Tony Popovic will pick his first squad as Socceroos manager this week after being thrown headfirst into the complicated world of international football management.
The former Socceroos defender, unveiled as national team boss last week, has built an impressive resume as a head coach over the last 12-years, but is unlikely to have encountered a situation before where the weight of expectation is so high, and the preparation time to meet that moment is so short.
Come kick-off in their next World Cup qualifier, against China in Adelaide on October 10, Popovic would’ve been in charge of the Socceroos for just 17 days. But in that period, he’ll only get one or two training sessions with the players, at most, before his first match at the helm starts.
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The 51-year-old seems at peace with that prospect; he’s had little choice but to embrace the chaos of the last fortnight.
Popovic decided to move his family to Croatia, after not renewing his contract with Melbourne Victory at the end of the last A-League men’s season.
He also admitted he’d only watched the Socceroos last two qualifiers, against Bahrain and Indonesia, just days before walking into Football Australia’s headquarters in Sydney.
Now, the fate of that side rests in his hands.
The Socceroos don’t do World Cup qualifying campaigns devoid of tension; so in a way, the situation Popovic has walked into has almost become an expected mode of operating when it comes to booking a spot at football’s showpiece event.
Long-term, as investment in national team programs across Asia outpaces what Football Australia is currently capable of, continually finding a way to jump out of the fire is unsustainable.
That might be Popovic’s problem in the future if he does manage to turn things around.
In the short term, however, these are the four biggest issues facing the new boss ahead of this looming international window.
Popovic confirmed as new Socceroos coach | 02:27
HOW QUICKLY CAN POPOVIC GET HIS MESSAGE ACROSS?
Popovic is a self-confessed, meticulous planner with training sessions delivered in great detail, but how much he can convey to his new players in such a short amount of time is one of the biggest unknowns ahead of the clash with China.
A lack of time on the training pitch was the part of the job that former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold found the most challenging – even six-years into his tenure.
Players don’t arrive in camp until completing commitments with their club sides around the world.
It means the full squad isn’t likely to assemble in Adelaide until 48 hours prior to kick-off against China.
That would be less consequential at the start of a qualifying campaign. During the third phase, and with automatic qualification spots up for grabs, it becomes a huge factor.
It leaves Popovic with one or two sessions, at most, to get his message – a new message for the players – across.
How quickly that message not only sinks in, but turns into performance on the pitch, will be crucial.
Popovic has promised Socceroos fans, unhappy with the style of play under his predecessor, a change.
“There are obviously some areas there that I believe we can improve,” Popovic said at his unveiling last week.
“We can be a little bit more dynamic, we can move the ball quicker, we can get more players in the box.”
Translating that onto the pitch, with limited preparation time, against an opponent they’ll be expected to beat, is the first hurdle for Popovic to jump.
Tony Popovic, the newly-appointed head coach for Australia’s national football team. Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFPSource: AFP
WHERE IS THE CREATIVE SPARK?
Arnold named an abundance of wingers in his squad to face Bahrain and Indonesia at the expense of more creative players in behind the strikers.
The plan was to dominate one-on-one situations out wide before delivering a decisive ball into the box.
It made the side one-dimensional in a 1-nil defeat to Bahrain on the Gold Coast, but tactical tweaks were evident against Indonesia just five-days later with largely the same personnel.
The Socceroos were incredibly unlucky not to come away from Jakarta with more than a draw but, largely, the responsibility for creating chances during those two fixtures fell to the wide-men.
The conundrum when it comes to the Socceroos is that they often play better against higher ranked opponents than their usual foes in Asia.
At a World Cup, Australia enters matches as the underdog, and higher ranked teams aren’t shy when it comes to attacking.
The Socceroos’ game-plan at the last World Cup in Qatar, for example, was built around an ability to soak up pressure and then rapidly counter-attack opponents who had left space in behind.
In Asia, that isn’t the case for most matches during the qualifying phase. Australia is one of the powerhouses of the region, and as a result, expected to be the aggressor against teams who prefer to sit back with men behind the ball.
Breaking down opponents, who defend in large numbers in and around their own box, is the next step in Australia’s progression as a national side.
A different type of player; one who can pull the strings in-behind the strikers and unlock defences with clever passes is needed, to compliment the pace out wide.
Tony Popovic. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for Football AustraliaSource: Getty Images
Three players, all of whom missed selection for the last international window, currently fit that profile: Cardiff City’s Alexander Robertson, Salernitana’s Ajdin Hrustic and Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree.
Hrustic spent part of last season on loan at Heracles in the Eredivisie, before sealing a permanent move from Serie A outfit Hellas Verona to Serie B side Salernitana in the off-season.
Riley McGree suffered a foot injury against Lebanon in Sydney in March that required surgery, ruling him out for the rest of Middlesbrough’s campaign in the second-tier Championship in the UK.
A knock picked up in pre-season halted his comeback, but he got 76-minutes under his belt in a 2-0 win over Stoke at the weekend.
Under Arnold, McGree has mainly been used on the left of a front three, but like Hrustic, possesses the required tactical nous to play in a more central role.
Arnold preferred to let 21-year-old Robertson settle into life at Cardiff, who also play in the Championship, after a move from Manchester City.
The decision was understandable. The young Aussie was sent on-loan several times while at City, eventually landing at Portsmouth in 2023, as they secured promotion from League One. After establishing himself as a regular starter at Pompey, he suffered a season-ending hamstring tear at training in January.
A round-trip from the UK, that included stops on the Gold Coast and Jakarta wouldn’t have been ideal for a player who is trying to establish himself after a nomadic existence at club level. But he hasn’t been seen in green and gold since the Socceroos’ friendly against Argentina in Beijing in June of 2023, and with the stakes this high, the national side is in desperate need of a player with his unique abilities.
Tony Popovic speaks to media. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for Football AustraliaSource: Getty Images
WHERE DO THE GOALS COME FROM?
The Socceroos stormed through the second round of qualifying, scoring 22 times without conceding, but the goals have dried up in the third round.
They failed to score against Bahrain and Indonesia and finding the back of the net was made even harder, after striker Kusini Yengi was sent off against Bahrain, meaning he missed the game in Jakarta through suspension.
He has one-game of that red card ban left to serve and is also battling a groin injury, so his participation in the October window, where he’d only be available for the showdown against Japan, is in doubt.
It’s a huge setback. Yengi has scored four goals in nine international appearances so far and looks the man most likely to lead the line for the Socceroos moving forward.
In his absence, Arnold turned to 33-year-old Mitch Duke and 18-year-old Nestory Irankunda, who is on the books of German giants Bayern Munich, against Indonesia.
Popovic has options, but none that have shown themselves to be prolific. Aside from Mathew Leckie, who has struggled with injury since the World Cup in 2022, Duke has the most goals of any current Socceroo. But his return of 12 goals from 42 appearances sees him hit the back of the net every 195 minutes on average.
Former Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren is the next best with 11 goals from 31 games.
The A-League Men all-time top scorer departed for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan Super Giant in July, and is yet to open his account for his new club after two substitute appearances from their three games.
Maclaren was also left out of the Socceroos Asian Cup squad earlier this year by Arnold, and contemplated international retirement as a result. While a re-call would be a risk on current form, the 31-year-old is a proven goal scorer.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos is also an option after playing the last two games for Motherwell in Scotland. The former Newcastle Jet missed the last set of internationals after injuring his quad against Rangers in mid-August.
Denmark based John Iredale has been used sporadically this year as well.
Popovic set to be NEW Socceroos coach | 00:54
CAN HE MAKE UP FOR MISSED EASY POINTS?
It was put to Popovic at his first press conference, that perhaps there were easier times to take over as Socceroos coach.
He met that query with: “Why wouldn’t it be a good time?”
The Aussies sit fifth in a six team group after two games, and although there’s eight games remaining in this phase of qualifying, four of those fixtures are against group heavyweights Japan and Saudi Arabia.
A chance for bankable points against Bahrain and Indonesia also went begging, but as Popovic would go on to say “that’s football.”
While that’s true, it hardly makes the road ahead smooth sailing – especially when a top-two finish in the group will seal automatic qualification for the next World Cup in two years’ time.
The Socceroos were ticking along like a marathoner comfortably churning out the kilometres until the most recent window. Now, the pack has kicked and increased the pace as they head for the finish line.
Popovic will need to get his side back-up to speed quickly, or another wild ride; filled with play-off jeopardy potentially awaits.
Socceroos star Kusini Yengi was on the scoresheet as Portsmouth were promoted to the Championship thanks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Barnsley at Fratton Park.
The win against the Tykes also wrapped up the League One title for Portsmouth, ending a 12-year exile from the English second tier.
Yengi scored the equaliser in the ninth minute after Devante Cole put Barnsley ahead just three minutes earlier.
It looked as if the champagne would remain on ice for Pompey when John McAtee restored the visitors’ advantage in the 59th minute.
Yet there would be more twists in the contest to come as Colby Bishop, who came on for Yengi in the 61st minute, scored the equaliser from the spot with seven minutes remaining in normal time.
The proverbial roof was then blown off the top of Fratton Park when the home side nudged in front just six minutes after Bishop’s equaliser as Conor Shaughnessy scored the winner to spark delirium in the stands.
The victory over Barnsley propelled Portsmouth to 94 points with two games remaining in the League One season, eight points ahead of second-placed Derby County.
The Socceroos striker cancelled out Barnsley’s first goal. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesYengi has eight goals to date in his maiden League One campaign. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Joyous Pompey fans invaded the field as soon as the full time whistle blew, ecstatic at the club’s first league title since finishing top of the pile in League Two in the 2016/17 season.
Yengi was in the thick of the celebrations as he hoisted an inflatable kangaroo above his head.
The Socceroos striker’s goal against Barnsley was also his eighth of the season from 24 appearances and his fourth in his last seven games, emphasising how well he’s acclimated to the rigours of English football.
