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Tag: Maty Ryan

  • Socceroos’ future is bright amid historic Aussie takeover of world’s top five leagues: Roo Radar

    Socceroos’ future is bright amid historic Aussie takeover of world’s top five leagues: Roo Radar

    The Premier League campaign is over for another year – and while Ange Postecoglou and Mile Jedinak were flying the Australian flag as coaches for Tottenham Hotspur, there were no Aussie men on the field.

    It’s a different story, of course, in the women’s top flight in England – the Women’s Super League – with 14 Australians playing there this campaign.

    But back to the men. In Europe’s top five leagues (England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France), just one Socceroo, Denis Genreau, appeared this season for France’s top-flight Toulouse.

    Cristian Volpato, the Sydney-born starlet who has not yet decided whether to represent Australia or Italy at the senior international level, also featured in Italy’s top tier with Sassuolo.

    It’s a sad decline from the days of Aussies like Aaron Mooy and Maty Ryan regularly featuring in the Premier League. But the good news is that next season things could be different.

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    A flurry of Socceroos have earned promotion to the big five leagues, leading Socceroos coach Graham Arnold to say yesterday: “For the national team in the future, it should be great for us.”

    And there’s a host of up-and-coming youngsters at top-flight teams who will be hoping to crack the senior sides.

    Remarkably, when the new season begins we could see as many as 20 Aussies on the books at clubs in the five biggest leagues in world football.

    MORE COVERAGE

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    Aussie young gun snubs Socceroos … for rival nation’s under-20s

    Genreau in action against Roma in a friendly last year.Source: AFP

    PREMIER LEAGUE

    Three Australians secured promotion from the Championship this season: Cameron Burgess and Massimo Luongo with Ipswich Town, and Harry Souttar with Leicester City – the latter team winning the second tier.

    Burgess, 28, was an ever-present for the Tractor Boys this season, playing 40 games and becoming a brick wall in defence for a team that lost just six of 46 league matches. He burst into the Socceroos squad only in September 2023, but has already become arguably the nation’s first-choice centre-back. His three-year contract at Ipswich is now up, but the club has an option to extend that for one more year. At a minimum, that looks like a certainty at this point – but a new long-term deal is also well and truly on the cards after a stellar season.

    Cameron Burgess (C) celebrates a goal in what has been a spectacular promotion season.Source: Getty Images

    Luongo, now 31, played 43 of the team’s 46 league games, starting the vast majority of those in the midfield. After earning a recall to the Socceroos last October and November after a four-year-exile, he retired from international football in December last year ahead of January’s Asian Cup. After 45 caps and six goals for the green and gold over a long career, Luongo wanted to focus on ensuring Ipswich earned promotion to the Premier League – and fair enough too.

    It’s been a remarkable career renaissance for the Aussie, who looked to be sliding away from the top echelons of global football just 18 months ago. He joined Ipswich in January 2023 on a six-month deal, then helped them get promoted to the Championship. That earned him another one-year deal, and by this January, he signed yet another contract with Ipswich. That runs for next season with the option to extend another year.

    Signing three contracts with the club in just over 12 months shows how impressive his form revival has been, and he’s earned the ultimate prize of finally playing in the top flight – 12 years after he came so close to debuting in the Premier League when he was twice an unused substitute for Tottenham.

    The big question now is whether Luongo will reverse his international retirement and rejoin the Socceroos on the road to the 2026 World Cup. It’s unlikely. But based on form he would undoubtedly be welcomed back into the green and gold fold by coach Graham Arnold.

    Luongo has been stellar this season.Source: Getty Images

    The situation with Harry Souttar is far less rosy. The towering centre-back has been in virtual exile at Leicester this season as they topped the Championship, playing just three league games all season (one start).

    Not that it has had an impact on his Socceroos’ minutes – he’s played every minute of the eight games since September and has been picked for Australia’s matches against Bangladesh and Palestine next week.

    It’s the perfect opportunity for Souttar to put himself in the shop window.

    Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said: “Harry is obviously one that I will sit down with when he gets here and see what’s happening because it’s important.

    “Not just for us, but also for Harry Souttar that he sorts out his club career and gets back playing because it’s gone on a bit too long now.”

    Souttar’s contract at the Foxes doesn’t expire until mid-2028, but he’ll be desperate to seal a transfer that can offer him regular minutes, barring the unlikely scenario that Leicester sell either of their starting centre-backs Jannik Vestegaard or Wout Faes.

    Will he move to a Premier League rival?

    He’s just 25 years old and still has his best years ahead of him, but after a year on the sidelines it’s unlikely that a top-flight club will immediately make him a starting centre-half, meaning he could well end up on the bench. It’s a high-risk, high-reward transfer window ahead.

    A move to Scotland to join brother John at Rangers was mooted in January but didn’t eventuate – but in order to get immediate playing time, heading to Scotland or back to the Championship seems a safer bet.

    Despite his lack of club minutes, Souttar continues to impress for the Socceroos.Source: Getty Images

    While those three Socceroos stars headline the list of Australians likely to play in the Premier League next season, there’s a host of up-and-comers on the books of big clubs.

    The most likely to earn his chance this season is Joe Gauci at Aston Villa. 23-year-old Gauci signed for the Premier League’s fourth-place finishers in February from Adelaide United on a deal initially worth nearly $2.5m.

    He’s behind the 2022 World Cup winning goalkeeper, Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, who also won the Golden Glove at that tournament as well as the being named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2022 and winning the Yashin Trophy in 2023.

    But finishing fourth in the Premier League means Villa will now play in the Champions League as well as two domestic cups (the FA Cup and League Cup).

    Their hectic schedule means Gauci will fight 34-year-old Robin Olsen for back-up duties – and with injuries always a possibility, the rising Australian talent could even get a chance in the Premier League. Olsen, for example, played five league games this season.

