellent shape." Expect him to get 20–30 minutes to regain match rhythm.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu: Bench option only. Given his recent training-pitch muscle scare, he will be rested in favour of fully fit wings like Barış Alper Yılmaz.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu: Likely to be completely rested. Left-back depth is a priority, and Montella will lean on Eren Elmalı to preserve Kadıoğlu for the later games.

Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu: is also fighting a calf injury, meaning all five of Türkiye’s primary attack leaders are under a medical cloud.He missed the final month of the club season after sustaining a left calf strain. His recovery is supposedly ahead of the rest and he had a brief 2-minute cameo off the bench during Türkiye's June 2 friendly win against North Macedonia to test his fitness.

Arda Güler: Tracking well in training, but coming off a significant hamstring tear, he did play the majority of the friendly so is the most likley to get a full game.

Having said all that Turkiye are a quality side with quality subs. They will still go in as favourites but playing them first gives Australia the best chance of taking points of them.
 
patjennings said:
The only good part of playing Turkiye is that we are doing it up front.

One advantage is that none of the team have played at a World Cup, though they have played Euros. The question will be how nervous will they be in the first game at the first World Cup in over 20 years for their country. They also have a few under an injury cloud including some of their best and the fact that up to 3 spots qualify so no need to rush people back unless really needed.

Kenan Yıldız: Highly likely bench cameo. While initially a massive doubt due to a calf strain, Montella has recently confirmed he is back in full training and "looking in excellent shape." Expect him to get 20–30 minutes to regain match rhythm.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu: Bench option only. Given his recent training-pitch muscle scare, he will be rested in favour of fully fit wings like Barış Alper Yılmaz.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu: Likely to be completely rested. Left-back depth is a priority, and Montella will lean on Eren Elmalı to preserve Kadıoğlu for the later games.

Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu: is also fighting a calf injury, meaning all five of Türkiye’s primary attack leaders are under a medical cloud.He missed the final month of the club season after sustaining a left calf strain. His recovery is supposedly ahead of the rest and he had a brief 2-minute cameo off the bench during Türkiye's June 2 friendly win against North Macedonia to test his fitness.

Arda Güler: Tracking well in training, but coming off a significant hamstring tear, he did play the majority of the friendly so is the most likley to get a full game.

Having said all that Turkiye are a quality side with quality subs. They will still go in as favourites but playing them first gives Australia the best chance of taking points of them.
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mind you there has been an interesting habit of the dominant team putting the cue in the rack in the 3rd game

Germany losing to ghana in 2010, France losing to tunisia in 2022 are examples I can remember
 
LFC said:
That’s why it’s an each way bet the group.
Just hope Poppa realises this around the 60/70min mark no later for changes and have a go but I don’t think so.
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I don't like Popovic's system. But I understand why it's seen as necessary. My biggest gripe is the squad, starting XI and subs are always too conservative too. Give us a winger who can hurt, a midfielder who can pass and changes at 60' not 80'. I'd be happy with those tweaks in this sytem but its unrealistic to expect.
 
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