Yengi was not the only Australian responsible for Portsmouth’s promotion to the Championship, with midfield sensation Alexander Robertson also at the club on loan from Manchester City.
Robertson was a vital cog in Portsmouth’s midfield and started 20 of the 23 games he was named in before a torn thigh muscle in January brought a premature end to his time at the club.
Who will make the next Socceroos squad for the match against Mexico on September 10.Source: Getty Images
BELGIUM
The Jupiler Pro League in Belgium recently gained two Aussies, with former Melbourne City duo Jordan Bos and Aiden O’Neill joining KVC Westerlo and Standard Liege respectively.
The pair were some of Melbourne City’s finest performers last season en route to a premiership and grand final appearance and resulted in Socceroos call-ups for both.
Bos’ switch to Westerlo broke the record for the most expensive outgoing from Australia, with the deal reportedly worth $AUD2 million.
Westerlo have wasted no time in throwing the left-back into the deep end as Bos has started three from four games for his new club.
As for O’Neill, he has started all four games for Standard Liege as a defensive midfielder but is yet to taste victory.
With Bos and O’Neill enjoying regular game time so far, it bodes well for the rest of the season as they look to maintain their spots in Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad.
The other Aussie in Belgium is Jason Davidson, who joined KAS Eupen last season.
Davidson has been a left-back for most of his career but has impressed for Eupen as a centre-back this season and has played every minute of his side’s four games with two wins and a
Jordan Bos battling Angel di Maria of Argentina.Source: Getty Images
ENGLAND
Tom Glover, Riley McGree and Sammy Silvera (Middlesbrough)
There’s three Aussies at Boro this season, with Olyroos gun Samuel Silvera also joining the books just last month. But it hasn’t been a great start to the season, with the team failing to win any of their first three Championship matches. Left-winger Silvera has been having the best run so far, with an assist to pick up a draw last time out, and another assist in a cup win. After starting on the bench in the opening league game, he’s now started three straight games (all comps) and the 22-year-old looks set to have a big impact as he takes a major step up this season after joining from the Central Coast Mariners.
25-year-old Glover, who also moved from down under in July, played the cup game but is currently the number two gloveman at the club behind Senegal international Seny Dieng, who joined one day later. But with Boro struggling defensively, Glover will be hoping to crack into the first team – or else enjoy a good cup run to get minutes under his belt.
McGree meanwhile started the first league game but has since come off the bench in the three other matches – and bagged a goal in the cup. The 24-year-old even had a stint at an unfamiliar left-back position in pre-season. As the team looks to climb up the ladder after their miserable start, he could find a way back into the starting side more regularly.
McGree in action against Argentina in June.Source: Getty Images
Harry Souttar (Leicester City)
There’s been plenty of talk over a possible exit from the club after they were relegated from the Premier League, but it hasn’t happened … yet. Leicester sold Harvey Barnes and James Maddison for big money to balance their books, but they still need to trim a bloated squad (and wage bill!). Harry Souttar hasn’t been given much of a look-in by new manager Enzo Maresca, and an exit appears reasonably likely. He was left on the bench for their first league game and out of the squad completely for the two following games. Maresca said: “Harry’s a guy who since day one has been working very well. But because the window is open, for Harry and for the rest of the 25 players that we have, something can happen.”
Scottish giants Rangers have been linked with a move that would reunite Harry Souttar with his brother John. Without a move, Souttar seems likely to only get limited game-time.
Alexander Robertson (Portsmouth, on loan from Manchester City)
The 20-year-old central midfielder has settled in very well to life in League One at Portsmouth, playing all five of their matches (all comps) since his loan move this month. He scored in a penalty shootout win after coming on as a substitute in the EFL Trophy (formerly the Papa John’s Trophy, a cup competition), and has started their last two league matches. The young playmaker looks extremely classy and comfortable on the ball and the early signs are promising a breakout campaign in his first full season of senior football. Making it into Manchester City’s senior team still feels a while away, but with Kevin de Bruyne’s serious injury and subsequent surgery ruling him out until the end of the calendar year, another injury or two could see Pep Guardiola recall the Aussie young gun from loan for added depth. It’s not likely, but it’s not out of the realms of possibility – and every week that Robertson continues to impress at Portsmouth helps to build his case.
There’s another Aussie at Portsmouth in 24-year-old Kusini Yengi, a former Olyroos player, with the left-winger starting the season brilliantly by scoring four goals in three appearances before an ankle injury ruled him out until mid-October. When he’s back, keep a close eye on the former A-Leagues star.
There’s also several other Australians in England who are either in or awfully close to the Socceroos squad.
Ipswich Town duo Massimo Luongo and Cam Burgess are no doubt loving life at the minute.
It’s early days in a long and gruelling Championship season, but the Tractor Boys are in first place having won three games from three and conceding just one goal in that time.
Luongo and Burgess have played every minute of Ipswich’s campaign so far and have caught the eye of Arnold who reportedly watched the duo last weekend.
Burgess was set to be included in the Socceroos squad for the Argentina friendlies but was ruled out with injury, yet his form so far has no doubt boosted his chances.
Massimo Luongo is in the Championship for the first time since 2020-21.Source: Getty Images
Elsewhere in League One is Aussie duo Callum Elder and Kenny Dougall who are at Derby County and Blackpool respectively.
Elder came off the bench for slim minutes in the first four of Derby’s league matches and the 28-year-old left back is struggling as he pushes for a first-team spot.
30-year-old central midfielder Dougall has two starts, one in the cup and one in the league, with two more league appearances off the bench.
However, with Arnold taking a view towards the future in his squad selections the chances of Elder and Dougall returning to the Socceroos fold appear limited.
There’s also Tyrese Francois with Premier League side Fulham. Francois, a 23-year-old midfielder, spent part of last season on loan at HNK Gorica in Croatia after making one Premier League appearance off the bench. He suffered an injury late last season and it’s unclear if he’s currently fully fit, having trained with the first-team squad but not travelling with them to the USA in pre-season. He has not been named in a Fulham squad so far this season. A transfer is also a possibility, as is a loan deal, as he needs more match minutes to grow in his career.
FRANCE
Denis Genreau (Toulouse)
Denis Genreau will look to pick up right where he left off after the midfielder enjoyed a strong end to the 2022/23 Ligue One campaign.
The midfielder, who dealt with a series of niggling injuries last season, started Toulouse’s first league game of the season in a 2-1 win over Nantes before coming on as a substitution in a 1-1 draw with PSG.
At 24 years of age, Genreau is only going to get better and if he can nail down a regular spot in Toulouse’s midfield, there’s no reason to assume otherwise.
He made the Socceroos squad for the recent Argentina friendly and will hope to maintain it in the lead-up to the Asian Cup.
In France’s second tier is Mohamed Toure, who linked up with Paris FC on loan from Reims.
The teenager came on as a sub in Paris’ second game of the Ligue Two season against Grenoble but wasn’t in the squad for their other two fixtures due to an unknown injury.
Even if Toure doesn’t get the minutes he hopes for, a loan experience at 19 is invaluable as he looks to prove himself in France.
Toulouse’s Australian midfielder Denis Genreau (L) in a pre-season friendly with Roma this month.Source: AFP
GERMANY
Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe (FC St Pauli)
Many have said it before, but it’s hard to think of a footballer who fits a club’s ethos quite like Jackson Irvine does at FC St Pauli.
The all-action midfielder, who dons the captain’s armband for the club in the German second tier, has started every game for St Pauli this season and will no doubt be a key figure in their push for promotion.
Irvine is joined at the club by fellow Australian Connor Metcalfe, who moved to St Pauli last season.
Although the 23-year-old showed glimpses of his quality, he never quite found a consistent run of form.
But Metcalfe has also started in St Pauli’s three league games so far as a right winger which bodes well for getting opportunities to shine.
St Pauli came awfully close to promotion to the Bundesliga last season and finished fifth, so expectations will be high for Irvine and Metcalfe to deliver if they are to achieve their ultimate goal.
Irvine captaining St Pauli this month.Source: Getty Images
INDIA
Jason Cummings (Mohun Bagan)
Not many score a hat-trick to win an A-League grand final in their last game, but then again, not many footballers are Jason Cummings.
The cult hero left a lasting impression both on and off the field in a two-year stint with the Central Coast Mariners where he scored 31 goals from 50 games and earned a spot in Australia’s World Cup squad.
Cummings has since moved to India for a life-changing salary and has already scored twice for his new club Mohun Bagan in three games.
However, his status with the national team could come into question given the level of football on show in India.
Time will tell whether it proves to be a detrimental factor but if Cummings scores goals in India like he did in Australia, it will be hard to argue he doesn’t deserve a spot in the Socceroos squad.
There’s also Rostyn Griffiths in India, with Mumbai City. The 35-year-old has never been capped for Australia and has missed his chance, but keep an eye out for the Asian Champions League, where he’ll face Saudi mega-team Al-Hilal featuring Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Cummings moved to India after winning the A-League with the Central Coast Mariners.Source: Getty Images
ITALY
Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo)
Cristian Volpato finds himself in new surroundings after moving to Sassuolo from Roma in the summer window for an estimated £6.4 million.
It is hoped a switch to Sassuolo will lead to increased game time for the talented 19-year-old, although both of his first two games for his new club have come from the bench.
Volpato did chalk up an assist in Sassuolo’s 5-2 win over Cosenza in the first round of the Italy Cup.
Prior to the 2023/24 season, Arnold confirmed he would visit Volpato in an attempt to convince him to represent the Socceroos ahead of Italy, but as of now there are no indications who he will play for on the international stage.
Time will tell on Volpato’s international future, but the teen must focus on performing for his new club first before thinking about whether to don the green and gold or the famous blue of Italy.
Alessandro Circati (Parma)
After a lengthy courting process, Arnold finally convinced promising defender Alessandro Circati to pledge his international allegiance to Australia ahead of the Argentina friendly.
The teenager had the benefit of playing in a defensive unit for Serie B side Parma with legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon barking orders behind him.
