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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

I suspect that Nish's injury may be worse than stated and he is not available to play. After all, he did not play last night.
I have given up trying to understand Popa's selections. Normally, I think I can see a pattern but for now, I think he will just try to outmuscle the Japanese side. If Australia scores, then they score. Otherwise Popa will be happy with just having a clean sheet.
 
Leckie being picked wouldn't have been the biggest shock but once again it's Popovic's hypocrisy showing. A bit of good late form and suddenly you're in. Meanwhile others have been hot for months and overlooked. I'm tired of having anything to do with the concept.
 
FWIW Metcalfe is fairly experienced at LWB for St Pauli. Deer football gods, we beat Japan then can have a run youth team face Saudi and we can get a good look at some of them.

Cherry on top? Saudi lose both games and finish 5th.
 
Now it's closer, Uzbekistan's situation doesn't look as fraught as it seemed. Losing puts them in danger but UAE have it all to do.

SK will draw it out. Some drama would be good but Iraq have a tough job. If Jordan beat SK then it's on.
 
Another thing. Very glad Yazbek is in but he was out last window. He must have done enough to impress in the Japan window. He looked good Japan away albeit was defensively bad for their goal.

Annoying is the MLS players have a lot of travel before.

Mo Toure was in the U23 and now the change. Was he already in Korea? Waiting in Denmark? I hope he got travelling a bit earlier.

You wouldn't think so but maybe Balard just isn't responding to the system at all?

They're professionals but I reckon Davidson would be annoyed at having come out for the camp to then have someone raw and a bit defensively suspect like Bos picked ahead of him. Good that Iredale got exposure. You'd say the Circati return saw him on the outer and rightly so.
 
Has Popa given a press conference since announcing the squad to explain selections and non-selections? Anyone got a link?
 
Good squad. Almost every squad there have been young players picked who are surprises. Popa has probably had a look at more new players compared to any socceroos manager. Maybe Ange at the beginning when he needed to turn over the squad.

There's a lot of carry on about players selected despite not meeting Popa's own stated criteria eg Okon. A supposed 'gotcha' I knew Popa was shit, hypocrit, jobs for the boys etc. Even if a coach says he wants everyone match fit, there will always be exceptions or people selected for other reasons.

If you want to understand the squad selections it is this. He picks probably 75% players who he thinks will win him the matches with 25% planning for the future.

I don't think there is anyone available who was left out who is particularly hard done by. Ballard would be the closest, but he had the entire camp to win that spot.
 
Wasn't even going to comment, because it's all been said, but this has got to be the most disappointing Socceroos squad I've ever seen, since I started following the national team. The nepotism with Okon jr's selection over Triantis & Ballard is just next level!!! No Milanovic & Botic is a fucking disgrace. Popovic has completely fucked up with how he has handled Triantis.
 
Popovic press conference is just weak. Okon was excellent while Irankunda just overlooked. Triantis saw a very monotone answer about having a lot on his mind and that's that. Calling his bluff won't lead to more motivation. Stuffed up last window. Needed to give him a taste of the pitch.
 
Triantis though. On day he's supposed to come he just phones up that he won't. Modern game unfortunately needs to treat certain players carefully. I think his heart was in it but we've caused a change of heart. Think about any relationship and the chatting he's having with other players, family and coaches about Popovic and the national team arrangements and the idea of telling them to shove it can materialise pretty quickly when you have alternatives.
 
SocceroosFan said:
Wasn't even going to comment, because it's all been said, but this has got to be the most disappointing Socceroos squad I've ever seen, since I started following the national team. The nepotism with Okon jr's selection over Triantis & Ballard is just next level!!! No Milanovic & Botic is a fucking disgrace. Popovic has completely fucked up with how he has handled Triantis.
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I'm sickened. Different types by my hope is Yazbek and Okon kill it in the next 2 years that we can breathe a bit. Still not happy. The PFA team of season from 3 was Milanovic, Goodwin and Botic. Screaming of potential!
 
JS96 said:
Triantis though. On day he's supposed to come he just phones up that he won't. Modern game unfortunately needs to treat certain players carefully. I think his heart was in it but we've caused a change of heart. Think about any relationship and the chatting he's having with other players, family and coaches about Popovic and the national team arrangements and the idea of telling them to shove it can materialise pretty quickly when you have alternatives.
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This is 100% spot on. Just think of the Greek relos talking about that Croat Tony that isn't picking their beautiful boy!
 
I don't care how good a player actually is I just don't think you can pick a 20 year old that has never played a professional senior game.

At club level you can take a punt for that weekend but not when you are choosing blokes to represent their country!

I want to like Popovic but he just seems like he has an enormous ego. Would play a good Bond villian....long thin cigarette hanging out of mouth haha
 
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