2026 World Cup Squad

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Fark

Lewis Miller possibly ruled out for the entirety of the Socceroos 2026 cycle also as he'll be sidelined for around nine months which means that we likely won't see him in the green and gold again until the 2027 Asian Cup rolls around.

 

[DandyCasey]

In desperation I've widened my search even further. Does anyone think Angus Thurgate could do a job for us at rwb?

Definitely and a winger/striker in youth, is a great crosser of the ball.

 

[Quicky]

These are the RWB's Poppa has looked at in qualification with games played in brackets. I think I might have done this a bit before the last friendlies we played so may be a little off but close. Pretty sure Geria may have had some time there too.

RWB
[ ] Miller (12)
[ ] Karacic (2)
[ ] R. Grant
[ ] Silvera (1)
[ ] Italiano (2)
[ ] Overy

Only Karacic is fit but he wasn't that impressive.

Italiano is returning from injury but had great form in the role.

I wish we'd looked at Metcalfe and Bennie in the role (former) and squad (latter).

I reckon Italiano is a red hot favourite for the squad now if his form is okay, though I'm still unsure who I'd pick. I'm leaning towards two of Metcalfe, Bennie, Italiano and Strain.

 

[patjennings]

These are the RWB's Poppa has looked at in qualification with games played in brackets. I think I might have done this a bit before the last friendlies we played so may be a little off but close. Pretty sure Geria may have had some time there too.

RWB
[ ] Miller (12)
[ ] Karacic (2)
[ ] R. Grant
[ ] Silvera (1)
[ ] Italiano (2)
[ ] Overy

Only Karacic is fit but he wasn't that impressive.

Italiano is returning from injury but had great form in the role.

I wish we'd looked at Metcalfe and Bennie in the role (former) and squad (latter).

I reckon Italiano is a red hot favourite for the squad now if his form is okay, though I'm still unsure who I'd pick. I'm leaning towards two of Metcalfe, Bennie, Italiano and Strain.

I think Metcalfe is already in squad and probably Silvera. So probably Italino from that group with the other two covering. The others that are CBs / RBs are Geria and Deng.

 

[Quicky]

I think Metcalfe is already in squad and probably Silvera. So probably Italino from that group with the other two covering. The others that are CBs / RBs are Geria and Deng.

I think Silveras injury takes him to April which is cutting it fine. I don't think he's any guarantee for club or country.

Metcalfe yeah, I really hope so. For me it lets us structure the squad better. I want him as RWB so that we can pick another mid or forward.

But honestly, I doubt Poppa is thinking that way based on what he did in qualifying. I hope he pivots there.

Geria and Deng, no way for RWB imo. If Poppa goes there he's cooked.

 

[patjennings]

I think Silveras injury takes him to April which is cutting it fine. I don't think he's any guarantee for club or country.

Metcalfe yeah, I really hope so. For me it lets us structure the squad better. I want him as RWB so that we can pick another mid or forward.

But honestly, I doubt Poppa is thinking that way based on what he did in qualifying. I hope he pivots there.

Geria and Deng, no way for RWB imo. If Poppa goes there he's cooked.

When did Silvera get injured. I'd assumed he had just dropped down the pecking order at Middlesboro

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Geria and Deng, no way for RWB imo. If Poppa goes there he's cooked.

I don't think Thomas Deng will be making the World Cup squad since he's not really getting game time at Yokohama FM which may be detrimental for him about four months out from the tournament rolling around.

 

[Quicky]

When did Silvera get injured. I'd assumed he had just dropped down the pecking order at Middlesboro

Silvera has broken a bone in his foot with an April return. Rotten timing.

 

[booney52]

Silvera's foot injury has only become known at least to me in the last couple of hours.I wondered why he seemed to be not even on the bench for last couple of games.

 

[grazorblade]

one way to solve the headache of who to omit in cm is to select 6 of them haha

But even then I have headaches! He omitted Okon, trewin, Scicluna and Hrustic

I think I should just live with whatever poppa picks at cm at this stage haha

 

[grazorblade]

CMs who I think could make it

Irvine
O'niell
Yazbek
Trewin
Okon
Scicluna
Balard
Hrustic
Robbo
Devlin

Chose 4-6 if you can. Making tactical picks is probably a good idea - who is best at shutting a game down, who is best at opening it up, who is your starting pair

Devlin clear best for shutting a game down and protecting a lead
Robbo/Hrustic clearly good for opening a game up and chasing a goal

Irvine has to be there which leaves his starting partner and one or 2 back ups for plan A

 

[Quicky]

CMs who I think could make it

Irvine
O'niell
Yazbek
Trewin
Okon
Scicluna
Balard
Hrustic
Robbo
Devlin

Chose 4-6 if you can. Making tactical picks is probably a good idea - who is best at shutting a game down, who is best at opening it up, who is your starting pair

Box-to-box: Irvine, Robertson, Yazbek
Defensive: Balard, Devlin, O'Neill

 

[grazorblade]

Box-to-box: Irvine, Robertson, Yazbek
Defensive: Balard, Devlin, O'Neill

So plan A has 2 box 2 box players

So I'd have 3 box2box, 1 backs to the wall defender and 1 attacker

 

[dr. bellows]

Versatility could get you in so that's why I think Atkinson has good cards here.

Thurgate would do a better job than O'Neill at present.

Both Thurgate and O'Neill could do a job at rwb as could Baccus, imo. They're the only 6s I can think of that could cover both positions at this level but O'Neill is the only one Popa is likely to consider. He'll probably just be selected purely as a dm but he has that versatility In his favour if I was picking the squad.

 

[dr. bellows]

CMs who I think could make it

Irvine
O'niell
Yazbek
Trewin
Okon
Scicluna
Balard
Hrustic
Robbo
Devlin

Chose 4-6 if you can. Making tactical picks is probably a good idea - who is best at shutting a game down, who is best at opening it up, who is your starting pair

Devlin clear best for shutting a game down and protecting a lead
Robbo/Hrustic clearly good for opening a game up and chasing a goal

Irvine has to be there which leaves his starting partner and one or 2 back ups for plan A

I'd be adding Max Burgess into that crowded mix. Just to complicate matters, lol.

 

[grazorblade]

I'd be adding Max Burgess into that crowded mix. Just to complicate matters, lol.

Don't need more headaches

Should have a game: who is the weirdest pick you can come up with that poppa will go for.

I'm gonna go Kotroumbis

 

[JS96]

Box-to-box: Irvine, Robertson, Yazbek
Defensive: Balard, Devlin, O'Neill

Take these 6 and revert to a back 4 for god sake. We should be packing the midfield and getting the ball our wingers and 10.

 

[JS96]

Don't need more headaches

Should have a game: who is the weirdest pick you can come up with that poppa will go for.

I'm gonna go Kotroumbis

Gonna happen isn't it?

 

[dr. bellows]

Don't need more headaches

Should have a game: who is the weirdest pick you can come up with that poppa will go for.

I'm gonna go Kotroumbis

Even though he's having a pretty good season season, I agree that would be left field and a big surprise from Popa especially.

 

[JS96]

So plan A has 2 box 2 box players

So I'd have 3 box2box, 1 backs to the wall defender and 1 attacker

Triantis would solve the issue by being an emergency CB too. Yazbek will sadly get cut but I find him the better ball player in the bunch.

Remember when Arnold played Irvine at far left forward Japan away during covid? At least he was on the wing and way up there often enough.