Although Buffon has since retired, Circati has no doubt taken on plenty of wisdom from the Italian superstar and will look to apply it this year for club and country.
The 19-year-old was part of a defensive unit that kept a clean sheet in Parma’s Serie B opener against Feralpisalo and in their Italy Cup first round clash against fellow promotion hopefuls Bari.
Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona)
Having long been heralded as Australia’s key attacking force from midfield, Ajdin Hrustic has struggled in recent times.
Hrustic moved to Verona from Eintracht Frankfurt in last year’s summer window in search of game time but that never quite materialised.
The 27-year-old also underwent ankle surgery in early January and is yet to return to the field for Verona in Serie B after they were relegated at the end of last season.
There’s still plenty of time for Hrustic to turn things around at club level but if he cannot get on the park in the Italian second division, it will spark serious fears for his hopes of making Australia’s Asian Cup squad.
Hrustic has a lot of work to do.Source: Getty Images
JAPAN
Mitch Duke (Machida Zelvia)
The veteran striker joined Machida Zelvia in January and has had a strong season, with five goals and six assists in 24 appearances in the second division plus a cup goal. He was a regular starter earlier for most of the year but has come off the bench in the last four games for the team currently six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. His team still has 12 matches to play as they chase promotion.
Socceroos star Duke and Lionel Messi shake hands at the World Cup.Source: Getty Images
Mitch Langerak (Nagoya Grampus)
Langerak is having yet another fantastic season for top-flight side Nagoya Grampus. The entrenched starting goalkeeper has played 28 games in all competitions with just 23 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets. He was a shock omission from last year’s World Cup and at 35 years old appears to be on the outer of the national team, but is consistently performing at the top level and could fill in for the Socceroos at any point. Nagoya are third on the ladder, five points off the lead.
Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata)
Deng is also in the top flight with Albirex Niigata, the 14th-placed team. It’s been an up and down season (which began in February) for the 26-year-old central defender. From late May to early June he dropped out of the squad completely, but regained his place for seven-straight starting appearances before a stint off the bench last time out. Overall he’s made 21 appearances in all competitions this year. If he can lock down that place in the starting XI, he’ll continue to press his case for a spot in the Socceroos’ defensive line.
KOREA
Harrison Delbridge (Incheon United)
Delbridge continues to be a mainstay in the backline for Korean side Incheon United, starting 19 of 27 league games this season.
His impressive form last year earned a call-up to the Socceroos for the double-header against New Zealand where he made his international debut.
However, Delbridge likely faces an uphill battle to break back into the team with the likes of Souttar, Kye Rowles and Circati ahead of him in the pecking order.
Delbridge for the Socceroos in September last year.Source: Getty Images
NETHERLANDS
Garang Kuol (Volendam, on loan from Newcastle)
18-year-old Kuol had a difficult first season in Europe, making just nine appearances for Hearts in Scotland on loan from Premier League side Newcastle – and almost all of them coming off the bench. Now he’s been sent to Volendam, a renowned nursery for young players, to get more minutes and continue his development. He got 24 minutes in their first league match of the season but was left out of the squad for the second match. Coach Matthias Kohler said: “We have to be patient with him. That is simply the case with a young player who comes from a foreign competition.”
Despite his limited minutes at club-land, he picked up his first Socceroos goal against Ecuador in March.
This will be a big season for Kuol’s growth, and getting as many minutes as possible is crucial.
Kuol celebrates his first goal for the Socceroos in March.Source: Getty Images
Mat Ryan (AZ Alkmaar)
The 31-year-old gloveman is the settled number one at AZ Alkmaar, having joined the Dutch club in January. The Socceroos skipper has had a great start to the season, with two clean sheets in his first five matches – four wins and a draw. Their two league wins and a +6 goal difference has them top of the Eredivisie league ladder, having finished a strong fourth last season.
On Friday morning, his side continued their bid to reach the third-tier European continental competition – the Europa Conference League – with a 1-1 draw in the first leg against Brann of Norway. Ryan made five saves in another strong showing.
NORWAY
Gianni Stensness (Viking FC)
The 24-year-old centre-back/defensive midfielder had been in fine form in recent months, earning himself a first Socceroos call-up in 12 months against Argentina in June. But things came crashing down when he tore his ACL in training later that month. He’ll be out until the end of the year.
But young Aussie teammate Patrick Yazbek, 21, is having a sensational season, bagging one goal and five assists in 18 appearances (all comps). The centre-midfielder looks to be a key figure in the Olyroos team aiming to reach the Paris Olympics.
Rounding out the Australian trio at Viking is Nick D’Agostino, although the striker has largely been consigned to an impact role off the bench.
The Heart of Midlothian contingent again features FOUR Aussies this season, although Garang Kuol has been replaced this year by another young gun Calem Nieuwenhof.
The team is third in the league after two rounds, with a win and a draw, and are also competing in the Europa Conference League play-offs, where they suffered a 2-1 first-leg loss to Greek league leaders PAOK on Friday morning.
Right-back Nathaniel Atkinson has started five games so far including that defeat, after a very strong finish to last season after a rollercoaster year saw him bounce in an out of the side but mostly feature off the bench. Early signs are very promising for the 24-year-old as he looks to take a step up in his career.
25-year-old Kye Rowles has played every minute of their six games in centre-back and is a lock to start. He’ll be hoping to avoid another injury like the metatarsal fracture he suffered in September last year that threatened his World Cup hopes. Luckily he returned in time to star in Qatar and quickly nail down his place in the Hearts’ starting side after that – and this season promises another strong campaign.
Cameron Devlin has enjoyed a bright start to the season.Source: Getty Images
Cammy Devlin bagged a brace in the Europa Conference League play-offs a week ago and has started five matches already, coming off the back of a breakout 41-game season last time around. With Aaron Mooy’s retirement, he’ll back himself to step up and fill the gap in the midfield – and his early form certainly boosts his case.
Calem Nieuwenhof, 22, made the move to Scotland on the back of a truly outstanding individual campaign for the Western Sydney Wanderers. The versatile midfielder is on a four-year contract and has plenty of time to grow, but appears to have settled well after a transfer he called an ‘easy decision’. He started their first league game in an attacking midfield role and a cup game in a defensive midfield position, and his ability to play in different roles is a key reason he should feature plenty off the bench, if not force his way into the starting team.
Devlin celebrating his brace.Source: Getty Images
Marco Tilio (Celtic)
Tilio broke the record for an outbound transfer from Australian shores at the start of July when he left Melbourne City for the Scottish giants for a fee over $2 million Australian. The youngster who turned 22 this month is however still recovering from an unknown injury that he suffered on Olyroos duty in June, with Celtic coach Brendan Rogers revealing last month that Tilio would miss the first few weeks of the season.
It will take him some time to get up to speed with the intensity of Scottish football and life at the champions. With the likes of Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda on the wings at the club, he’ll find it hard to break into the first team as a regular starter, but he’s got plenty of promise and will look to show what he can do off the bench at first.
Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain (St Mirren)
Last season was Keanu Baccus’ first in Scotland after joining St Mirren from Western Sydney Wanderers, and he racked up 36 appearances. That led to St Mirren agreeing a reported £275,000 sale to Bolton in England’s League One (third tier). But the deal fell through – reportedly due to difficulties obtaining a work permit – and reported interest from Scottish rivals Hibernian never eventuated.
The 25-year-old has played every minute of the club’s two league games already – both wins – and has also picked up one assist in three League Cup matches.
His physicality and hard work continues to impress in the rough-and-tumble Scottish Premiership, and he’ll hope to guide St Mirren to better than last year’s sixth placed this time around, especially after they struggled at the dying stages of last season.
With just one year left on his contract, St Mirren will definitely be looking to lock him down on a fresh deal so they can cash in when bigger clubs (almost inevitably) come calling.
And Baccus continues to go from strength to strength for the Socceroos, playing the full game against Argentina in June. With Aaron Mooy’s retirement, coach Graham Arnold could turn to another Scotland-based player in Baccus to step up at the base of the midfield.
Baccus battling Argentina in June’s friendly.Source: Getty Images
Like his club teammate Baccus, Ryan Strain had a standout season in his maiden campaign in Scotland. The right back is receiving interest this transfer window, and a deal could easily still happen before the window closes.
But manager Stephen Robinson said last month that the club had ‘no bids or offers’ for the player, claiming that meant other clubs were “not realising how good a player” he is.
“Long may it continue,” the St Mirren boss told BBC Scotland.
“We don’t want to let him go. We don’t need to sell, we’re not in the [financial] position we were in last year.
“Ryan’s done terrifically well. He’s a very, very good footballer if he doesn’t complicate the game.”
He’s started five cup games and bagged four assists already, and also started both league games in a sensational start to the season.
Scottish journalists are raving about the 26-year-old, with many declaring him the best right wing-back in the league outside of the ‘big two’ of Celtic and Rangers.
He only debuted for Australia last September and missed the World Cup, but the 26-year-old is arguably the most in-form Socceroo in the world right now.
Like Baccus, he also is in the final year of his contract, and St Mirren will make handing him a new deal a priority so as not to lose him for free at season’s end.
It looks like an all-Scottish league battle for Australia’s right back spot between Strain and Atkinson.Source: Getty Images
Martin Boyle, Jimmy Jeggo, Lewis Miller (Hibernian)
Martin Boyle is back! Earlier this month, the 30-year-old winger scored a brace in his first competitive fixture since October 2022, when he underwent surgery on an historical ACL injury. He had said days before that the team’s physios must “hate him,” given how hard he was pushing to return ahead of schedule. All up, he’s now had seven starts for three goals. He’s still not fully fit, but signs are promising that he’ll return to his best.
Jimmy Jeggo has been battling for a spot in the first team at Hibs, making two starts and five bench appearances so far this season. He joined the club in late January and played 17 times in all competitions last season, starting every single one of those games. But Hibernian signed 22-year-old Wales international Dylan Levitt in July, a former Manchester United academy player, and the pair look set to battle for starting duties in the coming weeks.
