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2026 World Cup Squad

Keeper66 said:
We have better players available now compared to when he was last in the squad. And he is too lazy too often. I clearly recall when he came in for the last 5-10 minutes against Tunisia in Qatar, and his performance was a disgrace in that he didn’t seem to be interested in doing the hard work needed off the ball to keep our lead. Not interested in seeing him in green and gold again.
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Well if that is the case, why consider Irankunda who is a walking red card?
 
NicCarBel said:
And now into the semis.... :o
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Cup runneth over in dramatic fashion.

After an early Mitch Duke goal, Australia went into the break 1-0. However, sloppy aerial defending from Circati led to Ghana's equaliser. The game ended 1-1, and Ghana scored early into extra time off the back of a Jordy Bos error. But Mitch Duke rose to the occasion yet again with 5 minutes of extra time remaining to send the game to penalties.

It was poetic that Duke was Australia's first miss of the shootout, but in a penalty shootout that went to 12 kicks each, Maty Ryan saved 3, before Brandon Borrello missed his second kick to send Ghana to the World Cup Final against England.

Australia face Brazil in the Third Place Playoff.

1770715472741.png
 
NicCarBel said:
Cup runneth over in dramatic fashion.

After an early Mitch Duke goal, Australia went into the break 1-0. However, sloppy aerial defending from Circati led to Ghana's equaliser. The game ended 1-1, and Ghana scored early into extra time off the back of a Jordy Bos error. But Mitch Duke rose to the occasion yet again with 5 minutes of extra time remaining to send the game to penalties.

It was poetic that Duke was Australia's first miss of the shootout, but in a penalty shootout that went to 12 kicks each, Maty Ryan saved 3, before Brandon Borrello missed his second kick to send Ghana to the World Cup Final against England.

Australia face Brazil in the Third Place Playoff.

View attachment 5368
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I'd take that now
 
Sapsford has been playing and excelling at Motherwell as the right forward in a front 3. Making runs and hitting the space between the LB and CB and being a menace in that role.

Are we thinking about his potential role in the NT wrong. Most, myself included, have been thinking of him as a CF. That's slightly out of position for him. If selected, should we expect the same level of performances when he's not in his preferred role.
 
Quicky said:
Sapsford has been playing and excelling at Motherwell as the right forward in a front 3. Making runs and hitting the space between the LB and CB and being a menace in that role.

Are we thinking about his potential role in the NT wrong. Most, myself included, have been thinking of him as a CF. That's slightly out of position for him. If selected, should we expect the same level of performances when he's not in his preferred role.
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Sapsford is a bit like duke in broken play

Quick enough to cause issues, but his main asset is making difficult passes and making accurate decisions quickly wirhout hesitation. So u want to put him with speedsters
 
Quicky said:
Sapsford has been playing and excelling at Motherwell as the right forward in a front 3. Making runs and hitting the space between the LB and CB and being a menace in that role.

Are we thinking about his potential role in the NT wrong. Most, myself included, have been thinking of him as a CF. That's slightly out of position for him. If selected, should we expect the same level of performances when he's not in his preferred role.
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That's how I want our front three to play - basically a CF and the wingers to play more as inside forwards
 
NicCarBel said:
Ok - I know I've been spruiking how much I've been enjoying this PES 21 / Football Life 2026 mod recently - but I've decided to go through all the countries that have qualified directly, or have qualified for the final playoffs that are in game (which is all of them, except New Caledonia and Suriname), and put together (what I thought at least) the best squad possible based off:
  • Their most recent squads
  • Players called up within the last 12 months
  • Injured players that would probably walk straight back into the squad - such as Harry Souttar in Australia's case.
  • Only using players that were on the game
Tonight I'm running sims of all the playoffs, and I just feel like doing a simulation of the World Cup.
In this simulation, playoffs will be viewed sims (I may record them on YouTube and put on here for the lulz - will just be set to "5 minutes" like when I simulated the playoffs for the 32 Nation 2026 World Cup. However, for the actual World Cup, I will only be doing 'viewed sims' for Australia's matches.

---

Now after that preamble, here's the Socceroos squad I've put together:
  1. Mat Ryan
  2. Milos Degenek
  3. Lewis Miller
  4. Kye Rowles
  5. Jordan Bos
  6. Martin Boyle
  7. Nestory Irankunda
  8. Connor Metcalfe
  9. Mo Toure
  10. Ajdin Hrustic
  11. Craig Goodwin
  12. Paul Izzo
  13. Aiden O'Neill
  14. Riley McGree
  15. Mitch Duke
  16. Aziz Behich
  17. Cameron Devlin
  18. Joe Gauci
  19. Harry Souttar
  20. Max Balard
  21. Cameron Burgess
  22. Jackson Irvine
  23. Alessandro Circati
  24. Brandon Borrello
  25. Jason Geria
  26. Patrick Yazbek
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Ok, so have now downloaded a mod for EA FC 26 that has essentially turned into the old school World Cup 2006/2010/2014 games : Full qualification path, World Cup Finals/Group Stage available. and also.... All Continental Cups.