    And Gauci has the chance to put his name up in lights in a fortnight when Socceroos captain Maty Ryan is rested for the matches against Bangladesh and Palestine – meaning Gauci is all-but-certain to start both fixtures.

    Joe Gauci will be hoping for minutes at Aston Villa this season.Source: Getty Images

    21-year-old Cameron Peupion is another player on the fringes of a Premier League side. He’s at Brighton and Hove Albion, and he’s already played once in the league – back in May 2023.

    This season, he went on loan to League One side Cheltenham Town but struggled for minutes and was recalled in January, where he started for Brighton in both the League Cup and FA Cup. He was also on the bench (but unused) for six Premier League matches. Another loan move is possible, but with a new coach incoming, he’ll have the chance to impress in pre-season and push his case to stay with the first team.

    Cameron Peupion (R) of Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup against Wolves.Source: Getty Images

    Brighton also have a talented 19-year-old Australian goalkeeper in Steven Hall on their books, who joined from Adelaide United in January and has so far played two games in the Premier League 2 (underage/reserves competition). He’s on a deal until 2027 – so there’s plenty of time for him to rise up the ranks.

    Another youngster to watch out for is Fulham’s Tyrese Francois. The 23-year-old has represented them twice in the league before, coming off the bench in the last game of the 2020-21 season and again in the second game of the 22/23 season.

    This year, he made their PL bench five times in the first half of the season and picked up substitute appearances in the FA and League Cups before being sent on loan in January to Vejle BK in Denmark’s top tier.

    He’s made 15 appearances there including starting their last 12 games. Now he’ll head back to Fulham, who finished 13th in the league this season. The young Aussie will be hoping to carry his strong form back from Denmark and into next season’s Premier League … and maybe even make that long-awaited first start.

    It was all going so well for young box-to-box midfielder Alex Robertson this season. Sent on loan to Portsmouth from Premier League champions Manchester City, he became one of the first names on the team sheet at and drew huge praise as he guided them to the top of the table by the New Year. There were rumours that clubs like Everton were interested in a permanent transfer.

    Then he tore a thigh muscle and his season was over – though his loan club went on to win League One and be promoted to the Championship for next season.

    The 21-year-old already has two caps for the Socceroos and is viewed as an immense talent, but breaking into City’s stacked squad is a tall order. His serious injury was a major setback, but a transfer isn’t out of the question, nor is another loan move.

    Robertson impressed for the Socceroos in 2023 before an injury setback.Source: AFP

    Speaking of loan moves, that’s the expectation when it comes to Garang Kuol for the upcoming season. The teen talent has had a torrid time of things since signing for Newcastle from the Central Coast Mariners.

    This season, he was sent on loan to Dutch side Volendam – renowned for playing youngsters. But then they sacked their chief and their coach in December, and Kuol has played just 32 minutes in 2024. Ouch.

    He debuted for Newcastle last Wednesday in a friendly against Tottenham at the MCG, coming on to rousing reception from the Aussie fans before scoring a penalty in the shootout. He then earned his first start against the A-League All Stars, but failed to impress.

    Manager Eddie Howe said after the first game that the young forward will be sent on loan again next year.

    “It’s always very difficult to say for certain what’s gonna happen with a player at this stage because there’s a long way to go before the season starts,” Howe said.

    “But possibly another loan spell for him I think will be important.

    “He’s had a couple of loan spells now but I think he needs the next one to be a successful one.

    “I think he needs the next one to be successful and we need him to play more game time and hopefully that’ll happen.”

    Simply put, he needs minutes – and plenty of them – to continue his development and get him in the frame for Premier League action. That’s a fair way away at this point, but a strong pre-season could deliver a surprise.

    Garang Kuol of Newcastle United FC in action during the exhibition match against the A-League All Stars.Source: Getty Images

    GERMANY

    The German Bundesliga is also certain to see Australians in action next season. Socceroos midfield veteran Jackson Irvine captained FC St Pauli to the top of the second tier and promotion to the top flight in recent weeks. He plays alongside Connor Metcalfe, who has become one of the first names on the team sheets for the Socceroos in the last 18 months. 31-year-old Irvine had six goals and nine assists in 27 league games this season – an impressive output from a midfielder, while 24-year-old Metcalfe had three goals and five assists in 30 appearances, mostly on the wings. The pair have been crucial to both their team and Australia’s hopes, so expect plenty of minutes for the dynamic duo next season.

    Irvine and his teammates were mobbed by pitch invaders after winning Bundesliga 2.Source: Getty Images

    Nestory Irankunda, viewed as one of the most gifted Australian youngsters in decades, sealed a record-breaking transfer to European giants Bayern Munich in November last season – where he’ll head after he impressed for the A-League All Stars last week against Newcastle. The 18-year-old attacker finished his time at Adelaide United with eight goals and six assists in 25 appearances this season, taking his overall tally in the A-League to 16 goals and eight assists in 60 games. Still a raw talent who has struggled at times with his emotions and the immense weight of expectation on his shoulders, Irankunda has just been called up to the Socceroos and is expected to debut against Bangladesh or Palestine.

    He is likely to start out in Bayern’s reserve team or go out on loan. But Bayern will have a new coach next season – relegated Premier League side Burnley’s Vincent Kompany – and there’s precedent for an A-League star to break into the first team surprisingly quickly.

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    That was the case with New Zealand’s Sarpreet Singh, who signed from Wellington Phoenix in July 2019. He played a couple of matches with the senior team in pre-season friendlies, then was sent to the reserve team (which plays in Germany’s third tier). After impressing there, he debuted in the Bundesliga in December 2019 – less than six months after signing for the club. So the opportunity for a rapid rise to the first team is there for Irankunda … if he can take it.