It’s also worth keeping an eye out for Lewis Miller, the 22-year-old right back who hasn’t yet played for the Socceroos but has featured for the Under-23 Olyroos. Miller is in his second season with Hibernian, but looks set for far more game time this campaign.
However, he’ll have to improve his game after a torrid showing in Hibs’ 5-0 loss to Aston Villa in the first leg of their Europa Conference League playoff clash at Easter Road, where three of the goals came from Miller’s flank.
SERBIA
Milos Degenek (Red Star Belgrade)
Degenek is back for a third stint at his boyhood club, having spent 18 months in the US. With three starts, three wins, and three clean sheets – and the team not conceding after he came off the bench in the other league match – it’s been a perfect opening to the new campaign. The 29-year-old has fit right back in, and looks like he’s cemented himself as one of the first-choice options at the heart of defence. He’ll also get the chance to play in the Champions League once again.
Interestingly, six-time reigning champions Red Star are playing a three-man backline this campaign, which could give Arnold room to change up his Socceroos defensive structure.
Degenek is in good form at the start of the new season.Source: Getty Images
SINGAPORE
Bailey Wright (Lion City Sailors)
In a move that caught many by surprise, Bailey Wright left Sunderland a year early to join Singapore Premier League side Lion City Sailors.
The switch to Singapore brings and end to Wright’s time in England where he had played since 2010.
Wright confirmed he had received offers from clubs in England and even from the A-League, but turned it down in pursuit of a new challenge in Singapore.
Having made the Socceroos’ World Cup squad, the decision to move to Singapore is a curious one.
But the 30-year-old has earned the opportunity to pursue a switch for financial reasons and could still venture down to the A-League at some stage in the future.
SWITZERLAND
Awer Mabil (Grasshopper Club Zurich)
The pacy winger will play in a seventh European country this season after signing a deal at Swiss side Grasshoppers.
The team is the most successful in Swiss history, but haven’t won the league in two decades and have struggled in recent years – finishing eighth and seventh in the last two seasons after returning to the top flight after a couple of years in the second division.
They’ve started the new campaign poorly with just one win and one draw from their first four games, meaning Mabil has a great opportunity to cement a spot in the line-up.
It is a much-needed move for the Aussie with 32 international caps and nine goals to his name. Having struggled for game time at Cadiz in Spain’s La Liga (six appearances), he moved to Czechia for the latter half of last season with Sparta Prague, but 15 of his 16 appearances came off the bench. He scored twice (both penalties) and added three assists.
Ahead of his 28th birthday next month, he’ll hope for regular minutes to return to top form. The deal is for two years with an option for a third.
QATAR
Trent Sainsbury (Al Wakrah)
Having been left out of the Socceroos squad for the World Cup, many felt it was the end of the road in the national team for 31-year-old Trent Sainsbury.
Whether he can force his way back into contention remains to be seen, but starting for Qatari side Al Wakrah will give him the best chance possible for that.
Sainsbury started and kept a clean sheet in his side’s Qatar Stars League opener against Muaither SC as Al Wakrah ran out 3-0 winners.
But no matter how often he plays in Qatar, Sainsbury has plenty of bodies in front of him if he is to return to the heart of the Socceroos backline.
Sainsbury’s last Socceroos match in September 2022.Source: Getty Images
WHO ELSE?
Left-back Brad Smith is in the USA for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo, where he’s scored two goals in 15 appearances (all comps). But he’s struggling to lock in a spot in the first team and a recall to the Socceroos looks unlikely.
Meanwhile, Tom Rogic is without a club after leaving West Brom in May after a difficult season. He turned down an optional one-season extension on his contract and has not yet found a new club. It mirrors what happened 12 months ago, when he left Celtic but didn’t find a new club – West Brom – until September. This time around, the 30-year-old might look for an easier challenge, including a possible return down under.
A 20-year-old rising star put his name up in lights with a standout performance against Argentina, despite the Socceroos falling to a 2-0 defeat to the reigning World Cup champions.
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old defender impressed despite playing just 17 minutes off the bench in his second international game – and after missing out on the 2022 World Cup squad, he could be in line for more minutes in the future.
Here’s how every Australian performed in the huge international friendly in Beijing.
Lionel Messi was the standout, but it was mixed performances from the Aussies.Source: AFP
Mat Ryan: 5
There was nothing he could to stop Messi’s second-minute goal except pick the ball out the back of his net, while it would have taken something special to deny the second goal.
But Ryan raced off his line well in the 36th minute to intercept a pinpoint Messi through ball just before an on-rushing attacker, and made a number of strong saves to keep the scoreline more than respectable.
There were some minor concerns, however, with some wayward passing and once or twice struggling to judge or clear crosses.
In previous years, reports from England claimed that Premier League teams viewed Ryan as having a weakness against crosses.
But it has not been a typical issue in international matches for the green and gold gloveman (though he was decked out in lavender in Beijing).
And he was certainly not at fault for the two goals, while he saved what could easily have been a third goal with a sublime stop from Julian Alvarez.
Jordan Bos: 7.5
It was a standout performance from the 20-year-old in just his second cap, with his first half effort particularly impressive.
If Aziz Behich’s marauding runs were the highlight from an Australian point of view in the December meeting with Argentina, Bos did his finest impersonation in Beijing.
In many ways, this game felt like a changing of the guard at left back. With Behich absent, Bos was solid in defence and attack, and looks set to be the long-term solution at the position.
No Australian won more tackles or duels.
He played some sublime passes and crosses, with a team-high 73 touches, and charged forwards with the ball with youthful exuberance – even if that meant taking a touch too many once or twice, or a poor shot when other options were probably stronger.
Better decision-making in the final third will come with experience, and there’s no doubt after tonight that many more minutes in the green and gold are coming.
Coach Graham Arnold said afterward: “That’s how he needs to play! That’s what I’m saying; I’ve got to play players to their strengths. Jordy’s strength is going forward, and making sure we’re protecting him defensively. He’ll improve out of sight with that.
“This game, the kid will walk away knowing he belongs. He’ll have that belief that he belongs on the big stage now.
“I just think he’s got such a bright future, not just individually but for the Socceroos as well.”
Atkinson finished his season at Hearts in Scotland in good form, but Argentina’s dangerous front line posed a much sterner test – and he was caught out at times.
The right-back had a rather difficult night, particularly against dangerous Fiorentina attacker Nicolás González.
He didn’t have much an impact going forward – making just 27 touches in his 73 minutes, although his passing was safe and secure. Much of that was down to the strategy of allowing Bos to use his attacking skills, with the other defenders shifting to cover him – therefore keeping Atkinson in a more defensive-minded role.
Atkinson was unlucky to earn a yellow card for a fine slide tackle early in the second half, but made a number of solid challenges – particularly when he halted a charging Alexis Mac Allister in the first half-hour.
Harry Souttar: 4.5
He struggled early on – perhaps reflecting his lack of recent game time at Leicester – but grew into the game, like most of his teammates.
He made a team-high four interceptions and was typically strong in the air, but did have a handful of tough moments – like in first-half stoppage time, when Souttar’s attempt to nab the ball from Alexis Mac Allister saw the Aussie left sprawling on the ground by the Argentine midfielder.
However, Souttar continues to forge a good combination with Kye Rowles, often perfectly timing his covering runs for the fellow centre-back.
A perfect example of that came seven minutes into the second half when Souttar made a sublime touch with an outstretched leg to stop Angel Di Maria getting on the end of a long route-one ball and having a one-on-one in the Australian area.
And Souttar showed some fine footwork belying his immense size to dribble out of significant trouble three minutes later.
Kye Rowles: 4.5
In short, Kye Rowles received a footballing lesson from the greatest of all time.
Messi curled the opening shot around Rowles’ attempted block in the second minute – though it would be rather harsh to say the Aussie should have done better.
But he was utterly caught out by the superstar later in the opening half when Messi perfectly timed a run behind the backline and left Rowles for dead, only for Messi to overhit his chip shot.
Rowles was humbled in the 79th minute again by Messi, who turned and jinked past the Australian more than once despite Rowles’ desperate – and illegal – attempts to restrain him.
But Rowles is far from the first to be on the wrong side of a harsh lesson from the diminutive legend – who has made the world’s best look silly time and again in his career.
Even so, there were still plenty of positives!
Rowles had 73 touches (equal team-high), both attempting and completing more passes than any other Aussies at 96.9 per cent accuracy. He added a pair of tackles and clearances as well as an interception.
Rowles was ready to try a rugby tackle.Source: AFP
MIDFIELD
Aiden O’Neill: 5.5
It was a solid but unspectacular effort from the midfielder, who signed for Belgian club Standard Liege in recent days.
The 24-year-old was dependable with his distribution, completing 92.1 per cent of his 63 passes. But he struggled to have an impact on defence, losing all three of his duels. He desperately attempted to shut down Messi before the opening goal, but was flummoxed by the tricky Argentine and left red-faced on the grass.
In the first half, he lost the ball a little too frequently by trying to run through the central channels – something that was a key issue early on, with the Socceroos struggling to maintain possession.
But O’Neill settled as the game wore on and put in a very strong shift in what was just his third cap, before being taken off after 63 minutes.
Keanu Baccus: 5
Baccus fouled an opponent in the first 30 seconds of the match, setting the tone for a physical and tough contest where the referee put away his whistle for much of the match.
The midfielder was Australia’s most fiery player, and he constantly toed the line between aggression and losing control but never quite stepped over it.
He passed well, tackled hard – sometimes too hard – and picked up an interception, and his tough approach was key to Australia’s period of dominance after the opening 15 minutes.
Baccus was in the wars all night.Source: Getty Images
Mathew Leckie: 4.5
It would be incredibly harsh to judge Leckie’s performance on his role in the match’s biggest moment, for it was he who slipped to the ground and gave Argentina the ball that led to the early goal.
