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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

verrelli said:
I'm preparing myself to be disappointed by Popovic's squad selection with random obscure selections and glaring omissions! Players out of form or barely playing being picked and other players banging the door down and missing out.
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Glad I prepared myself! No Strain, Elder, Jack Iredale, Balard, Luongo, Nisbet, Kalik, Segecic, Irankunda, Toure or Botic. Also no progress made in securing Robertson or Volpato. Anyone else I'm missing? Maybe add Milanovic and Drew. Most unlucky I'd say based on form are Iredale, Irankunda, Balard and Botic. We may as well put a line through Strain and Elder in permanent marker. As we know, Toure and Segecic selected for under-age team instead.
 
verrelli said:
Glad I prepared myself! No Strain, Elder, Jack Iredale, Balard, Luongo, Nisbet, Kalik, Segecic, Irankunda, Toure or Botic. Also no progress made in securing Robertson or Volpato. Anyone else I'm missing? Maybe add Milanovic and Drew. Most unlucky I'd say based on form are Iredale, Irankunda, Balard and Botic. We may as well put a line through Strain and Elder in permanent marker. As we know, Toure and Segecic selected for under-age team instead.
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+1 So disappointing!!!
 
why no Niisbet? Thought he could be very useful.

Anyone watch Ryan Teague ? What his strenghts? Is he any good?

And Trewin???
 
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The only time i watch Triantis v Celtic last weekend...the guy couldnt do anything with the press from Celtic. Millers also zero impact going forward.
 
A line up based on the squad selection and Popa's preferred formation:

Ryan

Trewin Geria Burgess

Boyle Irvine Triantis Behich

Goodwin Borrello

Yengi

For me the back 3, the twos No.10s and maybe up front are up for grabs, I feel some players are selected based on reputation rather than form so they have to perform which will be must win games for the Roos.
 
10 AL players in this squad. That's a lot! Too many imo. Arzani very very lucky.
 
Weak squad, he is putting a lot of trust in the domestic league.

Interesting to see how it pans out.
 
My starting 11 from the squad Poppa has selected:

GK: Ryan
RB: Karacic
RCB: Degenek
LCB: Burgess
LB: Behich
DM: Triantis
RM: Tilio
CM: Irvine
LM: Goodwin
AM: Caceres
ST: Taggart

It won't be this of course because, for starters, he will employ a back 3.
 
mkxx said:
why no Niisbet? Thought he could be very useful.

Anyone watch Ryan Teague ? What his strenghts? Is he any good?

And Trewin???
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Teague is good but there are better midfielders to pick. Teague is good technically, always presents for passes, has a good first touch, scans and looks for forward passes. That's at AL level and I expect it will be a step up at international level, so we'll see if it translates.
 
Not unhappy with the squad. Maybe would have liked one additional new player to have a look at, but otherwise the balance is about right. Individual selection disagreements of course.

I do like the Arzani talent, but I tended to agree with Popa's previous assessment, is the end product in both attack and defending good enough? Has his form in Aliga demonstrated he has improved the flaws, open question at best.
Yengi is pretty light on the minutes since his return from injury.
Not sure Tilio has been at his best, again I appreciate the talent, but still working himself back.

Toure, Ballard, Irankunda probably the ones I would have liked to be included.
Toure is with the 23s I get that. But he was probably ready, I guess the long mid season break didn't help.
Irankunda is maybe the most hard done by, either for Tilio or Arzani.
Ballard I like but Irvine and O'Neill are ahead of him at the moment.

Other possibles
Botic for Taggart (or Yengi) - probably want to be pushing a goal a game in Aliga if you are serious about selection. Taggart is slightly down on return this year, but Perth have been awful and he has the body of work.
Kalik for Caceras - Haven't see Kalik in Croatia, they are doing well and he is starting, hard to know if he has improved dramitcally since leaving, he never set things on fire, but he was young.
 
Is the Arzani, Tilio inclusions reflect the lack of quality No.10s available? I’m not trying to defend their selections but I feels they are in the squad because it’s a skill set that is missing in the national team set up.

Likewise with Caceres but more older but at least he’s in form.
 
Quicky said:
Teague is good but there are better midfielders to pick. Teague is good technically, always presents for passes, has a good first touch, scans and looks for forward passes. That's at AL level and I expect it will be a step up at international level, so we'll see if it translates.
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Teague’s rumor with China might be one of reasons.
 
milanshi said:
Teague’s rumor with China might be one of reasons.
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Popa was asked this directly in the press conference and said he doesn't care about locking in players, he wants people who want the play for us. Said Teague was on the radar the previous camps. I think he has been consistent with this, I'm not expecting similar things to Arnie about securing players.
 
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