    Irankunda was excellent against Newcastle, with an assist and a key role in another goal in the 8-0 win.Source: Getty Images

    But Irankunda won’t be the only Aussie at Bayern Munich next season. Goalkeeper Anthony Pavlesic is only 18 and has a long way to go to reach the elite, but a two-and-a-half week trial earned him a transfer to Bayern last June. He’s been playing for their under-19 team – coincidentally 19 times this season. And he also made an appearance for the reserve team in October. The teen gloveman is an immense talent, but barring a host of injuries he’s unlikely to break into the senior side for another season or more.

    One Aussie most fans may not have heard of yet is Rawley St John, a Sydney FC academy product who earned a massive move to VfB Stuttgart last July. Stuttgart this season finished a stunning second in the Bundesliga, ahead of Bayern Munich but behind a rampaging Bayer Leverkusen. St John has been playing for the under-19 team, but the gifted midfielder just turned 19 this week and will be hoping to rise up the ranks this season, the final one on his contract at the German club.

    Versatile wide man Jacob Italiano is also at a top flight club, playing with Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 22-year-old joined there from Perth in 2019 and has since gone on to play 104 games for their reserves team, but is out of contract. A move could be on the cards.

    Jacob Italiano playing for the Olyroos at the U23 Asian Cup in April.Source: Getty Images

    FRANCE

    As previously mentioned, Denis Genreau was the only Socceroo to feature in a top-five league this season. He played plenty of minutes last year to help Toulouse get promoted to France’s Ligue 1, and started this season strongly before injuries effectively ruined his season – seeing him not play in the league from November until the final game of the season last week. Having turned 25 this week, the five-cap Socceroo still has a year to go on his contract and will be hoping that a full pre-season gets him back into regular first-team action.

    This year, Australian fans will be hoping for more Socceroos to join him in playing in Ligue 1.

    Mohamed Toure, who plays for Reims, spent the season on loan at second tier Paris FC in an attempt to get match minutes. He scored in just his second game for his loan club, but like Genreau was then cut down by injury. He finished the season with just 175 minutes across 11 matches, and that solitary goal. He played three Ligue 1 games for Reims in his first year at France, but another loan move for the young striker who just turned 20 seems probable.

    He has made just one appearance for the Socceroos so far, last October, but hopes are high that he can rediscover his scoring form and be a long-term number nine in the green and gold.

    His older brother Al Hassan also plays in Ligue 2, while younger brother Musa has been linked to a transfer to Ligue 1 by FTBL in recent weeks – though at 18 is also likely to spend time in the reserves or on loan before breaking into the first team.

    Toure showed flashes of his potential with the Olyroos at the U-23 Asian Cup.Source: Getty Images

    ITALY

    Rising Socceroos centre-back Alessandro Circati, just 20, played a key role in earning Parma promotion to Serie A this season.

    The Italian-born star, who has one Socceroos cap but is included in the upcoming squad, joined Parma in 2021 on a long-term contract until 2027. But he quickly earned a spot in the senior side and has already played 55 games for the team, including 32 this season as they returned to the top tier for the first time since being from Serie A in 2020/21. He’s expected to remain a key figure in the first team when the new season commences – though there were rumours of a Premier League transfer in January.

    “We played him against New Zealand and his maturity for a young boy was outstanding. We gave him that debut cap next to Harry Souttar and he’s got quality,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said yesterday.

    “He’s done very well for us but it’s the club form and the club qualities that are the great things about the future of the Socceroos. With him getting promoted into Serie A, he’s going to play against some of the best strikers in the world and we’re going to benefit from that in the long run.”

    He added: “We have Alessandro playing in Serie A next season which is incredible for the nation. And that was one of the most important things. We get rewarded with those types of things as a nation when the players are doing well at their clubs and playing at the highest level.”

    Alessandro Circati before making his Socceroos debut last October.Source: Getty Images

    Another Italian Australian in Serie A is Cristian Volpato, who debuted for heavyweights Roma back in December 2021 under legendary manager Jose Mourinho. Mentored by all-time great Francesco Totti, the so-called ‘King of Rome’, Sydney-born Volpato has been the subject of a long and dramatic tug of war between Italy and Australia over his international allegiances, which included Volpato turning down representing Australia at the 2022 World Cup. This international window, he is representing Italy’s Under-20s instead of the Socceroos.

    “I’ve been in touch with a Christian and his mother, and the kid has chosen to play for Italy in this camp in under 20s in a tournament,” Arnold said on Wednesday.

    “I’m always in contact and I’m encouraging him to play for Australia, but at the same time the kid has to want to, and his mum and his dad have to want that as well.”

    Socceroos fans are still hoping the 20-year-old attacking midfielder opts for the green and gold.

    He left Roma, where he played 14 games for the senior side, to join Serie A rivals Sassuolo in June last year for €7.5 million. He played 25 games in all competitions this season, largely off the bench, with one goal and one assist.

    Having come through at Roma under legendary coach Jose Mourinho before moving to Sassuolo, hopes are high that Volpato will play for Australia.Source: Getty Images

    Sassuolo finished second-last and will be relegated to Serie B next season – meaning Volpato will need a transfer if he wants to continue playing in the top flight.

    It’s likely that Volpato will be allowed to leave, given he fell out favour in the latter stages of the season when the club replaced their coach in a bid to avoid relegation, although he did start their final game of the season.

    He has been linked to clubs in Serie A, as well as Spain’s top division, La Liga – which would also make him Australia’s only player in that competition.

    Another young gun is 19-year-old Sebastian Esposito, who made a stunning move from Melbourne City to Serie A side Lecce in December despite never playing for City’s senior side. But the physically strong and aerially talented centre-back has plenty of potential – and he’s been on the bench for the senior team five times this season while playing 19 games for the under 19-team – including 18 straight where he played the full match. He was a standout for Australia’s under-20s team in a pair of matches last year, and looks one for the future.

