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2026 World Cup Squad

patjennings said:
Italy have the talent and compete well in other tournaments. They just seem to be panic merchants at the moment. they have the talent to stroll in every time.
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Italy started the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League with 2nd highest co-efficient behind England. Of the 4 Italian clubs, Napoli finished 30th in the league phase, so exit. In the knock-out play-offs, Juventus were knocked out by Galatasaray, and Inter were knocked out 2-5 by Bodo-Glimt. So only 1 Italian team made the round of 16 - Atalanta, who lost 2-10 on aggregate to Bayern. This ain't the 90s no more. I watched Italy vs Bosnia
samb said:
That tackle he made against Tunisia after Rowles (I think?) slipped over is imprinted into my brain
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And the way he'd sometimes lumber forward makes him our (ok a bit slower) Mickey van de Ven (Spurs and NED)
 
My squad:

GK: Ryan,Izzo,Beach
RB: Italiano,Karacic
LB: Bos,Behich
CB: Circati,Burgess,Herrington,Degenek,Rowles,Trewin
Mid:Irvine,O'Neill,Robertson,Yazbek,Metcalfe,Balard,McGree,Hrustic,Mabil
Forward: Toure,Irankunda,Duke,Sapsford

If injuries Silvera (for his utility value),Okon-Engstler( his time will come),Bennie( versatile),Velupillay( pace and knows how to play in Popa's system),Boyle(experience),Souttar( only if he gets first team football),Gauci( if any injuries the top 3 keepers).One for the future is Sciluna( skill and versatile).
 
Bennie is handy for his versatility and he can also shoot and run across the pitch. I keep forgetting his as I refer to the wiki when looking at our stocks.
 
Perhaps we shouldn't underestimate our experience in pressure situations but Turkey are coming in a European tournament and tough qualifying campaign themselves. If they score in the first half I fear Popovic's plan of hold and score late will create panic.

Indonesia and China don't count as comebacks given their silliness.
 
JS96 said:
Perhaps we shouldn't underestimate our experience in pressure situations but Turkey are coming in a European tournament and tough qualifying campaign themselves. If they score in the first half I fear Popovic's plan of hold and score late will create panic.

Indonesia and China don't count as comebacks given their silliness.
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The good thing about Turkiye, not negating they are a class team that will probably beat the rest of the group, is that yet are notoriously to start tournaments. Also, probably because of their absence for quite some time, they looked very. First up is probably the ideal time to play them.
 
patjennings said:
The good thing about Turkiye, not negating they are a class team that will probably beat the rest of the group, is that yet are notoriously to start tournaments. Also, probably because of their absence for quite some time, they looked very. First up is probably the ideal time to play them.
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I agree and their playoff results were to ground out 1:0 wins with Romanian being harmless but also absorbing Kosovo pressure. Their attack isn't exactly lethal. That's not to say some of their players don't have a top shot. I think our defence is good at keeping shooters at bay so hopefully it's a lot of wild shots over.
 
My squad ATM

I have gone against my better judgement and picked Volpato. If he is to pick Australia this is the time it is most likely time with the demise of Italy. He would certainly make the 11 May 2026 (Provisional List): of between 35 and 55 players.
If he chooses to remain with Italy then Eli Adams comes in. I also pick Harry - if he doesn't make it then Hayden Mathews or Kai Trewin come in. I also have picked Behich. My preference is for Elder or Farrell but they need to prove that they are fully fit.

The squad is built on a first XI and a subs that add something different rather than more of the same at a lower level.

GK: Ryan, Izzo, Gauci
DEF: Bos, Behich, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Rowles, Herrington, Italiano, Degenek,
MID: Balard, Devlin, Irvine, Nisbet, McGree, Robertson, Metcalfe, Volpato
FWD: Toure, Arena, Duke, Irankunda, Kuol, Silvera

Starting XI

((Defensive)

-------------Ryan---------------

----Souttar---Circati----Burgess

Nisbet----------------------Behich or Rowles

--------Irvine------Balard-----------

----Irankunda----Toure--------Bos

The subs are there to change the dynamic. Silvera adds direct dribbling. Koul put in to create chaos. McGree and Robertson for creativity, Volpato for elite delivery. Devlin to add defensive grit, Italiano to attack more from deep.

