Socceroos vs Cameroon/ Curaçao March 2026 🇦🇺🇨🇲🇨🇼

[patjennings]

Well we have 4 (possibly 6) if you include Volpato and Arena at the moment and quite a few in the Championship. 2006 had 12 in the top 5 leagues.

 

[grazorblade]

Well we have 4 (possibly 6) if you include Volpato and Arena at the moment and quite a few in the Championship. 2006 had 12 in the top 5 leagues.

I guess none are regular at the moment

Most dont reach their potential. If a player is getting regular football in the 6-15 ranked leagues in europe before 24 then they probably have around a 1 in four chance of getting regular game time for a few seasons rather than just a once off. So we need to produce around 24 players getting regular game time at a decent level at a young age to pull it off

 

[patjennings]

I guess none are regular at the moment

Most dont reach their potential. If a player is getting regular football in the 6-15 ranked leagues in europe before 24 then they probably have around a 1 in four chance of getting regular game time for a few seasons rather than just a once off. So we need to produce around 24 players getting regular game time at a decent level at a young age to pull it off

Ryan, Circati, Irvine and Metcalfe all have played a minimum of 16 games at this stage in top 5 leagues

 

[grazorblade]

Ryan, Circati, Irvine and Mettalfe all have played a minimum of 16 games at this stage in top 5 leagues

My cut off for the 1 in four rule was 3 seasons of at least 25 appearances each in the big 5

 

[scout_aussie]

Tony Popović hinted at 'surprises': these are the eight uncapped bolters who could be in the Socceroos' next squad

In an interview published this week on the Socceroos’ media pages, Tony Popović suggested that injuries to key players like Mohamed Touré, Lewis Miller and Harry Souttar might open the door to ‘surprises’ in the March window.

open.substack.com

Wrote up an article on the possible surprises (as hinted at by Popović) in the next Socceroos squad. Some information that some might find interesting in the article too. Let me know your thoughts

 

[Keeper66]

I guess none are regular at the moment

Most dont reach their potential. If a player is getting regular football in the 6-15 ranked leagues in europe before 24 then they probably have around a 1 in four chance of getting regular game time for a few seasons rather than just a once off. So we need to produce around 24 players getting regular game time at a decent level at a young age to pull it off

Ryan, Circati and Irvine are certainly regulars at the moment.

 

[grazorblade]

Tony Popović hinted at 'surprises': these are the eight uncapped bolters who could be in the Socceroos' next squad

In an interview published this week on the Socceroos’ media pages, Tony Popović suggested that injuries to key players like Mohamed Touré, Lewis Miller and Harry Souttar might open the door to ‘surprises’ in the March window.

open.substack.com

Wrote up an article on the possible surprises (as hinted at by Popović) in the next Socceroos squad. Some information that some might find interesting in the article too. Let me know your thoughts

Herrington would be the most exciting capable of adding value from day one as long as our big 3 cbs arent all available. If souttar is available he might even push burgess despite him being in good form at a good level

 

[Quicky]

Tony Popović hinted at 'surprises': these are the eight uncapped bolters who could be in the Socceroos' next squad

In an interview published this week on the Socceroos’ media pages, Tony Popović suggested that injuries to key players like Mohamed Touré, Lewis Miller and Harry Souttar might open the door to ‘surprises’ in the March window.

open.substack.com

Wrote up an article on the possible surprises (as hinted at by Popović) in the next Socceroos squad. Some information that some might find interesting in the article too. Let me know your thoughts

Great read.

I wonder if Suto could be the wide player for the false 9 Popovic hinted at.

Sounds like Volpato will miss because the paperwork would take too long. Which would also be an issue for Scicluna.

Suto I think would be different because he hasn't played for Croatia that I'm aware of so wouldn't need to change associations.

 

[Bbouy]

Great read.

I wonder if Suto could be the wide player for the false 9 Popovic hinted at.

Sounds like Volpato will miss because the paperwork would take too long. Which would also be an issue for Scicluna.

Suto I think would be different because he hasn't played for Croatia that I'm aware of so wouldn't need to change associations.

Volpato can be in the March squad without switching officially.

 

[grazorblade]

Volpato can be in the March squad without switching officially.

Oh really? Poppa seemed to claim otherwise

 

[Bbouy]

Oh really? Poppa seemed to claim otherwise

I don't think Popovic claims that.

Volpato only played youth level for Italy, a friendly match does not lock him into Australia, nor does it require a formal one-time switch of association through FIFA. It's why Circati and soon Robertson's competitive match capping was so important to lock them into Australia.

As for the World Cup, yes, he would need to evoke the one-time switch of association through FIFA, though it isn't a lengthy process in Volpato's case and his willingness to speak to Okon and Popovic suggests that he is well-aware of any deadline or required decision he needs to make to be apart of the World Cup squad.

 

[patjennings]

Oh really? Poppa seemed to claim otherwise

Even if he went to the camp and trained with the squad without playing it wouldn't hurt. Don't need to pressure him. Given our injuries I'd be bringing in 30-35 into camp to test options against each other.