    AUSTRALIANS CURRENTLY AT TOP-FLIGHT CLUBS

    Premier League: Cameron Burgess, Massimo Luongo, Harry Souttar, Cameron Peupion, Joe Gauci, Steven Hall, Tyrese Francois, Alex Robertson, Garang Kuol

    Bundesliga: Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda, Anthony Pavlesic, Rawley St John, Jacob Italiano

    Ligue 1: Denis Genreau, Mohamed Toure

    Serie A: Alessandro Circati, Cristian Volpato, Sebastian Esposito.

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  • Veteran’s perfect 10 in stunning night; Young guns prove ‘the future is bright’: Player Ratings

    Veteran’s perfect 10 in stunning night; Young guns prove ‘the future is bright’: Player Ratings

    Five goals, two debuts, and two players scoring their maiden goals for the Socceroos. The 5-0 win over Lebanon on Tuesday that booked Australia’s place in the next round of qualifying was enjoyable for many reasons – and not just because veteran Craig Goodwin delivered an individual performance for the ages.

    Coach Graham Arnold was particularly pleased with the performance of a number of rookies, who saw out the game in style.

    As the coach told Network 10: “I was very happy & proud of the young ones. They took ownership when they went on the park, and the future is bright.”

    Here’s how every player performed in the big win.

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    DEFENCE

    Maty Ryan: 8

    The captain and gloveman wasn’t often troubled in goals, so much so that he delivered a bizarre first-half moment when he took a throw-in! He snaffled a dangerous cross and never looked like dropping the ball in the couple of saves he made. He was, however, beaten by one thunderous long-range shot that rattled the crossbar. Nevertheless, it’s now four clean sheets from four World Cup qualifiers.

    Kye Rowles: 7

    Playing for the second game in succession at left-back instead of his usual centre-back position, Rowles didn’t manage to back up his maiden international goal from Thursday – but it was still a very, very solid performance. Capped things off by setting up a goal with a beautiful raking ball down the left sideline.

    Cameron Burgess: 7

    It was another calm and composed performance at the back from Burgess, who was excellent in defence and equally confident passing the ball forward to the midfielders and strikers even in narrow channels.

    Harry Souttar: 7.5

    Back in Canberra for the first time since his Socceroos debut five years ago, a 5-0 win over Nepal where he scored twice, Souttar came inches away from adding another goal to his tally when he headed the ball into the post late in the first half. For a man of such great heading ability, it was a disappointing miss – but that’s the only sour note on another fine performance. Untroubled at the back, dominant in the air, it was a typical no-fuss effort from the centre-back stalwart.

    CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Harry Souttar of Australia attempts a header during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Lebanon at GIO Stadium on March 26, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Gethin Jones: 7

    Making just his fifth cap, the former Wales junior international and Bolton Wanderers star certainly made a case that he – not Nathaniel Atkinson – should be the regular right-back.

    Could have had an assist in the second half with a nice run down the right line and cross for Mitch Duke, but the striker sent it high.

    MIDFIELD

    Craig Goodwin: 10

    He scored two and set up two more. But more than that: he could have had four assists on another day, such was the quality of his delivery with that magical left boot. Ajdin Hrustic missed one when Goodwin put the ball on a platter in the first half, as did Harry Souttar.

    But it didn’t matter in the end, since Goodwin just kept creating chances – and taking them.

    It’s hard to recall such a dominant individual performance from a Socceroo in recent times – Harry Souttar’s efforts against Tunisia in the 2022 World Cup come to mind.

    The Socceroos sent everything down his left flank in the first half, and he was the only player to deliver a successful cross or pass into the box in the entire first period.

    Having missed the first match against Lebanon with a virus picked up on the flight back home, this was a statement performance from the 32-year-old.

    He joked to Network 10: “Maybe I’ll have to be sick more often!”

    Ajdin Hrustic: 6.5

    Hrustic copped plenty of attention from opposition players all night, regularly being harshly tackled – though not all of them were adjudged as fouls by a referee who missed far too many calls on the night. Hrustic showed flashes of brilliance, like his chipped ball to Goodwin for the third goal. But he was scythed down in a horror tackle in the 51st minute and could be set for another long stint on the sidelines, which is a massive blow given he only just returned to the Socceroos’ fold this camp.

    Hrustic couldn’t put any weight on his left foot as he was carried from the field.Source: AFP

    Jackson Irvine: 6

    The midfield general had to play a deeper role in this game with his usual defensive-midfield pivot Keanu Baccus out with suspension, but Irvine was more than capable of running the show from further back. Playing right alongside his club teammate Metcalfe in the heart of midfield, the two formed a potent combination all night – distributing the ball quickly to the left for Goodwin to run riot. It wasn’t a game which Irvine grabbed by the scruff of the neck and took control in the midfield, but it was a typically solid effort.

    Connor Metcalfe: 6

    There’s a reason that Metcalfe has become one of the first names on the team sheet for Graham Arnold – in fact, he’s played every game since the 2022 World Cup, and started the vast majority. Metcalfe is coming along in leaps and bounds since moving to Germany to join Irvine at FC St Pauli, and he delivered another strong performance in Canberra. He tackled hard, battled tirelessly for the ball in the first half, and linked up well with his teammates. There were a few mistakes, but he’s becoming an increasingly important – and reliable – part of the Socceroos’ engine room.

    STRIKERS

    Kusini Yengi: 7

    No Socceroos striker had scored in six-straight matches. Then Craig Goodwin set up his former Adelaide United teammate Yengi for the young gun’s maiden Socceroos goal.

