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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

We go first Thursday and then we'll know a lot more. Indonesia may be lingering too. Bahrain will need a result against Saudi to stay in the next round so it'll be a tough game.
 
I can say if there was someone playing at a clear higher level every week who was being overlooked I would be upset. If Ballard were in Serie, EPL etc or at a big club who are in Europe every year this is different. I don't think there is anyone in this situation. Probably Callum Elder might be the most hard done by? Fairly regular in the championship and we have injuries at LB. But for whatever reason people aren't clamoring for his inclusion.

JS96 said:
We go first Thursday and then we'll know a lot more. Indonesia may be lingering too. Bahrain will need a result against Saudi to stay in the next round so it'll be a tough game.
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The new structure of qualification means teams have something to play for right into the last round. Quite a good setup when even the bottom two need to get results. Previous cycles Bahrain would have been out of it.
 
huddo said:
Ah, ok so we've selected a squad off a training camp. What a sound way to select untested senior players for important international matches, what could possibly go wrong.
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Good point however I am more anxious about the match sharpness and conditioning component of basing selections off a training camp.

I reserve the right to be excited by the prospects of this kid if he impressed enough at a training camp to warrant inclusion.
Would rather that than Popa's selection of 30 something year old A-league players well past their prime.
 
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Apologies if I missed it but wasn't Milanovic called up for the last squad but then not this one?

Any particular reason why he missed out?
 
Decentric said:
Do some posters realise that in the AL players touch the ball almost twice as much per game than in Scotland? Unless one plays for Rangers or Celtic?
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Do you actually think we will dominate possession against Japan at home and Saudi away? I'd be inclined to say our transition phases will be the most productive for us. I'd also wager they get more touches cause the play is alot slower.
 
Muz said:
Apologies if I missed it but wasn't Milanovic called up for the last squad but then not this one?

Any particular reason why he missed out?
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I don't believe he was called up for the previous window. He was in the practice squad. Popovic full of praise when asked. Ultimately Arzani and Tilio got the nod.
 
jas88 said:
Do you actually think we will dominate possession against Japan at home and Saudi away? I'd be inclined to say our transition phases will be the most productive for us.
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agreed, I shake my head by some comments made.
 
Just on the side note it pains me to see some really decent young players considering to opt away from our/their own NT - without knowing all the behind the scenes facts....
Talking Triantis, talks/mentions of Segacic open to Croatia not long ago < even though I'd say they have young players to his and above standard to chose from, Volpato mentions in the past, long way down the bridge I'd say that horse bolted after GA's last reach out to him re Qatar.
Thats 3 such promising future Roos that is scarilidge losing if so.
 
verrelli said:
Mitch Duke started 4 matches for entire season (381 total minutes including sub appearances), and has a total season tally of 1 goal. On what basis is he being selected?! Given that apart from Duke, there's only 2 players (Boyle and Taggart) in the 26 man squad who've scored more than 2 career goals for the Socceroos, I'm wondering where our goals are coming from. You'd think any of the 4 Aussies that led the A League goal scoring table might have been a good option.
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Really unfair to Botic imo, kid has done very well this year. Hasn't been super consistent but he has stepped up in some important games, has done well in the u20s before. Same with Segecic, you gotta at least have them in the squad.
 
Australia boss Tony Popovic has revealed that Nectar Triantis turned down the chance to make his debut as the Socceroos look to seal World Cup qualification.

The midfielder, who starred on loan at Hibs last season as David Gray’s side finished third, was named in a recent training camp squad alongside Easter Road team-mates Martin Boyle, Lewis Miller and Jack Iredale.

But the 22-year-old informed Popovic on the day he was due to head to Abu Dhabi that he did not want to come. That snub comes as Triantis faces an important decision over his future at club level.

Hibs are desperate to sign the holding-midfielder on a permanent deal from Sunderland, who sealed their return to the Premier League, and he is unlikely to be short of other offers.

Popovic, whose side will seal their finals spot with victory over Japan on Thursday before they face Saudi Arabia on June 10, said: “I’m not too sure where it exactly sits but we had him in the squad for the camp and on the day that he was supposed to travel he informed us that he’s not coming in.