Post World Cup Izzo, Degenek, Behich, Irvine and Duke are no longer consider for the national team. Post Asian Cup the same with Burgess.
 
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patjennings said:
My squad ATM

I have gone against my better judgement and picked Volpato. If he is to pick Australia this is the time it is most likely time with the demise of Italy. He would certainly make the 11 May 2026 (Provisional List): of between 35 and 55 players.
If he chooses to remain with Italy then Eli Adams comes in. I also pick Harry - if he doesn't make it then Hayden Mathews or Kai Trewin come in. I also have picked Behich. My preference is for Elder or Farrell but they need to prove that they are fully fit.

The squad is built on a first XI and a subs that add something different rather than more of the same at a lower level.

GK: Ryan, Izzo, Gauci
DEF: Bos, Behich, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Rowles, Herrington, Italiano, Degenek,
MID: Balard, Devlin, Irvine, Nisbet, McGree, Robertson, Metcalfe, Silvera, Volpato
FWD: Toure, Arena, Duke, Irankunda, Kuol, Silvera

Starting XI

((Defensive)

-------------Ryan---------------

----Souttar---Circati----Burgess

Nisbet----------------------Behich or Rowles

--------Irvine------Balard-----------

----Irankunda----Toure--------Bos

The subs are there to change the dynamic. Silvera adds direct dribbling. Koul put in to create chaos. McGree and Robertson for creativity, Volpato for elite delivery. Devlin to add defensive grit, Italiano to attack more from deep.

Post World Cup Izzo, Degenek, Behich, Irvine and Duke are no longer consider for the national team. Post Asian Cup the same with Burgess.
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I wouldn't be writing off Burgess post Asian Cup in just 9 months. He's only 30 years old and has shown across his career that he is incredibly resilient and misses very little football. The only outfield player to have played every single minute for his club in the Championship this season. It's pretty phenomenal. I'd guess that there wouldn't be a single Aussie playing overseas that would have more minutes at club level over the last 5 years.
 
verrelli said:
I wouldn't be writing off Burgess post Asian Cup in just 9 months. He's only 30 years old and has shown across his career that he is incredibly resilient and misses very little football. The only outfield player to have played every single minute for his club in the Championship this season. It's pretty phenomenal. I'd guess that there wouldn't be a single Aussie playing overseas that would have more minutes at club level over the last 5 years.
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My reasoning is more about refreshing the squad. I don't see a 31 year old (at the World cup) makes a 2030 World Cup as a 35 year old outfield player. Happy to see him there for the Asian Cup but we need to be blooding the Trewins and Matthews with a decent runway to 2030.
 
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patjennings said:
My reasoning is more about refreshing the squad. I don't see a 31 year old (at the World cup) makes a 2030 World Cup as a 35 year old outfield player. Happy to see him there for the Asian Cup but we need to be blooding the Trewins and Matthews with a decent runway to 2030.
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Plenty of time to refresh the squad after the Asian Cup. The Asian Cup is the only big tournament we have a chance of winning so we need our best squad. We shouldn't be dropping a player for the Asian Cup just because we think he may not be around in 2030. We should be picking the best squad available.
 
Alex M said:
Plenty of time to refresh the squad after the Asian Cup. The Asian Cup is the only big tournament we have a chance of winning so we need our best squad. We shouldn't be dropping a player for the Asian Cup just because we think he may not be around in 2030. We should be picking the best squad available.
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You watch what Japan does every 4 years. It works for them and they do okay at the Asian Cup and develop better squads for the World Cup.
 
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patjennings said:
My squad ATM

I have gone against my better judgement and picked Volpato. If he is to pick Australia this is the time it is most likely time with the demise of Italy. He would certainly make the 11 May 2026 (Provisional List): of between 35 and 55 players.
If he chooses to remain with Italy then Eli Adams comes in. I also pick Harry - if he doesn't make it then Hayden Mathews or Kai Trewin come in. I also have picked Behich. My preference is for Elder or Farrell but they need to prove that they are fully fit.

The squad is built on a first XI and a subs that add something different rather than more of the same at a lower level.