    The pair did Goodwin’s trademark celebration together in an emotional moment.

    Kusini Yengi said to Network 10: “To score my first goal is amazing.

    “Me and Goody have a great connection. We played together at Adelaide. He assisted my first professional goal at Adelaide and now assisted my first goal at the Socceroos. It’s an amazing moment for me and to have that moment with Goody as well is even more special.”

    His penetration and running behind the lines was excellent all night, while his confidence was on full display.

    In a stacked list of strikers in the squad, vying for contention, it was a statement that he is the man to take the number nine jersey in the long term.

    “That position is up for grabs and I’m hoping to fill that position,” he said.

    Mitchell Duke: 6.5

    It was a relatively quiet night by his high standards, but Duke’s hard work in pressing was a key unseen factor in the Socceroos’ success. Also crucial to the Socceroos’ improvement compared to Thursday was the way Duke dropped back to receive possession, dragging defenders out of position and setting up his teammates.

    SUBSTITUTES

    Patrick Yazbek: 8

    The 21-year-old midfielder looked completely at home on his debut – and against the other nation he was eligible to represent. Lebanon’s head coach had taken a dig at Yazbek in his pre-match press conference, saying the youngster would have been better being a ‘leader’ for Lebanon’s team rather than sitting on the bench for Australia. Well, when Yazbek came off the bench, he showed exactly why Lebanon tried so hard to convince him to represent them.

    Yazbek told Network 10: “Honestly, I just can’t wish for a better debut … I’ve always wanted to be a Socceroo, I’ve got all these photos in my room, ever since I’ve been young. It’s a dream come true.”

    Just minutes after entering the pitch, he set up Australia’s fourth goal with a neat cross from the left flank, and the rest of his work was near-flawless.

    Yazbek said of the assist: “It’s something that I’ll definitely remember forever. I’ll probably watch it back a couple of times!”

    Yazbek had a stellar debut.Source: Getty Images

    John Iredale: 8

    Iredale impressed on his debut on Thursday, and was even better this time around, scoring his maiden goal in the green and gold (or, as was the case on Tuesday, the blue and blue). The goal was set up by Yazbek just seconds after Iredale entered the pitch, and the young striker burst into tears as he embraced his teammates. Iredale then set up Goodwin for the final goal.

    Josh Nisbet: 7

    Socceroo number 642 has had to wait a while for his opportunity, and the diminutive midfielder never looked overawed by the occasion when it finally came. The Central Coast Mariners star, just 24, passed crisply and was often first to the loose ball in the closing stages. There’s plenty more to come.

    Thomas Deng: N/A

    He’s fallen down the centre-back pecking order a bit with Souttar, Burgess and Rowles locking up those spots. But Deng got a small run-out in the dying minutes and showed he’s still ready to fight for his place in the team.

    Samuel Silvera: N/A

    Didn’t have enough time to make an impact on the flank, but looked lively.

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  • No answer to striker headache; injuries give huge opportunity for next gen: Socceroos Talking Points

    No answer to striker headache; injuries give huge opportunity for next gen: Socceroos Talking Points

    Familiar issues were painfully clear to see as the Socceroos battled past a Lebanon side that put up a hell of a fight on Thursday night.

    The Socceroos struggled to create much in the way of chances, outside of a lucky fifth-minute goal from Keanu Baccus that he joked was deliberate – but really was intended as a cross.

    Defender Kye Rowles made it 2-0 in the second half off a corner, but the Socceroos’ worrying inability to carve out opportunities from open play was on full display once again despite a win that moves Australia closer to the 2026 World Cup.

    Even a change to a 4-4-2 formation didn’t spark much life into a Socceroos attack that has long struggled to break down opposing defences.

    There was, certainly, flashes of brilliance and reasons for optimism. Ajdin Hrustic showed flashes of his instinctive, creative best – something the Socceroos have missed with the playmaker having been stuck in club purgatory for just about all of 2023, where he managed all of 45 minutes for the national team.

    “He gives you that little bit of X factor,” coach Graham Arnold said. “Some of the flicks around the corner, the little chips over the top – those type of things are what we’re wanting, and what we need in the final third against some of these opponents.”

    And there was the caveat that many of the players had just one training session together after assembling in Sydney, while Arnold also pointed to a Commbank Stadium turf that “wasn’t an easy pitch to play on”.

    Here are the biggest talking points from the two-goal win in Sydney.

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    Keanu Baccus’ early goal failed to spark the Socceroos into life in a nervy win.Source: Getty Images

    NO CLEAR ANSWER TO BIG NO.9 ISSUE

    When Graham Arnold named his 25-player squad for this pair of fixtures, one thing stood out: the inclusion of a full SIX strikers.

    Since the retirement of Tim Cahill, no number nine has well and truly made the shirt their own. There has been no shortage of good players given a shot in that position, but with focus turning to the World Cup in 2026, it remains one of the biggest headaches for coach Graham Arnold.

    The biggest problem is that many of his striker options are in their 30s – and may not still be fit and firing by the time 2026 comes along.

    In the current squad, there is 36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli, 33-year-old Mitchell Duke, and 30-year-old Adam Taggart, while Brandon Borrello is 28.

    By the next World Cup, Arnold will be lucky to have all of them available for selection – or perhaps even a couple of them.

    Kusini Yengi (25) started against Lebanon alongside Taggart – the two most in-form attackers at club level – while John Iredale (24) debuted off the bench alongside Duke.

    The four each had promising moments but none made a real statement that they should be the starting No.9 moving forward.

    No centre forward has scored for the Socceroos since before the Asian Cup in January – now a six-game drought.

    All six of the players offer unique skill-sets, as Arnold said when announcing his squad.

    “All of them bring something different,” Arnold said.

    That was on full display tonight.

