2030 World Cup squad

[Total Football]

Given the recent success of the u20s and the emerging trend of young players getting opportunities in the A-League, I’ve been thinking about what a future Socceroos squad might look like for the 2030 World Cup and beyond.

IMO the best national teams are multi-generational and balance talent across different age groups. So, I wanted to do a stocktake and assess where our talent pool currently stands.

See below for a list of who I believe are our most talented players in contention for 2030, grouped by age bracket.

Selection has been limited to players currently aged 25 or under to allow focus on our emerging talent. I've only included players that I've seen play.

I'm also operating on the assumption that both Volpato and Robertson will (re-)declare their availability for the Socceroos.

Who have I missed? Who have I overrated? Who do you think will emerge in the coming years?

Eligible for selection (26-man squad highlighted in red):

Under 25	Under 23	Under 20	Under 17
BALARD, Max (24) GAUCI, Joe (24) MILLER, Lewis (24) TALBOT, Callum (24) KUOL, Alou (23)	BOTIC, Noah (23) HOLLMAN, Jake (23) TILIO, Marco (23) TEAGUE, Ryan (23) TREWIN, Kai (23) BOS, Jordan (22) JELACIC, Keegan (22) FARRELL, Jacob (22) POLITIDIS, Harry (22) ALAGICH, Ethan (21) CIRCATI, Alessandro (21) DREW, Jed (21) GRIMALDI, Matthew (21) ROBERTSON, Alex (21) TRIANTIS, Nectar (21) TAYLOR, Clayton (21) VOLPATO, Cristian (21) WALATEE, Abel (21) GOODWIN, Archie (20) KUOL, Garang (20) LOPANE, Ale (20) MATTHEWS, Hayden (20) SEGECIC, Adrian (20) TOURE, Mohamed (20)	BADOLATO, Alex (20) HALL, Steven (20) OKON-ENGSTLER, Paul (20) YOULLEY, Rhys (20) CAPUTO, Max (19) DELI, Frans (19) DI PIZIO, Miguel (19) ESPOSITO, Sebastian (19) IRANKUNDA, Nestory (19) JOVANOVIC, Luka (19) KIKIANIS, Panagiotis (19) LINO, Franco (19) PAVLESIC, Anthony (19) TOURE, Musa (19) WADDINGHAM, Tom (19) YOUNIS, Marcus (19) YULL, Johnny (19) BENNIE, Daniel (18) PEARMAN, Jaylan (18) QUINTAL, Tiago (18) HERRINGTON, Lucas (17) LEONARD, Dylan (17)	EAMES, Haine (17) MACNICOL, Quinn (17) TATU, Amlani (16) AKON, Akol (15)

Potential starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Gauci

Bos Kikianis Circati Bennie

Okon-Engstler Triantis

Youlley Robertson Irankunda

Botic

 

[patjennings]

IMO the best national teams are multi-generational and balance talent across different age groups. So, I wanted to do a stocktake and assess where our talent pool currently stands.

Under 25	Under 23	Under 20	Under 17
BALARD, Max (24) GAUCI, Joe (24) MILLER, Lewis (24) TALBOT, Callum (24) KUOL, Alou (23)	BOTIC, Noah (23) HOLLMAN, Jake (23) TILIO, Marco (23) TEAGUE, Ryan (23) TREWIN, Kai (23) BOS, Jordan (22) JELACIC, Keegan (22) FARRELL, Jacob (22) POLITIDIS, Harry (22) ALAGICH, Ethan (21) CIRCATI, Alessandro (21) DREW, Jed (21) GRIMALDI, Matthew (21) ROBERTSON, Alex (21) TRIANTIS, Nectar (21) TAYLOR, Clayton (21) VOLPATO, Cristian (21) WALATEE, Abel (21) GOODWIN, Archie (20) KUOL, Garang (20) LOPANE, Ale (20) MATTHEWS, Hayden (20) SEGECIC, Adrian (20) TOURE, Mohamed (20)	BADOLATO, Alex (20) HALL, Steven (20) OKON-ENGSTLER, Paul (20) YOULLEY, Rhys (20) CAPUTO, Max (19) DELI, Frans (19) DI PIZIO, Miguel (19) ESPOSITO, Sebastian (19) IRANKUNDA, Nestory (19) JOVANOVIC, Luka (19) KIKIANIS, Panagiotis (19) LINO, Franco (19) PAVLESIC, Anthony (19) TOURE, Musa (19) WADDINGHAM, Tom (19) YOUNIS, Marcus (19) YULL, Johnny (19) BENNIE, Daniel (18) PEARMAN, Jaylan (18) QUINTAL, Tiago (18) HERRINGTON, Lucas (17) LEONARD, Dylan (17)	EAMES, Haine (17) MACNICOL, Quinn (17) TATU, Amlani (16) AKON, Akol (15)

Potential starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Gauci

Bos Kikianis Circati Bennie

Okon-Engstler Triantis

Youlley Robertson Irankunda

Botic

Given you are talking multigenerational and looking at a competition I think you could probably include up to at least current 27 yo players for the outfield and possibly older for the GKs. I wouldn't make the same choices for your 26 but can see why you consider them but I like starting XI

TBH though it is five years away. Form, playing time, development and injuries between now and then will probably mean major changes. Even at the younger ages I would be surprised if the youngest player is Haine Eames at 22, particularly after Popovic is replaced.

