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2026 World Cup Squad

And so he should be.

Expecting that Ryan, Behich, Irvine, Goodwin, Souttar are certainties if fit.

That leaves 18 places for the squad and from last night you'd say that Izzo, Bos J, Circati, Degenek and Burgess have pretty much booked their spots.

That leaves 13 places and there's a hell of a lot of players vying for them (both OS not in the current squad and AL). There's one more keeper spot; probably two defensive spots (two RBs); six midfield spots and four forwards.

Gauci is probably next in line for the last keeper spot.

Miller will almost certainly have one of the RBs and Geria likely the other given he can play there or CB. This would be tough on Matthews and Rowles - I really like Matthews.

Most interest for me is in the front half of the pitch. Popa will probably take O'Neill, leaving five spots - I'd want Balard, Devlin, Luongo, Nisbet for four of them but I'd be lucky to get two of those. Okon E is a dark horse if he has a big year for SFC and we need a tall #6 who can hold the ball. Balard is as close as we have to that (besides OE).

The four forwards to accompany Goodwin... I'd want Toure, Irankunda, Segecic and Sapsford.

But there are so many others in with a strong chance and - just maybe - a new wunderkind of whom we're yet to hear.
I'm not sold on Toure or Sapsford. Toure is too injury prone so who knows where he will be at. And Sapsford is OK but I prefer Milanovic, Botic, Archie Goodwin and Marco Tilio.
 
I'm not sold on Toure or Sapsford. Toure is too injury prone so who knows where he will be at. And Sapsford is OK but I prefer Milanovic, Botic, Archie Goodwin and Marco Tilio.
I like Goodwin. A striker that seems to get in the right position more often than not. My only concern is his heading. He does the Timmy Cahill push to get himself room. That move no longer works because VAR picks it up. Timmy would have struggled with his headers under VAR.
 
I'm sceptical about Scottish fans appraising players like Devlin as improved.

I think he has been injured, but Devlin's teammate Nieuw, looked to have had more talent.
Devlin has had a great start to the season. He's on the outer but his stamina would be something depending on the opponent. Others have stamina too.

Nieuwenhof was really good until injury.
 
I'm not sold on Toure or Sapsford. Toure is too injury prone so who knows where he will be at. And Sapsford is OK but I prefer Milanovic, Botic, Archie Goodwin and Marco Tilio.
Toure is technically sound but I worry too about his body. If he's fit and ready for the world cup then we can hopefully survive the number of games we should play.
 
I still think we need to exploit versatility. Geria has a great chance in that regard. By no means she we take 3 right backs. Metcalfe and Silvera are others who should have a better chance at being included. I'd like to have more centre midfielders and an extra striker or two.
 
Devlin has had a great start to the season. He's on the outer but his stamina would be something depending on the opponent. Others have stamina too.

Nieuwenhof was really good until injury.
Over his injuries but hasn't been sighted recently. On his day, he's good enough for the Socceroos but his days are few and far between.
 
The last two games have been interesting when it comes to the world cup squad....
The battle for inside forwards has become tense, especially since Volpato keeps liking roos posts

Some good players from the following has to be dropped

Irankunda, Segacic, Metcalf, Mcgree, Vellupilay, Goodwin, Boyle, Hrustic
 
Velupillay probably has good cards given his performances and knowledge of the Popovic system. I like nearly every player we have but get annoyed that we may have, say, Hrustic and Boyle over Goodwin and Segecic.
 
I think I'm pretty much at my dream squad now

Ryan Gauci Izzo

Bennie Geria Circati Degenek Souttar Burgess Rowles Bos Elder

Balard Irvine Metcalfe O'Neill Yazbek Luongo Nisbet

McGree Irankunda Goodwin Segecic Milanovic Toure Boyle

Players like Velupillay, Devlin, Tilio and others offer something too. We're really spoiled for choice.

If we went with Geria, Elder and added Silvera, we could have a bit more versatility. Trying Irankunda at RWB isn't the worst idea either giving him instructions to get forward.
 
I think I'm pretty much at my dream squad now

Ryan Gauci Izzo

Bennie Geria Circati Degenek Souttar Burgess Rowles Bos Elder

Balard Irvine Metcalfe O'Neill Yazbek Luongo Nisbet

McGree Irankunda Goodwin Segecic Milanovic Toure Boyle

Players like Velupillay, Devlin, Tilio and others offer something too. We're really spoiled for choice.

If we went with Geria, Elder and added Silvera, we could have a bit more versatility. Trying Irankunda at RWB isn't the worst idea either giving him instructions to get forward.
Very interesting. I went through a similar exercise and came up with 18-20 players locked with another 10-12 to be monitored over the next few months. Injuries and availability will clearly be a huge factor. All said and done Volpato probably fits into this squad

Had Karacic and Strain as the right sided defenders, perhaps one of them paired with Bennie. Italiano perhaps if Bennie isn't making a strong case.

Not sold on Izzo, particularly at a WC. Would prefer to see a Bilokapic or Beach type as third choice for the experience.

Would include Sapsford, a rotation between him and Toure would be handy.
 
I think I'm pretty much at my dream squad now

Ryan Gauci Izzo

Bennie Geria Circati Degenek Souttar Burgess Rowles Bos Elder

Balard Irvine Metcalfe O'Neill Yazbek Luongo Nisbet

McGree Irankunda Goodwin Segecic Milanovic Toure Boyle

Players like Velupillay, Devlin, Tilio and others offer something too. We're really spoiled for choice.

If we went with Geria, Elder and added Silvera, we could have a bit more versatility. Trying Irankunda at RWB isn't the worst idea either giving him instructions to get forward.
Pretty much agree though Bennie is for the following WC cycle in my opinion and Miller,though not without flaws,still my pick
 
I think I'm pretty much at my dream squad now

Ryan Gauci Izzo

Bennie Geria Circati Degenek Souttar Burgess Rowles Bos Elder

Balard Irvine Metcalfe O'Neill Yazbek Luongo Nisbet

McGree Irankunda Goodwin Segecic Milanovic Toure Boyle

Players like Velupillay, Devlin, Tilio and others offer something too. We're really spoiled for choice.

If we went with Geria, Elder and added Silvera, we could have a bit more versatility. Trying Irankunda at RWB isn't the worst idea either giving him instructions to get forward.
Very solid squad, I like it. For a dream squad, I'd like to include Garang Kuol, having a decent season in Prague would help ahead of Milanovic.
Poppa likes Teague over Nisbet & the right back a bit of an issue, like to see Bernie kick on, but not getting much game time, maybe Miller.
 
Hopefully Nizz will tear up a few trees for Roda this season, although Sega has possibly gone ahead of him in my estimation right now.

Possibly... I've not seen Nizz play for a while.
 
I think that the next window may see a back three of Bennett, Circarti and Rowles. I wouldn't be surprised if Degenek has play his last (or almost last) game for Australia.
 
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