 

[grazorblade]

I don't think Popovic claims that.

Volpato only played youth level for Italy, a friendly match does not lock him into Australia, nor does it require a formal one-time switch of association through FIFA. It's why Circati and soon Robertson's competitive match capping was so important to lock them into Australia.

As for the World Cup, yes, he would need to evoke the one-time switch of association through FIFA, though it isn't a lengthy process in Volpato's case and his willingness to speak to Okon and Popovic suggests that he is well-aware of any deadline or required decision he needs to make to be apart of the World Cup squad.

In his extended interview with bosnich foster and peacock they asked and he said that if he fills the paper work (not when) he goes on their list of 50 and they start monitoring him, implying he has to fill it out before poppa will pick him

He was also specifically asked about the march window and he said no there isnt enough time to get the paperwork done

 

[NicCarBel]

I don't think Popovic claims that.

Volpato only played youth level for Italy, a friendly match does not lock him into Australia, nor does it require a formal one-time switch of association through FIFA. It's why Circati and soon Robertson's competitive match capping was so important to lock them into Australia.

As for the World Cup, yes, he would need to evoke the one-time switch of association through FIFA, though it isn't a lengthy process in Volpato's case and his willingness to speak to Okon and Popovic suggests that he is well-aware of any deadline or required decision he needs to make to be apart of the World Cup squad.

It will require a formal one-time switch of association through FIFA, as while it's youth level, it was still competitive. Once the one-time switch is completed, he can still go back to Italy, but only if we do not play him in any football at any level - so, yes a friendly in his case will lock him in.

Post in thread 'FIFA eligibility rules'

Mar 4, 2026

James. Thank you very much for your input to this Forum. I do have one question re the first dot point of your answer regarding Volpato and Arena, above:

Arena and Volpato have represented Italy in Official Competition at Youth level. They have not yet represented Italy in Official Competition at Senior National Team level.

They are presently tied to Italy. My understanding of the FIFA Rules is that they can now request a Change of Association to Australia. They do not need to meet the 5 exceptions.

My further understanding is that the 5 exceptions apply to a player who wishes to...

• NicCarBel

• 

 

[JS96]

I've learned to not bother with trying to understand the FIFA eligibility rules as posts on here, while appreciated, only add to more confusion and lead to false hope and frustration.

Even with those on here with a thorough understanding, it seems FIFA themselves may have their own awkward interpretations and implementations of these things.

If anyone's bored, a flow chart would be a great thing to put together and it can be sent to FA HQ.

 

[Toebash]

I find it a bit confusing as well.

My understanding was that you didn’t need to request a switch until you represented the senior team in a competitive game, such that Volpato could just turn up and play for Australia.

However, I guess that can’t be right, because otherwise Triantis wouldn’t have bothered requesting a switch (he’d never represented Australia at senior level).

I had also understood you could only request a switch once and were stuck with the team you had chosen after the switch. If that’s right, I think it means we’ve already lost Dylan Scicluna, because he played youth for Aus, then switched to Malta. If it’s true you can only switch once, then Scicluna is stuck with Malta and can’t switch back, despite not having played senior football for anyone.

 

[grazorblade]

I find it a bit confusing as well.

My understanding was that you didn’t need to request a switch until you represented the senior team in a competitive game, such that Volpato could just turn up and play for Australia.

However, I guess that can’t be right, because otherwise Triantis wouldn’t have bothered requesting a switch (he’d never represented Australia at senior level).

I had also understood you could only request a switch once and were stuck with the team you had chosen after the switch. If that’s right, I think it means we’ve already lost Dylan Scicluna, because he played youth for Aus, then switched to Malta. If it’s true you can only switch once, then Scicluna is stuck with Malta and can’t switch back, despite not having played senior football for anyone.

Its also possible that poppa wouldnt want to select volpato for a friendly unless he did his paper work committing

He really did say he wont be there in march because its too soon to get the paper work done

 

[Toebash]

It looks to me that Volpato is tied to Australia once he files the paperwork, whether we ever select him or not.

Having looked into the Triantis situation more though, it looks like he didn’t actually need to submit a change of nationality and just did it to fuck off Australia once and for all. If that’s right, Volpato his filing of this paperwork isn’t actually a precondition to him playing for us. Strikes me as more weird Poppa mind games

 

[grazorblade]

It looks to me that Volpato is tied to Australia once he files the paperwork, whether we ever select him or not. But it also looks like his filing of this paperwork isn’t actually a precondition to Volpato playing for us. Strikes me as more weird Poppa mind games

Haha which begs the question, are the mind games good or bad?

With data as good as volpatos (ive also watched him play) he must have a bad attitude to not get more game time

If poppa gets the most out of him he has to drive him hard and have his unconditional commitment. Maybe waiting for a switch before he gets a taste is a part of it

 

[JS96]

Then didn't we have the silly 'Robertson can't sort his passport' case or was it FIFA nationality documentation for an A international.

While an FA reaching out early spills the beans they want to pick you, I wish FA and agents were on top of the red tape.