 

[zok]

a fair few of players that will be at that tournament are still kids now.

 

[JS96]

You forgot Behich

 

[JS96]

A very exciting bunch. Certainly some who are even 28 may still be very capable at 33. Just one or two of course. See how things pan out.

 

[Total Football]

Given you are talking multigenerational and looking at a competition I think you could probably include up to at least current 27 yo players for the outfield and possibly older for the GKs. I wouldn't make the same choices for your 26 but can see why you consider them but I like starting XI

TBH though it is five years away. Form, playing time, development and injuries between now and then will probably mean major changes. Even at the younger ages I would be surprised if the youngest player is Haine Eames at 22, particularly after Popovic is replaced.

I agree, but felt those around 26-27 y.o were known quantities by now. Who would you select in a 26-man squad?

No doubt there will be players in the squad under 22, but in an ideal world those really young players won't have key roles.

 

[Total Football]

a fair few of players that will be at that tournament are still kids now.

Any names that come to mind?

 

[patjennings]

I agree, but felt those around 26-27 y.o were known quantities by now. Who would you select in a 26-man squad?

No doubt there will be players in the squad under 22, but in an ideal world those really young players won't have key roles.

I would find a spot for Garang assuming his injury woes are over (not sure who for). Eight goal involvements in 8 games since his return in a poor Newcastle U21 side. And Balard over Teague.

 

[Total Football]

I would find a spot for Garang assuming his injury woes are over (not sure who for). Eight goal involvements in 8 games since his return in a poor Newcastle U21 side. And Balard over Teague.

Interesting. Balard over Teague in five years' time?

Balard is an interesting one. NAC are hardly world-beaters, and he's a relative late-starter, but it will be interesting to see where he is at in five years.

Is he playing at the level or does he have more gears to his game?

 

[patjennings]

Interesting. Balard over Teague in five years' time?

Balard is an interesting one. NAC are hardly world-beaters, and he's a relative late-starter, but it will be interesting to see where he is at in five years.

Is he playing at the level or does he have more gears to his game?

This was from late last year. I think he was undervalued in the AL. He and Nisbet formed a very good central midfield combo. He definitely is still improving. NAC Breda only qualified for the Erevidisie via playoffs from finishing 8th last season.

Since his move to the Netherlands, Australian midfielder Max Balard has impressed for his @NACnl side in the @eredivisie and has earned the praises of many fans and pundits. He has started and played EVERY minute for the club in the Dutch top tier Dutch football reporter @joost_blaauwhof (from @VI_nl) described Balard as one of the best players for Breda this campaign: "Max has been terrific for NAC," Blaawhof said."He came in as an unknown signing, but from day one he has been a perfect match with the team and manager. He can play in different roles, but always plays as a great pivot. "He reads the game, a quick scanner on and off the ball. His feeling for pressing is incredible, lots of interceptions. He's probably going to be in a Top 5 league next season. Some clubs are monitoring his availability, but NAC will ask for a record fee (4/5 mln€). It's crazy that he’s still waiting for a call up for the Socceroos, because he is one of the best midfielders in the Eredivisie."Everyone at NAC is enjoying him. He's a very clever guy who’s working hard. Australian Kanté is his nickname. He’s a key player for NAC and one of the main reasons for the sensational start of the season."

 

[Total Football]

This was from late last year. I think he was undervalued in the AL. He and Nisbet formed a very good central midfield combo. He definitely is still improving. NAC Breda only qualified for the Erevidisie via playoffs from finishing 8th last season.

Since his move to the Netherlands, Australian midfielder Max Balard has impressed for his @NACnl side in the @eredivisie and has earned the praises of many fans and pundits. He has started and played EVERY minute for the club in the Dutch top tier Dutch football reporter @joost_blaauwhof (from @VI_nl) described Balard as one of the best players for Breda this campaign: "Max has been terrific for NAC," Blaawhof said."He came in as an unknown signing, but from day one he has been a perfect match with the team and manager. He can play in different roles, but always plays as a great pivot. "He reads the game, a quick scanner on and off the ball. His feeling for pressing is incredible, lots of interceptions. He's probably going to be in a Top 5 league next season. Some clubs are monitoring his availability, but NAC will ask for a record fee (4/5 mln€). It's crazy that he’s still waiting for a call up for the Socceroos, because he is one of the best midfielders in the Eredivisie."Everyone at NAC is enjoying him. He's a very clever guy who’s working hard. Australian Kanté is his nickname. He’s a key player for NAC and one of the main reasons for the sensational start of the season."

Balard's rise has been crazy. Having watched him in the A-League for a couple seasons, I thought he was a very good A-League player, but didn't think he would get a direct move to a league such as the Eredivisie, albeit for a smaller team.

I haven't seen any of his games this season, but my memory of him as an A-League player is that he was very 'neat'. Did everything to a decent standard, knew his limitations, and didn't overcomplicate things.

Given the write-up you've provided, I'd be very curious to see how his game has developed over the last 12 months. Like Triantis, sometimes we don't know what we have in a player until it's brought out by the competitive, demanding European environments.

In the short-term, a Socceroos central midfield pairing of Triantis and Balard or Teague is intriguing.

 

[JS96]

Still remember Cummings in a doco post game grabbing Balard and saying this is the next Australian midfielder. It's been an excellent rise and he should've debuted last window.