GK: Ryan, Izzo, Gauci
DEF: Bos, Behich, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Rowles, Herrington, Italiano, Degenek,
MID: Balard, Devlin, Irvine, Nisbet, McGree, Robertson, Metcalfe, Silvera, Volpato
FWD: Toure, Arena, Duke, Irankunda, Kuol, Silvera

Starting XI

((Defensive)

-------------Ryan---------------

----Souttar---Circati----Burgess

Nisbet----------------------Behich or Rowles

--------Irvine------Balard-----------

----Irankunda----Toure--------Bos

The subs are there to change the dynamic. Silvera adds direct dribbling. Koul put in to create chaos. McGree and Robertson for creativity, Volpato for elite delivery. Devlin to add defensive grit, Italiano to attack more from deep.

Post World Cup Izzo, Degenek, Behich, Irvine and Duke are no longer consider for the national team. Post Asian Cup the same with Burgess.
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I have Hrustic in my squad but would happily ditch him for Nisbet but as Popa won't pick him it would be a miracle for this to happen.Also you have picked Silvera twice ( as a MID and as a FWD) but that is OK ahe could replace Karacic as RB.Kuol would be interesting but does he still have the spark he had when he first burst onto the scene( who can forget his cameo for the All stars v Barcelona)?
 
patjennings said:
You watch what Japan does every 4 years. It works for them and they do ok ay at the Asian Cup and develop better squads for the World Cup.
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Are you seriously suggesting we don't take our best squad to the Asian Cup? The way the calendar is currently set up thats what our build up should be aimed at. When the calendar changes next year to an Asian Cup 18 to 24 months after the world cup we can have two build ups. With a six month gap it's all part of the same cycle.
 
Alex M said:
Are you seriously suggesting we don't take our best squad to the Asian Cup? The way the calendar is currently set up thats what our build up should be aimed at. When the calendar changes next year to an Asian Cup 18 to 24 months after the world cup we can have two build ups. With a six month gap it's all part of the same cycle.
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Absolutely - many loved the 2015 Asian Cup but the 0 points at the World Cup in 2014 when Ange had no idea how to get out of a tough World Cup group was a vanity exercise that was using the World Cup as the pre-cursor. I'm saying use the Asian Cup as the beginning of the World cup cycle when the most successful AFC country does.
 
booney52 said:
I have Hrustic in my squad but would happily ditch him for Nisbet but as Popa won't pick him it would be a miracle for this to happen.Also you have picked Silvera twice ( as a MID and as a FWD) but that is OK ahe could replace Karacic as RB.Kuol would be interesting but does he still have the spark he had when he first burst onto the scene( who can forget his cameo for the All stars v Barcelona)?
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Yep - listed him twice for a 27 man squad 🙄
 
Here's my squad as of today:
  • Goalkeepers: Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Maty Ryan
  • Defenders: Jordy Bos, Cam Burgess, Ale Circati, Callum Elder, Lucas Herrington, Jack Iredale, Jacob Italiano, Fran Karačić, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar
  • Midfielders: Max Balard, Cam Devlin, Ajdin Hrustić, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe
  • Forwards: Antonio Arena, Daniel Bennie, Nestory Irankunda, Deni Jurić, Garang Kuol, Awer Mabil, Ante Šuto, Mo Touré
If Harry Souttar is fit I’d take him for sure. Eliminate one in that case.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Here's my squad as of today:
  • Goalkeepers: Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Maty Ryan
  • Defenders: Jordy Bos, Cam Burgess, Ale Circati, Callum Elder, Lucas Herrington, Jack Iredale, Jacob Italiano, Fran Karačić, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar
  • Midfielders: Max Balard, Cam Devlin, Ajdin Hrustić, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe
  • Forwards: Antonio Arena, Daniel Bennie, Nestory Irankunda, Deni Jurić, Garang Kuol, Awer Mabil, Ante Šuto, Mo Touré
If Harry Souttar is fit I’d take him for sure. Eliminate one in that case.
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Antonio Arena may not have jumped ship to Football Australia from the Italian federation in time for the World Cup and Fran Karacic might not be right for June.
 
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