    Taggart frequently ran in behind the defence, Yengi is strong and loves to dribble at opponents, Duke is an excellent hold-up player and tireless in pressing, and Iredale is fast and physical.

    “Six centre forwards in the squad is an exciting prospect for us,” Jackson Irvine said this week, “and it will be interesting to see how that unfolds over the next couple of games.”

    Tonight none of them put their name up in lights.

    Arnold will have his fingers and toes crossed that one of the six grabs the reins on Tuesday and makes the number nine their own.

    Kye Rowles was beaming after scoring a maiden international goal.Source: Getty Images

    DEFENCE DOES THE JOB AGAIN

    Thursday’s victory made it eight clean sheets from the Socceroos’ last ten matches – an impressive record in defence.

    Sure, all-but-one of those matches have come against lower-ranked opponents, but you can’t deny that the Socceroos success is being built on a foundation of a strong defence – even if that clean sheet was somewhat fortunate, given Lebanon finished the better side and struck the post late on.

    Harry Souttar continues to defy his lack of club minutes at Leicester City in England’s second tier, while Cameron Burgess has converted his strong form for Leicester’s high-flying Championship rivals Ipswich Town into solid performances for the Socceroos. The third centre-back, Kye Rowles, has become one of the most dependable performers for the team, even despite being pushed out to left back to replace the injured Aziz Behich.

    The depth at centre-back is extremely pleasing – as is their knack of scoring goals.

    “That’s what we need, we need everyone to score!” Arnold told Channel 10 with a wry smile.

    Souttar already has 11 to his name for the Socceroos, while man of the match Rowles scored his first against Lebanon.

    Rowles and Souttar are both 25, while Burgess is 28. The trio could have locked down the centre-back spots for the foreseeable future.

    Meanwhile Maty Ryan, the captain and first-choice number one, was typically solid between the sticks and made two fine saves.

    While depth on at both fullback spots remains something of a concern, the defence – and particularly that core group of four players – is in rude health.

    The defence was excellent once again.Source: Getty Images

    INJURIES WILL FORCE MORE SHUFFLING … AND MORE CHANCES

    Arnold’s selections for the Asian Cup and this pair of World Cup qualifying fixtures made it clear that he’s looking towards the future.

    Asked pre-game if it felt like a ‘new phase’ for the team, Arnold told Channel 10: “Yeah look, the things I said before the Asian Cup about regenerating the squad came – hopefully – through thick and clear.

    “With some of the older boys out injured in this game – Craig Goodwin, Mat Leckie’s still injured, Martin Boyle, Aziz Behich – the young ones that we gave a chance at the Asian Cup, this is a great opportunity for them.”

    Keanu Baccus (25) and Connor Metcalfe (24) were both impressive after being named in the starting XI on Thursday night, while the returning Ajdin Hrustic also reminded Arnold what he can offer the team.

    But a pair of first-half injuries – to Riley McGree and 21-year-old Jordy Bos – means that Graham Arnold will be forced into more changes for the Lebanon rematch in Canberra on Tuesday.

    Arnold immediately ruled both out of that match, while Baccus earned a yellow card that will see him suspended on Tuesday night.

    The Socceroos will have Craig Goodwin available, with the winger recovering from an illness and ready to play the second match.

    “(Goodwin) is so good he’s already down in Canberra waiting for us,” Arnold said. “He’ll be available on Tuesday.”

    21-year-old Patrick Yazbek and diminutive 24-year-old Josh Nisbet will be hoping to debut in the midfield in that game, while 23-year-old winger Samuel Silvera has been in strong form for Middlesbrough in England’s second tier and will also hope to get on the pitch.

    While the raft of injuries to veteran players has left the squad short on experience, it’s a huge opportunity for the next generation to make their mark.

    And should the Socceroos win on Tuesday, Australia will be guaranteed a place in the next stage of World Cup qualifying with two matches to spare.

    In that case, matches against Lebanon and Palestine in June will become dead rubbers – and Arnold might be tempted to roll the dice on blooding a whole raft of young guns.

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  • Socceroos vs Lebanon LIVE: ‘X-Factor’ benched on long-awaited return as 25yo beast gets big chance

    Socceroos vs Lebanon LIVE: ‘X-Factor’ benched on long-awaited return as 25yo beast gets big chance

    An illness to veteran forward Craig Goodwin and a host of injuries has forced a Socceroos shake-up as the Australians face Lebanon in World Cup qualifying (8.10pm AEDT).

    Australia are back in action for the first time since their disappointing quarter-final exit at the Asian Cup, with focus turning now to world No. 115 Cedars.

    The Socceroos are targeting a pair of victories when they face Lebanon tonight in Sydney and in Canberra on Tuesday – the latter officially a Lebanon home game that was moved down under due to instability in the Middle East.

    Two wins would guarantee the Socceroos a place in the third stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with two games in hand.

    Socceroos cautious of favourites status | 01:46

    The Socceroos beat Bangladesh 7-0 and Palestine 1-0 in their first two World Cup qualifiers – and still have to play those two teams again – while Lebanon drew 0-0 against both nations.

    Lebanon are expected to set up defensively and try to hit the Socceroos with rapid counter-attacks, with Socceroos coach Graham Arnold hoping his side can show their offensive weaponry in the final third.

    “What I want to see and expect to see is some positive things in the final third … and the boys going for it,” Arnold said yesterday.

    “That’s important for me. I feel in that middle third, we’re very good, then we get in the final third, and a lot of it’s down to the individual, and that’s what I expect.”

    The two teams have faced off twice in friendly matches, with Australia winning both 3-0.

    Craig Goodwin has been ruled out due to illness.Source: Getty Images

    But it’s not going to be an easy test.