But he was one of Australia’s more impressive players in the first half, doing plenty to inspire his younger teammates with his intensity. But his passing was a little sloppy and he failed to make much impact in the final third.
He also made another a poor mistake late in the first half to give away the ball and gift Argentina another strong chance, and faded after halftime.
He was kept quieter than McGree on the other flank, and was taken off after 73 minutes after his second-half shift to centre-forward did not pay off.
Riley McGree: 6
It was a classy performance from the in-form attacking midfielder, fresh off a strong season with Championship side Middlesbrough. Playing out wide, his movement was exceptional, making incisive runs into space and stretching the defence.
He combined well down the left flank with Bos and put in some good crosses before being taken off after 73 minutes.
McGree can be pleased with his performance.Source: Getty Images
STRIKERS
Jamie Maclaren: 3
The Melbourne City striker was starting his first game for Australia since starting against Oman in February of last year.
But after another sensational domestic season where he netted 24 league goals, chances were far harder to come by against the world champs and Maclaren had a very quiet night. He took just one shot, a bold first-time volley that went backwards.
With Australia playing with dual strikers, Maclaren was attempting to run off the back of target man Mitch Duke. The strategy did not quite work out, with Maclaren making just 10 touches including four made passes before being taken off at halftime.
He worked hard defensively with some intelligent pressing and made a couple of tackles.
Mitchell Duke: 3
Duke is a tireless and selfless worker, throwing his body about to win the ball for his teammates. But he wasn’t at his best in that department in this game – struggling as he battled for the ball and winning just one of eight duels.
He managed 12 pass attempts at 58.3 per cent completion. While it is not unusual for Duke to make few passes and have a low accuracy – as a hold-up man when the Socceroos tried long balls to play out of trouble – both stats were well below his best.
And in the end, strikers are judged most of all on their work in front of goals, and Duke missed an absolute sitter. From just outside the six-yard box and right in front, having got in front of his defender, he simply had to score.
He was taken off after 63 minutes.
SUBSTITUTES
Ajdin Hrustic: 5.5
Had a solid performance after replacing Maclaren at halftime, with 37 touches in his 45 minutes.
He was comfortable on the ball and frustrated Argentina’s defenders, winning three fouls – a team-high despite playing just the second half.
He made 27 passes at a fine rate of 88.9 per cent accuracy, but his crossing was sometimes wayward.
Nevertheless, playing in a wider position than usual showed his flexibility and he had strong moments.
Ajdin Hrustic was strong off the bench.Source: Getty Images
Denis Genreau: 4.5
Genreau was oh-so-lucky that his first touch in the game didn’t lead to a Messi free-kick goal, after fouling the maestro just outside Australia’s area. However, the resulting attempt did go out for a corner, and Argentina scored from that corner. It wasn’t a great start, and the game certainly changed from there – and with substitutes coming thick and fast from both teams. Genreau failed to assert himself on the game, with his passing wayward at times under pressure.
Brandon Borrello: 4.5
Replacing Duke, Borrello played a very similar style of game – throwing himself about with great physicality and winning a couple of fouls in the process. He never had a sight at goal – nor a touch in the final third – but was dependable elsewhere.
Alexander Robertson: 4
He had very little impact in his 17 minutes, besides a speculative long-range shot – and was brushed repeatedly by Messi when he tried to grab the legend’s No.10 shirt at full-time.
Connor Metcalfe: 4
Like Robertson, struggled to find a way into the game.
Ryan Strain was a standout off the bench.Source: Getty Images
Ryan Strain: 6.5
There were plenty of promising signs from his brief time on the field, in what was his second cap for the Australian side.
He won all four of his duels, made two clearances – the most of any Aussie outfielder – and nabbed an interception.
Perhaps it was the slower pace of the game after the substitutions and the second goal seemed to seal the result, but he injected himself into the match with great intensity and got on the ball with far more regularity than the man he replaced.
He had 22 touches in 17 minutes, compared to Atkinson’s 27 in 73 minutes.
26-year-old Strain passed well and looked lively, and could well have done enough to earn a start in the future.
After missing out on the World Cup and being left on the bench against Ecuador earlier this year, it was the perfect reminder to Arnold that he can contribute to the side.
The Socceroos are out to avenge their heartbreaking World Cup loss against Argentina as the nations square off in a friendly in Beijing, China at 10pm (AEST).
Argentina, who went on to win the World Cup, squeezed past Graham Arnold’s side 2-1 in the Round of 16 thanks to Lionel Messi’s brilliance and a superb late save from Emi Martinez.
However, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni remarked the match against the Socceroos was his side’s toughest game of their entire Qatar campaign.
The world champions are expected to name a strong side with Messi expected to start as the pint-sized superstar will miss his side’s upcoming fixture against Indonesia.
Follow all the action from the Socceroos’ clash against Argentina in our LIVE BLOG below!
As for the Socceroos, Arnold has confirmed former Melbourne City duo Jordan Bos and Aiden O’Neill will start as well as Keanu Baccus, who started the Round of 16 clash.
Plenty of Aussies will be intrigued to see if teenage defender Alessandro Circati sees any minutes.
Circati, a dual citizen of Australia and Italy, pledged his international future to the Socceroos in a major boost for Arnold.
The 19-year-old’s decision follows that of midfielder Alexander Robertson, who committed to the Socceroos instead of England, Scotland and Peru ahead of the Ecuador friendlies.
Although it may be billed as a friendly between the two nations, there is still some silverware up for grabs.
A video circulating on social media displayed the bizarre trophy which has been declared the International Football Invitational Memorial Prize.
The gold trophy features a spinning ball on top with plenty of striking details, including the emblems of each national team.
Follow all the action from the Socceroos’ clash against Argentina in our LIVE BLOG below!
As the dust settles on the majority of European leagues, a raft of Aussies have enjoyed triumphant title celebrations, suffered the heartbreak of relegation and just about everything in-between.
Former Socceroos catapulted themselves back into the spotlight with several impressive performances while for others, they slowly crept further and further out of the national team picture.
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at how the Aussies abroad performed over the course of the season in the Roo Radar Season Wrap-Up!
We begin our end-of-season wrap in England, the nation where the majority of our Aussies abroad are based.
Harry Souttar ended our wait for an Australian player back in the Premier League when he moved from Championship side Stoke City to Leicester City for $26 million in the January window.
The towering defender saw plenty of gametime after his arrival as he started nine games in a row.
However, he was demoted to the Foxes’ bench for five games after a 3-1 loss to Manchester City on April 15.
Although he returned to help Leicester keep a clean sheet in their penultimate game of the season against Newcastle, he was an unused substitute on the final day as the Foxes were relegated.
With Caglar Soyuncu gone and Jannik Vestergaard likely to leave, there will be plenty of opportunities for Souttar to play next season and help his club secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
There was also a Premier League debut for Cam Peupion at Brighton.
The Sydney FC youth product was a constant presence on Brighton’s bench in the final six games of the season but got his first Premier League minutes in a 4-1 loss to Newcastle.
The 20-year-old midfielder came on for a five-minute cameo and here’s hoping there’s plenty more to come next season.
Souttar was relegated with Leicester back to the Championship. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Socceroos midfielder Alexander Robertson unfortunately did not receive any senior minutes for English giants Manchester City, but he made the matchday squads on a number of occasions.
A loan move for the talented City product could be on the cards next season as he looks to gain more experience in senior level football.
Dipping into the Championship and it was mixed fortunes for our Aussie contingent.
Tom Rogic joined West Bromwich Albion on a free deal in what seemed relatively good business at the time.
But Rogic started just four games from 26 and never really got going at the Hawthorns.
He has since been released by the Baggies as Aussies await his next move.
Riley McGree enjoyed a tremendous season under Middlesbrough coach Michael Carrick as a winger en route to a Play-Offs semi-final appearance.
The 24-year-old started 35 games and looks likely to continue flourishing under Carrick’s tutelage.
Goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic continued Australia’s proud history of goalkeepers shining overseas as the 20-year-old made six league appearances for Huddersfield Town.
Bilokapic even registered an assist in a 2-1 win for the Terries over Birmingham City in February.
Ange to coach first Spurs game in Aus | 01:58
Unfortunately Kenny Dougall was relegated to League One with Blackpool but with former boss Neil Critchley back at the helm, the all-action midfielder will look to bounce back.
In League One, Aussie duo Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess got to enjoy the sweet, sweet taste of promotion with Ipswich Town.
Burgess was a rock at the back for Ipswich who also had the best defensive record in the English third tier.
Luongo joined the Tractor Boys in January and proved to be an extremely influential member in the midfield.
Although the 30-year-old is now out of contract, there’s every chance he is asked to return to Portman Road for the upcoming Championship season and beyond.
Young goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer enjoyed a breakout season for Charlton Athletic and put his name into the conversation for Mat Ryan’s heir.
From November 19 onwards, Maynard-Brewer 26 of 28 games and kept five clean sheets with a string of impressive performances.
But the 23-year-old gloveman earned plenty of praise for his heroics in the Addicks’ EFL Cup fourth round clash against Brighton, with Maynard-Brewer coming up with a big stop in the penalty shootout.
Maynard-Brewer in action for Charlton. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SCOTLAND
There were no less than 15 Aussie stars taking part in the Scottish top flight this season, but there were mixed fortunes involved for all.
At the top of the table was Aaron Mooy who moved to Celtic on a free transfer.
The midfield maestro scored seven goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for the Hoops en route to a Scottish treble.
He enjoyed somewhat of a purple patch from December 24 to March 11, as Mooy had 14 goal involvements in 13 games.
The big question will be where he fits into the new manager’s plans after Ange Postecoglou departed for Spurs.
Cameron Devlin, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and Garang Kuol all played their part in helping Hearts to a fourth-place finish and a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League.
Kuol arrived in the January window to get his first taste of senior club football outside of Australia, but struggled to make his mark.
Devlin and Rowles, who moved to the club from the Central Coast Mariners last year, played 41 and 33 games respectively with the former scoring twice and notching seven assists.
