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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Quicky said:
Degenek last played in December 2023. Almost a year. Surely we had better options.
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He played a cup game on the 31st of October (90 mins), but I agree he seems very short on match fitness for a national team test. Would have liked to see Karacic given another run.
 
I'm happy for Caceres & Ballard, but not so much about Grant, in his heyday yes, but doesn't have the legs to get up & down anymore.
Boyle, Degenek, no way better than Burgess, Belich all puzzling,
 
New boss so it'll be different for Grant and Boyle who were favoured by Arnold. This keeps everyone on their toes but I think it risks unsettling the camp as many selections aren't so merit based.

The popular choices by fans who missed out must be scratching their heads. No Toure sucks.

The Baccus commission is telling. It's very obvious we're sticking to a back 3 but it's way overloaded for 2 games. Behich should've been left out for discipline reasons.
 
Robertson not making himself available is still to vague. Is it due to injury? Club commitment? He just doesn't want to? Wish we had clarity. Just say it.
 
JS96 said:
Robertson not making himself available is still to vague. Is it due to injury? Club commitment? He just doesn't want to? Wish we had clarity. Just say it.
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Apparently its in rugaris article. Can anyone share?
 
grazorblade said:
Rugari has an article on robertson

Paywall tho...
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The Socceroos are locked in a delicate stand-off with arguably the nation’s most promising midfielder, Alex Robertson, who coach Tony Popovic says has decided to “not make himself available” for selection for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.

An academy product of Manchester City, Robertson moved to English Championship club Cardiff City this season and has been a stand-out in his 10 appearances so far, quickly emerging as one of the best young players in the division and attracting interest from Premier League sides for a potential January transfer.


The 21-year-old, who grew up in Sydney, made his debut for Australia last year – following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who both played for the Socceroos, and seemingly ending a four-nation battle for his allegiance, since he is also eligible to play for England, Scotland and Peru through family ties.

But Robertson hasn’t been picked in an Australian squad since last June’s friendly against Argentina in Beijing, and there appears to be an increasing risk that the two-cap midfielder could be lost to the nation.


According to multiple sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Robertson feels aggrieved by his treatment under Popovic’s predecessor, Graham Arnold. Robertson also recently scrubbed any Socceroos-related photos from his Instagram page, but is not believed to be considering switching his allegiance to one of the other three countries he can still represent.

Popovic last month said a “paperwork issue” was prohibiting Robertson’s availability for the October window, and a Football Australia spokesperson later confirmed this was still the case.
Alex Robertson’s international future is shrouded in mystery.

Alex Robertson’s international future is shrouded in mystery.CREDIT:GETTY

Asked about Robertson’s status on Friday, as he unveiled a fresh 26-man squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Popovic said the matter was in the player’s hands.

“If he wants to play for the Socceroos, he needs to make himself available,” he said. “If he wants to make himself available for the Socceroos, then we can look at whether we select him. But at the moment, we don’t have that option.”

Robertson’s agent, Paddy Dominguez, declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.

Popovic has previously declared he would never make a “sales pitch” to a player about why they should play for the Socceroos, and again struck a similar chord in his press conference in Melbourne.
Alex Robertson (left) was training with the world’s best players, such as Erling Haaland, every day at Manchester City.

Alex Robertson (left) was training with the world’s best players, such as Erling Haaland, every day at Manchester City.CREDIT:GETTY

“We’ve had people that have spoken to him. We understand where he sits at the moment in terms of his decision,” he said.

“He’s a young man that’s made a decision. We have to respect that decision. He’s young, trying to make his way in football. He’s playing regularly. We’ll keep monitoring him, and we’ll see what happens in the future.

“I think you have to respect the shirt, the badge. You have to respect the honour of playing for the Socceroos. We also have to respect the fact that everyone can make their own choice and their decision.

“Right now, his decision is not to make himself available. That does not mean he would be selected - let’s make that clear as well. He’s a young player that’s coming through, but we know he’s a talent and we have many young, talented players that are trying to forge a career in Europe.

