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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic’s squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia contains a mix of selection shocks, high-profile omissions, strange absences and the return of several players from long injury layoffs.

Here is who's there, who isn't - and what it means.

FULL ANALYSIS 👉 bit.ly/4kFgP0x
 
It's International window time. Is Elder injured? It'd only be customary. Double figures now for something wrong during a window since 2017
 
Frankly Speaking said:
It is amazing what he gets away with. Imagine the reaction in the UK if a coach selected the equivalent of Duke and Okon-Engstler?
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Akin to Rashford and Henderson the way those two were carrying on for ages in an England shirt.
 
Frankly Speaking said:
We must be close to the only nation on the planet where our national team coach could get away unscathed with this kind of squad selection. Mainly because the code has no presence in the mainstream press.
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Going back many Socceroo coaches all the way back to Guus, who fans and media were happy with, ever since I'd contend the majority of Aus fans and media have never been content with any of his successors - Arnie ( tenure 1), Pim, Holger, Ange, Bert, Arnie ( tenure 2) and now Popa!

Maybe Arnie received some respite after the Qatar WC?

Ange received some respite after the 2015 Asian Cup.

I was probably only marginally discontented with Holger.

Also, for the record, Bert is our best credentialled international coach. He took Netherlands to a WC Final in South A. Guus never got that far.
 
Decentric said:
Going back many Socceroo coaches all the way back to Guus, who fans and media were happy with, ever since I'd contend the majority of Aus fans and media have never been content with any of his successors - Arnie ( tenure 1), Pim, Holger, Ange, Bert, Arnie ( tenure 2) and now Popa!

Maybe Arnie received some respite after the Qatar WC?

Ange received some respite after the 2015 Asian Cup.

I was probably only marginally discontented with Holger.

Also, for the record, Bert is our best credentialled international coach. He took Netherlands to a WC Final in South A. Guus never got that far.
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This is the worst by far. Alot of selections are without warrant.
 
huddo said:
This is the worst by far. Alot of selections are without warrant.
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personally I was pretty thrilled mo toure was there

The triantis situation sux and I wouldn't mind botic or segecic (though maybe both might be a bad idea. Experience is probably a good thing on such a big stage)
 
Actually looking at the team again there's so many that are lucky to be in. Even mcgree who I love dudes barely played same with degenek.
 
I think the Nestory thing might be a bit of Bayern or his management team telling him its not worth going to u20 world cup. People forget before he got to Europe he only played 15-20 games a season. He's played 39 games this season. Maybe good idea to give him a good rest the old "my hammy is a bit tight". Crucial time for his development so it makes sense.
 
Anyone care to go for the oddest starting xi you can to see if you can predict the line up?
 
Despite all the omissions, midfielder Sano is a boss at Mainz. Wanatabe was player of the session at his Belgian club. They'll name their better options against us you'd think.

It'll probably come down to the final game where a draw would be enough. It's risky but not unlikely. The onus is on the players to deliver and they're capable, but also capable of losing their heads. I think we're in for a poor stage fright showing or a pleasant surprise where they get a draw.
 
huddo said:
The cherry on top, I just realised Okon Jr is now out of contract (as of 2 days ago). So he's not even a Portugese reserve grader at the moment!
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I wasn't really across how he was doing in Portugal. The bloke played one game he got an hour in the middle of the season rest of the time he was brought on at 4 or 5 nil up for literally 5 minutes or used to waste time when they were 0-0 brought on for 1-2 minutes lol

How the hell is he in the team? He cant be match sharp? Is this all to get Okons kid a contract in Europe somewhere? wtf lol
 
Perhaps Poppa and his staff have made some omissions and inclusions based on mental strength being a deciding factor. Can we depend on that player to perform under this pressure?
 
---------------Ryan
--Geria--Circati--Burgess
Miller-O'Neill-Teague-Behich
--Metcalfe---------------Boyle
----------------Duke
 
dr. bellows said:
Perhaps Poppa and his staff have made some omissions and inclusions based on mental strength being a deciding factor. Can we depend on that player to perform under this pressure?
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It's a fair enough point yet some of the raw selections wouldn't add up. Unless the Saudi game is a dead rubber, I don't expect Bos or Okon to feature.

I'll say this, King held his own against Japan when he started against them. I find some players get fosuced on their job and go alright despite the gulf in class.

The coaching staff have got their ways of viewing things too.
 
my understanding with Okon is he got a red card in one of his first starts and his coach for benfica B got angry with him and froze him out. He was probably as good as neiwenhof/teague/yazbek a year ago when he played for the olyroos despite being 3-4 years younger so I would expect him to have a pretty high ceiling if he can get his club right

I'd definitely rate triantis though as the midfielder player most likely to play at the top level in the next few years (apart from metcalf I suppose)
 
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