Atkinson made 26 appearances in all competitions but was often injected into contests from the bench.
Mooy enjoyed a career resurgence at Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
One spot below Hearts on the Scottish Premiership ladder was their bitter Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, who boast an Aussie trio of their own in Martin Boyle, James Jeggo and Lewis Miller.
Boyle looked in strong form since he returned from Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly but had his season ended early thanks to a knee injury suffered on October 29.
Jeggo joined from Belgian side AS Eupen in January and started in each of his 17 appearances, while Miller featured in 16 games although 11 of those came off the bench.
At St Mirren, Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain enjoyed breakout seasons.
Right-back Strain was a constant presence in St. Mirren’s lineup and started 39 of 42 games.
His four-goal haul included some stunning free kicks while he bagged five assists.
As for Baccus, who arrived at the club from Western Sydney Wanderers, his tough-tackling performances earned him a spot in the Socceroos World Cup squad and was handed a starting berth against eventual world champions Argentina.
Sadly for Dundee United duo Mark Birighitti and Aziz Behich, they were relegated in what was a dismal season for the Tangerines.
Celtic pay touching tribute to Ange | 02:23
NETHERLANDS
Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan secured a much-needed move away from Real Sociedad and found himself at Danish giants FC Copenhagen.
Although he enjoyed a bright start in the capital, a lingering battle with fellow Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara bubbled away in the background.
Ryan made 11 appearances for Copenhagen and kept five clean sheets, including one in a scoreless draw against Sevilla in the Champions League.
But once Grabara returned from injury, Ryan lost his starting spot.
Not willing to be stuck behind his rival, who took an unnecessary swipe at the Aussie star in the wake of the Socceroos’ loss to Argentina, Ryan found himself a new team: AZ Alkmaar.
Ryan played 25 times and recorded eight clean sheets as AZ finished fourth in the Eredivisie and were one game away from a Europa Conference League final.
With a contract until June 2024, let’s hope Ryan has found himself somewhat of a permanent home after years of turbulence.
Mat Ryan looks to have finally found a home. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SPAIN/CZECH REPUBLIC
Well, there’s only one Aussie who fits this bill and that is winger Awer Mabil.
The 27-year-old moved to La Liga side Cadiz last summer but started just one game for the Spanish side as game time proved difficult to come by.
He moved to Czech heavyweights Sparta Prague in January and although he started once there too, he saw more time on the pitch as an impact sub.
Cadiz survived the wild final-day relegation shootout in La Liga to stay in the top flight for another season, but Mabil must get more game time if he is to play a continued role with the Socceroos.
FRANCE
After a horror run with injuries, midfielder Denis Genreau finally got to find some form with Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
Genreau saw limited minutes in the early stages of the season, but started in all but two of Toulouse’s final nine league games.
The 24-year-old also got to enjoy some silverware thanks to Toulouse’s stunning 5-1 thrashing of Nantes in the Coupe de France final.
Genreau’s regular starts in the back-end of the season should provide hope for increased game time going forward.
Also in France, 19-year-old forward Mohamed Toure made his Ligue 1 debut for Reims with three consecutive appearances off the bench in the latter stages of the season.
If Toure can kick on next season and gain some rare starts, he’ll no doubt have a strong claim for a Socceroos call-up.
Genreau (left) has returned to the Socceroos fold. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)Source: AFP
GERMANY
Alou Kuol can now say he has played in the Bundesliga, as the talented forward came off the bench for VfB Stuttgart against RB Leipzig on January 27.
Thanks to a 6-1 aggregate win over Hamburg in the relegation play-off to preserve their Bundesliga status, here’s hoping Kuol can make even more appearances in the German top flight next season.
In the 2. Bundesliga, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe couldn’t quite lift St. Pauli to promotion.
Irvine finished as St. Pauli’s second-top goalscorer with eight, while Metcalfe scored three times in his first season with the club having moved from Melbourne City.
ITALY
Ajdin Hrustic moved to Serie A side Hellas Verona on deadline day last summer but endured a tough start to life in Italy as he started just two league games before undergoing ankle surgery in January.
The attacking midfielder returned to the bench for Verona’s final three games but didn’t see any game time as his side now faces a relegation play-off against Spezia to stay in Serie A.
Should the worst-case scenario occur and Verona go down to Serie B, Hrustic could seek an exit just one year into his deal.
Hrustic’s time in Italy has been hampered by ankle surgery. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, one player who made waves in Italy’s second tier was Alessandro Circati.
The highly-rated teenager, who recently earned a Socceroos call-up, enjoyed a solid season for Parma as they came agonisingly short of promotion.
The 19-year-old may have started just ten games, but he also enjoyed the second-highest points-per-game rating in the squad with 2.00 whenever he played.
With legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon behind him, Circati will have learned plenty from one of the greats of the game and will look to continue his development with Parma.
One Socceroo who must be on the move to save his international future is right back Fran Karacic, who was relegated from Serie B to Serie C with Brescia.
BELGIUM
Jason Davidson made his return to European football with Belgian side AS Eupen after joining from Melbourne Victory.
The defender started 30 from 33 games as Eupen finished 15th from 18 teams.
AUSTRIA
Veteran midfielder James Holland moved to Austria Vienna last summer and proved to be an important player as the Austrian side ultimately finished fifth in the league.
Graham Arnold has named a youthful side for the Socceroos’ upcoming friendly against world champions Argentina in China, with several stars earning recalls and one teenager in line to make his debut.
The Socceroos’ clash against Argentina takes place on June 15 and Arnold’s squad demonstrates the national boss has one eye very much on the future of the team.
Sadly a raft of Australian stars will miss the clash due to injury while some of the nation’s most impressive youngsters are away with the Olyroos at the Maurice Revello Tournament in France.
But when one door closes, another opens and plenty of players will look to take their chance with both hands, even if a handful will not get to see any minutes against the recently-crowned World Cup champions.
Foxsports.com.au breaks down the Socceroos squad in Winners and Losers!
Australia has got another dual citizen over the line, with teenage defender Alessandro Circati opting to snub Italy and pledge his international allegiance to the Socceroos.
The 19-year-old, who plays for Parma in the Italian second division, was born in Fidenza but grew up in Perth and was in Perth Glory’s NPL set up before moving to Italy in March 2021.
Circati had also represented Italy at under-20 level and was an unused substitute for their under-21 side.
However, the teenage prodigy has since turned down the path of the Azzurri and will don the famous green and gold.
Arnold revealed the decision came after 12 months of communications between the pair as Circati mulled the decision.
Circati only made the decision two weeks ago in a phone call to the Socceroos boss and is already raring to go.
“Having Alessandro in camp will be fantastic,” Arnold said.
With only Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles as the established centre-backs in the team, although defensive midfielder Gianni Stensness is likely to deputise as another centre-back option, it could pave the way for Circati to see game time against the best in the world.
What’s Ange’s Tottenham to-do list? | 05:26
Denis Genreau
Silky midfielder Denis Genreau is back in the national team set-up after finally enjoying a successive run of games for Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse towards the back end of the season.
The 24-year-old had battled with injury issues and was unlucky to miss out on the Socceroos’ World Cup squad, but now has a chance to impress yet again.
Since April 9, Genreau has started seven games from Toulouse’s nine games and was on the bench for their resounding Coupe De France triumph over Nantes.
Arnold remarked Genreau has been “doing exceptionally well” and “thoroughly deserved his call-up.”
With several of the Socceroos’ midfield stalwarts like Jackson Irvine and Aaron Mooy missing, Genreau won’t get a better chance to impress Arnold and his coaching staff and show them what they were missing.
Denis Genreau has returned to form in France. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)Source: AFP
Thomas Glover
Thomas Glover has been rewarded for a standout season between the sticks for A-League powerhouse Melbourne City.
Such was the impressive form of the 25-year-old throughout the season, Glover has been heavily linked with a move overseas.
Arnold reserved special praise for the City gloveman and highlighted his stunning performance against the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Grand Final.
“Tommy Glover has had a very good season,” Arnold said.
“Watching him in the grand final the other night, if it wasn’t for Tommy Glover, it would have been 10-1 or 11-1.
“He’s had a very good season and he deserves his call-up.”
Glover’s inclusion alongside Joe Gauci further emphasises Arnold’s willingness to look towards the future between the sticks for the Socceroos.
Which leads us to our next name and on the other side of the squad selection …
Tommy Glover is seen as a potential heir to Mat Ryan’s throne. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)Source: AFP
LOSERS
Andrew Redmayne
Redmayne will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Australian football fans for his heroics against Peru.
It booked him a spot in the World Cup squad and also against Ecuador, although he didn’t see any game time.
However, Father Time is not on his side and, as Arnold pointed out, at some stage he must turn towards the future.
“There is question marks on certain players if they will make 2026 and Andrew Redmayne today is 35,” Arnold said.
“At the end of the day, there’s that side of it.
“We know what Redders can do in cups and tournaments and gives Tommy Glover and Joe Gauci this opportunity to come into camp.”
The era of the grey Wiggle could sadly be coming to a close before we know it.
Redmayne could be on the outer for the Socceroos going forward. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Massimo Luongo
After a nightmare first half of the season with Middlesbrough where he saw next to no game time at all, Massimo Luongo’s career was at a crossroads.
But a January move to League One side Ipswich Town revitalised the midfielder who went on to start in 13 of the 15 games he played in, scoring twice.
What’s most impressive was Ipswich’s form during this time: Luongo didn’t taste defeat once in League One when he got minutes as the Tractor Boys won 13 games en route to securing automatic promotion to the Championship.
Granted, Luongo is 30 years old and Arnold can make the argument he must give chances to the younger players coming through given he will be picking squads with an eye on the 2026 World Cup.
Yet not picking the 43-cap Socceroo seems harsh, especially given the form he has shown since returning to Ipswich Town.
Mass Luongo has missed out on a Socceroos recall. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
A-League Men’s players
It is an issue Arnold has previously harped on about and it has reared its ugly head again.