    Jackson Irvine said: “These games just continually get harder as the competition in Asia gets more difficult. I think the standard is getting higher across the Confederation. All the way through, we’ve been tested more and more in these games as time has gone on.”

    Should the Socceroos win both matches and book their place in the next stage of qualifying, they will be one of 18 teams split into three groups of six. Each team plays the others in their group at home and away, with the top two teams from each group directly qualifying for the World Cup jointly held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

    The third and fourth-placed teams continue to a fourth stage of AFC qualifying – but the Socceroos will hope to avoid the kind of last-ditch qualification journey that saw them book their place in Qatar 2022 only in an intercontinental playoff against Peru.

    Nisbett not content to make up numbers | 00:54

    TEAM NEWS

    The Socceroos have been struck down by a wave of injuries, with three forced changes to the starting team followed by a fourth for form reasons.

    Winger Martin Boyle is absent after recently suffering a sickening head knock for his club Hibernian, while Marco Tilio, Aziz Behich, and Awer Mabil are all injured.

    Aiden O’Neill is suspended after being sent off in the Asian Cup quarter-final, a 2-1 extra time loss to South Korea – but an ankle injury would have ruled him out regardless.

    And right-back Lewis Miller was called up to the squad only to suffer a hamstring injury while playing in Scotland that has now ruled him out.

    Meanwhile, veteran winger Craig Goodwin (of English second-tier team Middlesbrough) came down sick while flying home and did not link up with the squad as he recovers. He will not play tonight but the Socceroos are hopeful their regular set-piece taker will return for Tuesday’s match.

    Fans will have to wait for the substitions to see a long-awaited return for ‘X-Factor’ playmaker Ajdin Hrustic, who was stuck in club limbo for nearly all of 2023 before securing a move to the Netherlands where much-needed match minutes earned him a recall to the national team.

    He played just one of the Socceroos’ 14 matches since the start of 2023.

    Arnold said: “I think it’s great to see [Hrustic] back playing. I have been watching him play in Holland, but yesterday was probably the first time I’ve seen him live since, doing the training session, to see the 11 v 11. But it’s great to have him back, he brings that X factor for us that can change games and that’s important.”

    Arnold slams clubs over selfish act that could end Aussie Olympic dream: Talking Points

    Exiled star earns Socceroos recall after nightmare 18 months as injury crisis strikes

    Ajdin Hrustic had a nightmare stint at Hellas Verona in Italy, but is back playing … and back in the Socceroos.Source: Getty Images

    Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart’s rich vein of scoring form earned him a first start since September 2022, alongside in-form Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi.

    He replaces Duke in one of four changes from the Socceroos’ last match – with the ruled-out trio of Behich, Boyle, and Goodwin forcing Arnold’s hand.

    Kye Rowles will deputise at left-back for the injured Aziz Behich, with young gun Jordan Bos having mostly been used as a winger under Arnold instead of his natural left-back role. But Bos was left out of the starting line-up completely, with Riley McGree set to start at winger.

    Meanwhile 21-year-old midfielder Patrick Yazbek – a Lebanese-Australian – will be hoping to make an emotional debut, while fellow midfielder Josh Nisbet, striker John Iredale, and goalkeeper Thomas Glover are also potential debutants this series.

    CONFIRMED STARTING XI (Possible line-up 4-3-3, L-R)

    Mathew Ryan (GK, C)

    Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Nathaniel Atkinson,

    Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Connor Metcalfe,

    Riley McGree, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi.

    FULL SOCCEROOS SQUAD

    Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan (captain), Thomas Glover, Joe Gauci

    Defenders: Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Cameron Burgess, Nathaniel Atkinson, Jordan Bos, Thomas Deng, Gethin Jones,

    Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Ajdin Hrustic, Craig Goodwin, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Patrick Yazbek, Josh Nisbet

    Forwards: Mitchell Duke, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi, John Iredale, Bruno Fornaroli, Brandon Borrello, Sam Silvera

    MATCH CENTRE: Live stats and more!

    LIVE BLOG

    Follow all the action in our live blog below. If you can’t see the blog, click here.

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  • Arnold slams clubs over selfish act that could end Aussie Olympic dream: Socceroos Talking Points

    Arnold slams clubs over selfish act that could end Aussie Olympic dream: Socceroos Talking Points

    The Socceroos are preparing to take to the field for the first time since their heartbreaking Asian Cup quarterfinal defeat to South Korea, with attention now fully focused on the road to the 2026 World Cup.

    Coach Graham Arnold announced his squad for the two qualifiers against Lebanon today, but had plenty of selection headaches amid an injury crisis – particularly in one problem position.

    And as Arnold looks to the future, three potential debutants could get their shot.

    Here are the big talking points from today’s announcement.

    Arnold has had plenty of selection headaches to deal with.Source: Getty Images

    ARNOLD WHACKS EURO CLUBS

    Arnold has been forced into a difficult balancing act in selecting this squad – just as he did in the Asian Cup in January – over whether or not to select under-23 players.

    The U23 Asian Cup next month will decide which nations qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris. Yet next month’s tournament is not held during a FIFA window, meaning clubs are not obligated to release players to compete for the Olyroos.

    Arnold has tried to convince them to let talented youngsters players play for the Olyroos by omitting them from his Socceroos squads.

    That was the case for 20-year-old centre-back Alessandro Circati, who was left out of the Asian Cup squad and is again absent this time around.

    Parma is hunting promotion to Italy’s Serie B, making it understandable they are reluctant to lose any players in the closing stages of the season.

    But if he hoped leaving Circati out of the Socceroos team would mean Parma let him play for the Olyroos, those hopes are fading fast.

    “That’s to be determined. But I have to say, I’d be doubtful about that,” Arnold said.

    Circati debuted in a friendly against New Zealand last year.Source: Getty Images

    He slammed European clubs for pressuring players to turn down international call-ups and focus on their domestic careers.