“So that’s his decision that he made and we’ll see where that goes.

“He just said that he’s got a lot of things on at the moment, a lot on his mind in terms of what he wants to do. We have to respect that and we’ll see what happens.”

Iredale failed to make the cut for the upcoming games. There was also no place for Aberdeen’s Nicolas Milanovic after the winger was also part of the training camp.
 
jas88 said:
Really unfair to Botic imo, kid has done very well this year. Hasn't been super consistent but he has stepped up in some important games, has done well in the u20s before. Same with Segecic, you gotta at least have them in the squad.
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Talking way too much sense and logic. Why on earth would you pick a 23 year old striker with 12 goals and 6 assists this season, when you could pick a 34 year old striker with 1 goal and 0 assists this season. Clearly Botic has peaked way too early, whereas Duke is well rested and timing his run perfectly to have an absolute blinder.
 
I can't see Popovic as a step up from Arnold in any way. Frankly, his CV is well below what one would expect for our national team coach. He appears to have won the job on price and availability.

Some of his squad selections defy rational belief. The presence of Paul Okon's son, given his limited (and that's being polite) record, is very, very difficult to sell on the basis of merit.

Popovic's teams always play dull, reactive football. Perhaps that will work with our national team, but I long for the day when we have another coach with a more expansive view of how football should be played.
 
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Frankly Speaking said:
I can't see Popovic as a step up from Arnold in any way. Frankly, his CV is well below what one would expect for our national team coach. He appears to have won the job on price and availability.

Some of his squad selections defy rational belief. The presence of Paul Okon's son, given his limited (and that's being polite) record, is very, very difficult to sell on the basis of merit.
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I wish we had a media to get stuck into poppa
 
JS96 said:
I don't believe he was called up for the previous window. He was in the practice squad. Popovic full of praise when asked. Ultimately Arzani and Tilio got the nod.
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So player of the year misses out, Irankunda can't even get an invite to an enlarged train on squad, Segacic who gets a run in the ASEAN side can get a jersey and Duke still gets picked?

Popa is a fraud.
 
Cunningstunt said:
I can say if there was someone playing at a clear higher level every week who was being overlooked I would be upset. If Ballard were in Serie, EPL etc or at a big club who are in Europe every year this is different. I don't think there is anyone in this situation. Probably Callum Elder might be the most hard done by? Fairly regular in the championship and we have injuries at LB. But for whatever reason people aren't clamoring for his inclusion.


The new structure of qualification means teams have something to play for right into the last round. Quite a good setup when even the bottom two need to get results. Previous cycles Bahrain would have been out of it.
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I'd say Eredivisie, SPFL (3rd placed, TOTS etc.) are clearly better than not playing for Benfica B in Portugal 2.

Good shout for Elder.
 
Muz said:
So player of the year misses out, Irankunda can't even get an invite to an enlarged train on squad, Segacic who gets a run in the ASEAN side can get a jersey and Duke still gets picked?

Popa is a fraud.
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Continually picking Duke is disgraceful. 34 years old, hasn't scored in his last 13 national team appearances (9 as starts). Has started 4 times this current J League season, plus 8 appearances as sub (across 19 games starting in Feb), scoring 1 goal. Of the 4 starting appearances, three times he was subbed off at half time and didn't finish the other game either (subbed off at 77'). Total playing time 383 minutes.

Some people go on about his work rate and pressing for the Socceroos, but frankly I don't think he does a great job in those roles either. Maybe he did years ago, but I haven't seen it for a long time.
 
Quicky said:
I'd say Eredivisie, SPFL (3rd placed, TOTS etc.) are clearly better than not playing for Benfica B in Portugal 2.

Good shout for Elder.
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Sorry to be clear that is definitely true, but despite both being screening mids I don't think they were competing for a spot. Okon could only have been in for future potential, exposure, fast tracking his development etc. In a 26 man squad I think you can afford one spot for this type of pick.

But if he plays that is different, because then he will have been picked over others who should be there. But if he does play, all of this will be irrelevant anyway. Then we will have the performance to judge. Sometimes you pick the talented 19 year old with no fear and get rewarded, other times you should have picked the 25 year old who has earned it.
 
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