The Socceroos boss stated he was “really only able to pick from 2 (A-League) teams from 12” due to the vast majority of A-League players’ seasons already being wrapped up.
Players from the Mariners and Melbourne City are the freshest, although Arnold still decided to call up Western Sydney Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello, the only player from a non-top two team.
Yet Arnold warned this issue will prop again in the not-too-distant future and for those playing for teams lower down the table, it could spell danger.
“I know I keep banging on about it, but you’d hope the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) would start looking at this,” Arnold said.
“It’s not a one-off situation where the rest of the A-League players can’t be selected. This is going to happen in September as well because of a lack of games and not being match fit.
“In a lot of ways, because of that, it’s taking away opportunities for players to play for their country.
“You would really hope the APL starts looking at that because I could only pick from two teams.”
Arnold called for the APL to align the A-League season with leagues in Europe and Asia, but whether he gets his wish remains to be seen.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD VS ARGENTINA
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Joe Gauci, Thomas Glover
Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Jordan Bos, Alessandro Circati, Joel King, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Ryan Strain
It’s been an incredible weekend for Socceroos around the globe, with trophies raised, promotions secured, and goals galore.
However, there has been one sad injury update on an out-of-favour superstar, while another veteran copped an injury as well.
Here’s all the latest in our Roo Radar!
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MASSIMO LUONGO
The midfielder’s stratospheric rise in recent months at third-tier English side Ipswich Town has been one of the stories of the season.
And on Sunday, the fairytale had a perfect ending. Luongo played 75 minutes of a 6-0 win for Ipswich over Exeter City, a result that sees the Blues return to the Championship after a four-year absence.
Luongo scored a goal as he continued an unbelievable streak with the club. He has played 14 consecutive league games for Ipswich, and they’ve won 13 of those games with a draw in the other.
The team banked an incredible 43 goals scored and just two conceded during that streak, with Luongo striking twice himself.
In their three prior seasons in the third tier, the team finished 11th twice and ninth, making this year’s stunning rise to second place and automatic promotion even more impressive.
Having failed to play even a minute for Middlesbrough after an ill-fated move there at the start of the season, Luongo’s revival at Ipswich has suddenly put him back in the frame for a first Socceroos cap since 2019.
Making things even more special for Aussie fans, Luongo was joined by Connor Burgess, a 27-year-old Australian centre half who has played the full game in each of their incredible recent run of matches.
Burgess has played 37 games in all competitions this season despite suffering a facial fracture back in September.
TOM ROGIC
Another out-of-favour former Socceroos mainstay, Tom Rogic, is having a much harder time of it.
He played 32 of Celtic’s 38 league matches last season under Ange Postecoglou before a surprise departure that left him club-less until mid-September, when he signed at English second-division club West Bromwich Albion on a one-season deal.
But after promising flashes of brilliance in the first few weeks at the club, the playmaker has barely made an appearance in recent months.
He hasn’t started a match since January, was left out of the squad entirely for a seven-game stretch the following month, and has been given limited minutes off the bench since then.
In his last seven substitute appearances, only two have seen him play more than 20 minutes.
Now manager Carlos Corberan has revealed nerve pain in the player’s back has been a long-term problem robbing the Australian of more opportunities to make his mark.
Tom Rogic was a bright spark in his early games for West Bromwich Albion.Source: Getty Images
Corberan said: “It’s the fact that he’s had an injury. It has stopped him from being more of an alternative because there is no doubt that he was having more minutes before Christmas. It’s true that since then, the number of his minutes have reduced, but it’s more related to how physically he feels.
“He still doesn’t feel 100 per cent. He can train with the group, but he still has some pain in the back, in the nerve which connects the back and the hamstring. It isn’t something we consider to be a problem, but the pain doesn’t allow him to be at 100 per cent condition.
“At the end, if you’re not 100 per cent, you cannot train with the same intensity that you need to get, to play more minutes. That’s why I consider him a player who can still help us with minutes, still he is a player with a lot of quality and skill, but he’s a player who needs to manage because he’s not in a normal condition.”
The club has the option to extend Rogic’s contract by another season – and with the side currently fighting for Premier League promotion, that could even see the 30-year-old back in England’s top flight!
Given his current form and fitness issues, the club seems unlikely to pick up that contract option.
The international future is clouded for the player who missed the World Cup last year and hasn’t represented the Socceroos since February 2022.
AARON MOOY
Aaron Mooy continues to enjoy a dream campaign under Postecoglou at Celtic, with a trophy treble now well within reach.
Having already won the League Cup in February (Mooy started all four of Celtic’s games in that competition, including against Rangers in the final), the Hoops now sit a whopping 13 points clear of bitter rivals Rangers in the league with five games to play.
They could clinch the league – a second straight under Postecoglou – as early as this weekend.
Mooy came off the bench in that 1-0 win, the Australian’s 41st appearance of the season. He has racked up seven goals and 10 assists in that time, making it one of the 32-year-old’s finest years in his storied career.
Celtic face second-division Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the final of the Cup, which will be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Saturday, June 3 (local time).
That’s one week after the league concludes, meaning Postecoglou and Mooy could already have lifted two domestic trophies by then.
AWER MABIL
Awer Mabil came off the bench at half time before delivering a game-changing performance for AC Sparta Prague in Czechia.
The on-loan winger netted twice from the penalty spot in stoppage time – first the equaliser, then the go-ahead goal – to turn a draw into three points in a 3-1 win over Liberec.
Asked after the match if he had any nerves when he sent both penalties into the same spot, 27-year-old Mabil said: “No, no, we’ve been working so hard that when these moments come, I just know where to put it.
“And they went in today and the most important is the three points.
“We’re just fighting for that championship.”
His side face Slavia Praha in the cup final on Thursday morning (AEST) and currently sit two points above them in the league with five ‘championship round’ matches to go (against the other top-six teams).
AROUND THE GROUNDS
There’s been some fantastic performances from Australians elsewhere this weekend.
In Germany, FC St Pauli captain Jackson Irvine racked up another 90-minute performance to guide his team back into the winner’s circle 2-1 over Arminia. Fellow Aussie Connor Metcalfe came off the bench in the 66th minute. St Pauli is fifth in the second-tier with just four matches to go. The top two teams are automatically promoted, while the third-placed team plays off against the third-bottom team from the top flight to decide which team gets to play in the Bundesliga the following season.
St Pauli sit six points off the third-placed team.
Striker Nick D’Agostino had a goal and an assist for Norwegian club Viking FK in a bonkers 7-3 win over HamKam. He wasn’t the only Aussie to start and play a key role – Olyroos gun Patrick Yazbek picked up an assist in his 76 minutes on the park, while Gianni Stensness played the full 90 minutes.
Viking is third in the league after four rounds.
In France, Denis Genreau’s Toulouse beat Nantes 5-1 in the final of the Coupe de France to seal their first-every trophy and qualification to the Europa League. Genreau was an unused substitute but has featured 16 times in the league – France’s top division – this year.
In Korea’s second division, veteran forward Mitch Duke is back from injury and back making an impact, nabbing an assist in his 74 minutes for Machida Zelvia in a 2-1 win over Roasso Kumamoto.
There was more good news for young gun Alexander Robertson in Manchester City’s U21 team. Robertson started and got 45 minutes for the City U21s – picking up an assist to boot – in a 4-3 win over Wolves U21 on the weekend. It comes after City won the Premier League 2 Division 1 title last week.
But there was a worrying incident for one Socceroos defender, Milos Degenek, who was substituted just 13 minutes into Columbus Crew’s 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami in the MLS.
The centre-back – just days after his 29th birthday – appeared to suffer a leg injury.
LIVE: The Socceroos are hosting Ecuador in Melbourne in the second of a two-game friendly series, with an early goal putting Australia ahead 1-0 in the opening 20 minutes of a physical and chaotic encounter.
Graham Arnold made seven changes from Friday’s 3-1 win over the same opponent in Sydney, handing out yet another debut – this time to Adelaide gloveman Joe Gauci, who made a handful of exceptional saves in the opening minutes.
Australia’s high-pressing defence and rapid counter-attacking, which led to the second goal on Friday, was even more influential this time around, leading to Brandon Borrello scoring his first-ever Socceroos goal by buring the rebound after Riley McGree struck the post.
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In the opening five minutes, Australia countered quickly from a high press as Riley McGree and Connor Metcalfe scythed through the defence before earning a corner, but McGree’s follow-up shot sailed over.
Hardly a minute later, Ecuador’s Kevin Rodgiruez burst into the box from a tight angle and lashed a shot towards the bottom corner, with Australia’s debutant goalkeeper Joe Gauci showing supreme reflexes to tip it past the post.
Andy Harper said on Channel 10: “That’s as good as scoring with your first touch!”
The end-to-end action continued with Australia carving another opportunity five minutes later when Brandon Borrello whipped a cross into the area for a late-arriving Jackson Irvine, but his head was well over the bar.
Then in the 16th minute, Jackson Irvine broke down the left and fed it to Craig Goodwin who was given far too much space as he ran towards the box down the middle. His strike from outside the box that slammed into the post. It rebounded to Brandon Borrello, the striker calmly tapping the ball into the net for his first-ever international goal.
Connor Metcalfe could well have made it two-nil just three minutes later when Goodwin floated a brilliant cross to the back post, but his half-volley screwed horribly wrong.
Then Rodriguez showed remarkable power to bundle Deng off the ball to get on the end of a through ball in the 22nd minute, only for Gauci to make another brilliant save. Gauci held firm as a header from the following corner was directed straight at his chest – his fourth save in the opening 23 minutes.
In the 26th minute, young midfielder Cameron Devlin charged in to make a sliding challenge on Estupinan, only for the knee of the Ecuadorian to slam into the Australian’s head. Blood immediately began pouring from the Aussie, with the referee calling for medical assistance – and Ecuador’s own doctors racing to assist him, such was the concern. Fortunately, he was able to continue after some rapid strapping – and a change of shirts.