“We’ve watched all his matches. We’ll continue to do that. And if the opportunity comes that we can select him, we’ll make that decision.”

Whatever the true reason, Robertson’s absence from the Socceroos is creating chances for other players – chiefly Max Balard, the former Central Coast Mariners star who has earned comparisons with one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era since joining his new club in the Netherlands.
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www.smh.com.au

‘You have to respect the shirt’: Socceroos in selection stand-off with young star

Coach Tony Popovic says Alex Robertson, who is attracting interest from English Premier League clubs, has chosen to “not make himself available” to play for Australia.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
 
Confirmed that he was aggrieved by arnold

Holding a grudge tho. Its true he wasnt selected for the asian cup, but did his hammy straight after?

Good that he isnt considering other nations yet
 
Two games that will need the legs. Our midfield looks a bit thin. It'll probably be 2 6 then McGree and Hrustic further up.

Issue is Yazbek can't really be trusted to start but he looked fine so he could surprise. Balard should start next to Irvine.
 
Natos said:
He played a cup game on the 31st of October (90 mins), but I agree he seems very short on match fitness for a national team test. Would have liked to see Karacic given another run.
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I'd have preferred Karacic to Grant too. Can cover RCB as well as RWB also.
 
Degenek and Matthews inclusions are really just about depth but for 2 games, we should be OK with the 4 centre backs. Had we called up Triantis and Elder we'd have had more versatility.
 
I find Borrello is a handy type. Boyle can count himself very lucky. I guess Popovic wants to look at everyone at some point.
 
Good news is Deng being dropped sends a message.

I don't think we'll see Nisbet.
 
HappyGuus said:
Not sure that it has much to do with Arnold, because he's gone and Robbo's still having a sook. Just sounds like any old excuse because he doesn't want to play. Volpato #2
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Yeah being aggrieved at a coach is one thing, being aggrieved at a former coach is a bit of an odd reason not to join?
Hope we get them both, apparently it took a while to get circati (heard on twitter from a journalist that involved 18 months of chasing).

Did we have this problem during the gg years? Seems to only happen with our better players and its been a while since we have produced better players....
 
Another thing is that volpato, robertson and irankunda are all capable of being a bit sooky over selection and circati needed 18 months of pursuing. Is it just the case that the best players tend to be sooky? Haha
 
grazorblade said:
Confirmed that he was aggrieved by arnold

Holding a grudge tho. Its true he wasnt selected for the asian cup, but did his hammy straight after?

Good that he isnt considering other nations yet
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We were all aggrieved by Arnold at some stage (or all) of his tenure!!! But Arnold is gone, there is a new coach there. Why carry on being aggrieved? I get he is a young player so possibly not very mature, so I think his manager and family should be getting into his ear.

Or, he really is considering playing for another country.
 
grazorblade said:
Another thing is that volpato, robertson and irankunda are all capable of being a bit sooky over selection and circati needed 18 months of pursuing. Is it just the case that the best players tend to be sooky? Haha
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The allure of big club football got them. Fair enough. These players have alternative nations to choose also. Some exposure to the youth national teams for Irankunda and Robertson.

You wonder who's advising them too. While trying to get a club foothold they had constant calls from Arnold too. Maybe too much at once.
 
Keeper66 said:
We were all aggrieved by Arnold at some stage (or all) of his tenure!!! But Arnold is gone, there is a new coach there. Why carry on being aggrieved? I get he is a young player so possibly not very mature, so I think his manager and family should be getting into his ear.

Or, he really is considering playing for another country.
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According to the article he is not considering another country and apparently he has australia tattoed on him (which would be awkward if he played for someone else)

The article doesnt put him in the greatest light, so hopefully it is innacurrate. Then again our most talented players seem to be prima donnas. We probably arent used to that as a fan base since its been so long since we have had talented players...
 
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