Downside - it has a set squad that you cannot change, otherwise you can't make subs. So.. linking to my Simulations thread, because that has the squad for this:

NicCarBel

Post in thread 'SIMULATIONS - 2026 FIFA World Cup'

ok upside to this mod - it has everything. All 6 Continental Cups. All Qualification paths. World Cup Finals from the Group Stage.Downside - despite being able to ingame update the squads, you cannot actually use players that this guy hasn't included in the squad.

So, this is the Australia squad:
  • Goalkeepers
    • 1 - Mat Ryan
    • 12 - Paul Izzo
    • 22 - Lawrence Thomas
  • Defenders
    • 3 - Cameron Burgess
    • 2 - Harry Souttar
    • 14 - Alex Grant
    • 5 - Milos Degenek
    • 6 - Kye Rowles
    • 18 - Jordy Bos
    • 28 - Nathaniel Atkinson
    • 29 - Fran Karacic
    • 4 - Aziz Behich
    ...
 
Milligan pumping up Max Burgess:

football360.com.au

Burgess a Socceroos bolter? Milligan makes case for his captain as Jets power to SEVENTH straight win

Newcastle midfield maestro Max Burgess should come under Socceroos consideration, says Jets coach Mark Milligan. Uncapped playmaker Burgess has led the charge with his creativity from deeper in midfield amid Newcastle’s extraordinary seven-game winning streak that has the Jets five points clear...
football360.com.au football360.com.au

I actually agree with Milligan. He should be in the mix for squad selection.
 
What role would h
dr. bellows said:
Milligan pumping up Max Burgess:

football360.com.au

Burgess a Socceroos bolter? Milligan makes case for his captain as Jets power to SEVENTH straight win

Newcastle midfield maestro Max Burgess should come under Socceroos consideration, says Jets coach Mark Milligan. Uncapped playmaker Burgess has led the charge with his creativity from deeper in midfield amid Newcastle’s extraordinary seven-game winning streak that has the Jets five points clear...
football360.com.au football360.com.au

I actually agree with Milligan. He should be in the mix for squad selection.
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What role would he play? DM? Formation? off the bench?
 
Burgess stakes a claim but for what position? I think it sucks Yazbek is the forgotten man when he was the one able to get passes moving compared to all other midfielders against Japan.

Injuries will happen but we've got so much depth that someone like Burgess is totally on the outer. I don't agree with Leckie claims but Popovic likes the experience and then our best football brain in Kalik won't get in either.
 
JS96 said:
Burgess stakes a claim but for what position? I think it sucks Yazbek is the forgotten man when he was the one able to get passes moving compared to all other midfielders against Japan.

Injuries will happen but we've got so much depth that someone like Burgess is totally on the outer. I don't agree with Leckie claims but Popovic likes the experience and then our best football brain in Kalik won't get in either.
Click to expand...

NicCarBel

Post in thread '2026 World Cup Squad'

Ok - I know I've been spruiking how much I've been enjoying this PES 21 / Football Life 2026 mod recently - but I've decided to go through all the countries that have qualified directly, or have qualified for the final playoffs that are in game (which is all of them, except New Caledonia and Suriname), and put together (what I thought at least) the best squad possible based off:
  • Their most recent squads
  • Players called up within the last 12 months
  • Injured players that would probably walk straight back into the squad - such as Harry Souttar in Australia's case.
  • Only using...
  • Like

Going off my squad I used for that Simulation, I had him in as well (I think started all the knockouts too?) - both not forgotten to me.
I still need to have a good look and see who could jump in this squad for me in real life. Segecic and Sapsford are good shouts, but not sure who they'd replace just yet. Souttar is out with injury I presume, so that opens one spot, (but defender for midfielder, might not make the balance of the squad work).
 
onedaywinners... said:
Yep I feel that we will get a lot more retirements post the Asian Cup rather than after the WC.

The depth that continues to build and many being sub 25 is crazy promising.
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Mathew Ryan, Paul Izzo, Cameron Burgess, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin, Mitch Duke likely to go after the Asian Cup.Only Ryan or Izzo possible for 2030 as reliable veteran backup, but unlikely.
 
Miller taken off on a stretcher and he looked absolutely devastated by all accounts.

Gutted for him. The only thing I'll say in a sporting sense now is his absence would open a right back power vacuum.

Here's hoping its a false alarm.
 
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