Bailey Wright then suffered a head knock in another scary moment five minutes later, colliding with the shoulder of an opponent while leaping for the ball. He looked dazed as he hit the ground, but the referee would not even let Australia’s medical staff enter the field of play to assess him – something Andy Harper in commentary called a ‘gross failure’.
Gauci was brilliant in the opening minutes.Source: Channel 10
Arnold handed out two debuts in the opening friendly, the Socceroos’ first game of 2023 and the first step towards next year’s Asian Cup and then the 2026 World Cup.
That saw Aiden O’Neill of Melbourne City start, and fellow midfielder Alexander Robertson of Manchester City come off the bench in an inspired cameo.
For the Melbourne rematch, Joe Gauci will start at goalkeeper for his international debut. The 22-year-old Adelaide United star is viewed as a long-term successor to Socceroos gloveman Mat Ryan, who had a ‘small groin injury’. Arnold told Channel 10: “The goalkeeping department is one that’s open … Joe Gauci’s been excellent at Adelaide.”
Two more debuts are possible off the bench: fullback Jordy Bos, and forward Nestory Irankunda, who at 17 could become the youngest-ever Socceroos player.
Arnold would not give anything away when it came to Irankunda’s potential debut, saying only ‘we’ll see’.
Centre-back Harry Souttar has been sent back to Premier League side Leicester City after picking up an ankle injury in Friday’s win. Veteran Bailey Wright will replace him in the defensive line, while Thomas Deng replaces the other centre-back in Kye Rowles.
Milos Degenek and Aziz Behich maintain their places at fullback.
In midfield, Riley McGree and Cameron Devlin enter the fray in place of O’Neill and Keanu Baccus. Jackson Irvine maintains his spot and takes the captain’s armband for the first time in his career, and in his hometown to boot.
Craig Goodwin keeps his spot on one wing, but Connor Metcalfe (maiden start) and Brandon Borrello replace Awer Mabil and Mitch Duke in the other attacking positions.
All up, that’s seven changes as Arnold again balances youth with experience.
Marvellous Mabil scores Socceroos second | 00:47
Besides Gauci on debut, it’s Borrello sixth cap, while others are also in single figures: Deng (3rd), Devlin (2), Metcalfe (7).
Arnold’s message to the younger players was simple, as he shared on Channel 10: “Show us everything you’ve got. Show us those qualities. That’s why we picked you.”
But there is still plenty of experience – especially in the defensive line where Behich is making his 59th cap alongside Degenek (44th) and Wright (29th). Irvine (55th) also stabilises the midfield.
Arnold said: “I’m looking for the senior players, the ones who have come in today… to really step up and help these kids through. The senior boys are really important to the younger boys”.
Ecuador made five changes, including an all-new front three. But Brighton superstar Moises Caicedo starts again, as does Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen – one of the most gifted young defenders in world football. Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan takes the captain’s armband at left-back.
The Socceroos will also wear black armbands for tonight’s fixture after the death of all-time Australian football great Manfred Schaefer aged 80. Schaefer represented Australia on 73 occasions including 49 A-Internationals, starting every game of the 1974 World Cup campaign.
There were two debuts and youngsters aplenty, but the standout player in the Socceroos’ first game since the 2022 World Cup was a veteran midfielder in Jackson Irvine, who had a goal and set up another in Australia’s 3-1 win over Ecuador on Friday night.
Here’s how every Australian performed in our Player Ratings!
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Kuol caps epic Socceroos showing! | 00:36
DEFENCE
Mat Ryan: 8
There’s not much he could do about Ecuador’s goal, but he made a string of brilliant saves in the remainder of the match. Ryan showed a couple of signs of rust when he launched a pass straight out of play in the opening minutes, but after that was as faultless as we’ve come to expect from the skipper. There were reaction saves, confident punches to clear high balls, and constant communication with his defenders. He even ran the entire length of the field to celebrate with Garang Kuol after the youngster’s maiden international goal.
Milos Degenek: 6
He might not be the most polished fullback, but the hardworking defender is always willing to do a job for Graham Arnold. Just like in the World Cup, he was happy to pitch in at right back rather than his preferred centre-back role. He was his typical no-nonsense, hard-tackling self, though he was caught out a couple of times positionally and was outjumped as Ecuador scored from a header.
While it wasn’t all smooth sailing, right back might just be his best chance to play for Australia moving forward, with Rowles and Souttar the long-term future at the heart of defence.
Kye Rowles: 7.5
No player blocked more shots at the World Cup than Rowles, and once again on Friday night he just always seemed to be in the way whenever Ecuador arrived in a threatening position. He was calm and composed even when scrambling to cover Ecuador’s dangerous offence, and his partnership with Souttar continues to grow by the game.
Harry Souttar: 8.5
It might not always be pretty, but it’s joyous to watch the towering giant throw himself around in the centre of defence. His long limbs splayed in all directions, Souttar denied chance after chance by poking away balls out of the feet of attackers often half his size. He picked up the most intercepts of any player, hardly ever gave away a foul despite the technical wizardry of the South American attackers, and he was unsurprisingly dominant in the air. His ability to play long balls out to the wingers also opened up the Ecuador defence. Imperious.
Aziz Behich: 6.5
Was horribly beaten by Angelo Preciado and gave away a foul – and copped a yellow card – which subsequently led to Ecuador’s first-half equaliser. Was far more solid from there on, and bombed down the flank the entire 90 minutes to support the attack. He could have scored a goal in the final minutes after a brilliant run was rewarded by a through ball from Borrello, but instead he chose to selflessly pass to Kuol to hand the youngster a maiden international goal.
Harry Souttar was solid at the back.Source: AFP
MIDFIELDERS
Keanu Baccus: 6.5
It was a solid, workmanlike performance from the Scotland-based Baccus, who is no stranger to a hard-fought midfield arm-wrestle. He picked up a number of key interceptions to stymie the Ecuador attack and quickly ignited counter-attacks through his intelligent movement and crisp passing. He shadowed the dangerous Moises Caicedo and left him hopelessly frustrated at times.
Besides a couple of moments of exuberance or risk in Australia’s own half, it was a pleasing performance. Taken off at the hour mark.
Jackson Irvine: 9
With Aaron Mooy and Ajdin Hrustic absent through injury, Irvine was the leader and elder statesman of the Australian midfield – and he was the clear standout of the night. Moved into a more attacking position at the head of a midfield three, his pressing and workrate off the ball was exceptional, leading to Mabil’s goal.
He had already scored one of his own to get things off and running, his ninth in the green and gold. We shouldn’t be surprised by Irvine’s stellar performance, given his run of goals and brilliant showings for his German club. But it was truly an all-round strong performance from the 30-year-old. His leadership and his attacking link-up play was arguably the best we’ve ever seen from him.
Jackson Irvine was mobbed after opening the scoring.Source: Getty Images
Aiden O’Neill: 5.5
The 24-year-old debutant was strong in the air, winning a host of contested challenges, and was equally tough on the ground – though he was lucky not to give away a needless foul on more than one occasion. There were a couple of hints of nerves in the opening minutes, but he settled from there (as did the whole team). He kept things simple with his passing but can’t be faulted for that, especially on his debut. Has a tough fight ahead to force himself into a regular midfield starting role when the big guns are fit, but can be pleased with his first game in the green and gold.
FORWARDS
Craig Goodwin: 5.5
He first won the free kick, then delivered a perfectly-placed ball in, to set up the opener. Always a danger from the dead ball, he created more chances throughout the night with his delivery. Was a little quiet at times and gave the ball away a handful of times with some sloppy passes, but nevertheless a solid effort in his 77 minutes.
Mitchell Duke: 6.5
It was vintage Duke: full of running, hard tackles, and selfless in attack. He can add an assist to his scrapbook – though he was probably off-side – but he certainly deserved some rewards for another strong performance. Taken off just after the 60th minute.
Awer Mabil: 7
Some of his passing and crosses were wayward, but there’s no arguing with the unbelievable strike he rocketed into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. It was his ninth goal for the Socceroos in 32 appearances, a more than handy contribution for a winger! Ran his guts out for 78 minutes.
Mabil celebrates his goal.Source: Getty Images
SUBSTITUTES
Brandon Borrello (28 mins): 7.5
In his first appearance since June 2021, Borrello showed just how much he continues to develop through the years. He brought incredible intensity in the final stages of the match, and his link-up play and aggression going forward swung momentum in the Socceroos favour at the death. Deserves more minutes in Melbourne on the back of this effort and his sublime A-League form.
Alex Robertson (28 mins): 7.5
It wasn’t even half an hour, but Robertson showed flashes of why he’s so highly rated by many legends of the game. His touch and passes was superb even in tight spaces, and he contrived to put himself into dangerous holes in the defence time and again. He put Behich through to set up the final goal. His defensive work was equally impressive, with some crisp, no-holds-barred tackling and impressive reading of the play to make interceptions. He even nearly sparked a fight in the closing stages, forcing big Harry Souttar to pull him away.
Harry Souttar and Alexander Robertson of Australia clash with Moises Ramirez of Ecuador.Source: Getty Images
Marco Tilio (13 mins): 5.5
He didn’t steal the headlines like the other substitutes, but it was a strong effort from the dependable youngster.
Garang Kuol (13 mins): 8
At just 18 years old he’s Australia’s fourth-youngest goalscorer … but he nearly managed to stuff it up from a metre out! First, there was a hint of off-side, and second, he almost contrived to deflect the ball AWAY from goal. Nonetheless, Kuol is off the mark, and sparked fantastic celebration from teammates and the fans. Let’s hope it’s the first of many goals in the green and gold. Came on with fierce determination to change the game, and did his job to perfection. He might be struggling in club-land, but this was the perfect tonic.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 24: Mitchell Duke of Australia celebrates at full time during the International Friendly match between the Australia Socceroos and Ecuador at CommBank Stadium at CommBank Stadium on March 24, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
