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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Ikon was picked for the Germany friendly before his senior debut.

Okon's issue is it's nepotism. He did well at the U20 AC but I found one him one of the less switched on players with some stupid stuff on the ball but he did his fair share elsewhere.
 
JS96 said:
Ikon was picked for the Germany friendly before his senior debut.

Okon's issue is it's nepotism. He did well at the U20 AC but I found one him one of the less switched on players with some stupid stuff on the ball but he did his fair share elsewhere.
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okon has a similar profile to triantis
A tall defensive midfielder who handles the physical and rough stuff very well but also can handle being rushed due to great close control and ability to shield the ball in tight spaces

Selecting okon suggests they probably are interested in a triantis style player

Hopefully its not too late
 
onedaywinners... said:
Imagine you're Triantis or Balard and the bloody Assistant Manager's SON gets picked!!!

And he's played 8 games for Benfica B!

Sorry I'll stop but I just hate this fuckwit behaviour in our national football. This selection just shouldn't happen on principle.
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Feels like the u12s again.
 
onedaywinners... said:
Imagine you're Triantis or Balard and the bloody Assistant Manager's SON gets picked!!!

And he's played 8 games for Benfica B!

Sorry I'll stop but I just hate this fuckwit behaviour in our national football. This selection just shouldn't happen on principle.
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Triantis refused the call up.
 
TimmyCole said:
Triantis refused the call up.
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That's a very true point. Had we sensibly capped him for his worth he wouldn't be confused or spiteful. Maybe he'd have declined this window even after a cap due to his apparent big focus on finding a club.
 
Popovic clearly puts what he thinks before what is best for Australian football and I'd argue that the irony is that it's actually him that isn't prioritising the jumper and risking ostracising some of our best talent.
 
TimmyCole said:
Triantis refused the call up.
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You need to ask yourself why. He accepted the call-up for the previous double header in March. He fronted a press conference as a new Socceroo. Then didn't see a minute of game time in those matches despite smashing it at club level, with Teague and O'Neill being favoured instead. That we are in this situation now is a completely avoidable own goal and a massive failing by FA. Clearly he's upset and questioning his allegiance, and there's a significant likelihood that we lose him.
 
Cunningstunt said:
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.
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I 'tend' to agree.

There has been very little faith with G and G posters that Popa can select a team capable of winning games.

Aus should have have won the first two games, based on performance under Arnie, but didn't. Aus has had qualified success since under the new tenure, with Popa moving the team up to second on the table.

Can't really comment on Euroroos not selected, because I've only seen Scottish Cup games and Italian Cup games.

* I've read Triantis was selected in a best of season Scottish league team. Who selected it? Coaches, players, fans, media? The first two know a lot more about football than the latter two. For any players outside Rangers and Celtic to get into it is surprising? Did Triantis struggle with the heat in the ME training camp? Triantis is still young. There should be plenty more ops to play for Aus in the future.
It seems that Popa doesn't rate the Scottish league as highly as Arnold. I'm sure if any Euroroos were playing for Rangers or Celtic they would be selected.

* I saw a best of A L team selected by A L players. Thurgate made the midfield. Atkinson made RB. Surprised both haven't been considered for the Socceroos, given they were selected by peers?
 
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JS96 said:
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!
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Okon jr was probably our best u20 player at the Asian Cup & has stacks of potential for the future, but seriously he's played 180 mins for Benfica b team this season. There's no way he should be picked ahead of Ballard, who started & played 90 mins most games in the Eredivisie this season. I like Yazbek as well, but it's not like he's setting the world on fire in the MLS. I'd pick Thurgate over Okon. Popovic is an L - there's so many quality players he's left out. Milanovic won the Alex Tobin medal for fuck sake, was interviewed in camp & looked a certainty to be picked, but instead picks Borrello, Arzani & Tillio?!! I hope we win both games, but fuck Popovic makes it hard to get excited, when he fucks up the selections. He'll probably start Geria over Circati against Japan, the Muppet
 
verrelli said:
You need to ask yourself why. He accepted the call-up for the previous double header in March. He fronted a press conference as a new Socceroo. Then didn't see a minute of game time in those matches despite smashing it at club level, with Teague and O'Neill being favoured instead. That we are in this situation now is a completely avoidable own goal and a massive failing by FA. Clearly he's upset and questioning his allegiance, and there's a significant likelihood that we lose him.
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It's worse than that he wasn't even put in the squad.
 
verrelli said:
You need to ask yourself why. He accepted the call-up for the previous double header in March. He fronted a press conference as a new Socceroo. Then didn't see a minute of game time in those matches despite smashing it at club level, with Teague and O'Neill being favoured instead. That we are in this situation now is a completely avoidable own goal and a massive failing by FA. Clearly he's upset and questioning his allegiance, and there's a significant likelihood that we lose him.
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The only person you can blame for this is Popovic - as if he doesn't get 10-15 mins against fucking Indonesia at least!!!!
 
huddo said:
It's worse than that he wasn't even put in the squad.
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I thought I recalled that to be the case but wasn't 100%. Thanks for confirming. Yup, makes it even worse! Greece will be rubbing their hands with glee. An insult after the season he's had when he's seeing guys like Brattan handed a start versus Japan.
 
If I'm Triantis, I know I've made the right choice not coming back.

We just witnessed the national manager select a fringe player for Portugal 4th best reserve grade team (who's dad coincidently happens to be in the coaching set up) over a fixed Eredivisie player for a squad spot. That's an embarrassment.

Where the fuck is Australia's technical director in all of this?
 
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