    “Tony Vidmar [Olyroos coach] at the moment is getting quite a number of overseas-based clubs refusing to release players in April. I spoke to [Circati] and I think it’s one thing a lot of people need to understand: the pressure that kids get put under from their clubs overseas to [not] play for Australia is a lot.

    “Alessandro and even [uncapped 20-year-old] Cristian Volpato, exactly the same. They just want to focus on their club careers at this moment in time. I do believe that Alessandro, especially, will play for Australia, and I do believe Cristian will want to play for Australia. It’s just at the moment, the timing is probably not right for them – especially with Alessandro; they’re going for promotion with Parma to get up in Serie A.”

    Arnold is well-placed to comment on the plight of the Olyroos, having led them to both the 2008 and 2020 Olympics.

    Selecting a squad is difficult enough. It’s made even harder when balancing the needs of the under-23 team – and when clubs don’t play ball.

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    Standard’s Aiden O’Neill is missing due to injury and suspension.Source: AFP

    INJURY CRISIS PROVIDES BIG CHANCES

    Two of the Socceroos starting XI from their last match – the Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea – have been ruled out of this squad.

    Winger Martin Boyle suffered a nasty concussion playing for Hibernian, while veteran left-back Aziz Behich, a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has suffered an ankle injury.

    Behich played every minute of the Socceroos’ five Asian Cup matches, while Boyle started all five matches and scored two goals.

    But the list of injured players is much longer – “12 or 13” in total, Arnold says.

    Wingers Marco Tilio (on loan at Melbourne City, hamstring injury) and Awer Mabil (Grasshopper FC in Switzerland) are both injured.

    Midfielder Aiden O’Neill is battling an ankle injury, but would have been ruled out regardless after picking up a red card against South Korea. Highly touted 21-year-old midfielder Alex Robertson is out with a torn thigh muscle.

    Meanwhile, there’s an added worry for Arnold after Lewis Miller – who was named in the squad – hobbled off with injury this morning.

    “He called me straight from the dressing room this morning, it’s too early to rule him out,” Arnold said.

    “He’s going to have scans and get checked on and then we’ll deal with that in the next couple of days.”

    Australia’s defender #19 Harry Souttar consoles Australia’s defender #20 Lewis Miller after their defeat in the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Australia and South Korea at Al-Janoub Stadium in al-Wakrah, south of Doha, on February 2, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)Source: AFP

    It means the Socceroos have been forced into a number of changes, but also provides a significant chance for players to stake their claim in the starting side.

    That is particularly the case for wingers – with nailed-on starter Boyle a key absentee. Jordy Bos (more on him below) and Craig Goodwin (32) are the likely first-choice starters, though Middlesbrough’s Sam Silvera (23) could get his shot.

    Brandon Borrello (28) has recovered from the ankle complaint that ruled him out of the Asian Cup and has been recalled, with the Western Sydney Wanderers attacker hoping his versatility can give him a greater opportunity at the national team level.

    Zero to hero! Aussie gun redeems shocker | 00:45

    Kusini Yengi, the 25-year-old striker for Portsmouth in England’s League One, also looms as one to watch this window. He was deployed on the right side of the attack this week against Burton. After missing a wide-open goal, the Aussie gun recovered to score a panenka penalty and turned it into a brace in the second half.

    He now has 10 goals and two assists in 23 appearances in all competitions – but his surprise start at right-wing could convince Graham Arnold he can perform in a wider role rather than just as a striker, where there’s plenty of competition for places.

    Besides Yengi, there’s veteran Mitchell Duke, uncapped John Iredale, and the A-League trio of Bruno Fornaroli, Brandon Borrello and Adam Taggart.

    “All of them bring something different,” Arnold said.

    Kusini Yengi missed a sitter – and ended up caught in the net!Source: Getty Images

    BIG QUESTION OVER LONG-TERM PROBLEM POSITION

    With Aziz Behich injured, the Socceroos are left with just one specialist left-back in the squad: 12-cap Jordy Bos. The 21-year-old left-back is enjoying a stellar season at KVC Westerlo in Belgium, scoring a sublime long-range strike on the weekend.

    But at the Asian Cup, he played exclusively as a winger – and scored his maiden Socceroos goal just moments after coming off the bench in the opening match – with Arnold repeatedly stating that he believes the youngster is more suited to an attacking position.

    Yet Behich is 33 years old, and it is unclear whether he will be capable of playing in the next World Cup in 2026.

    It means the Socceroos have a big question mark over the future at the position.

    Bos’ undoubted potential has led many to believe he could lock down the role for the foreseeable future.

    In the Asian Cup warm-up match against Bahrain, Bos delivered a faultless performance in that position, and he previously impressed in the left-back role against Bangladesh last year.

    But Arnold is likely to stick to his guns and deploy Bos as a winger this time around, especially with the absence of Boyle leaving the frontline a little lean.

    Bos is more suited to the left flank, but Craig Goodwin could be deployed on that side with Bos shifted to the right.

    South Korea’s midfielder #26 Yang Hyun-jun is marked by Australia’s defender #16 Aziz Behich during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Australia and South Korea at Al-Janoub Stadium in al-Wakrah, south of Doha, on February 2, 2024. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP

    Assuming Arnold does deploy Bos in attack, Kye Rowles is most likely to deputise on the left.

    Arnold said: “Kye Rowles can also play there, it’s a good thing what we did last year in some friendlies, trying different ways (of lining up).

    “Jordy’s obviously playing that role at Westerlo, it’s a familiar role for him.”

    The left-footer is typically deployed as a left-sided centre-back and has formed what is clearly Australia’s first-choice partnership with Harry Souttar.

    The pair played together in four of the five Asian Cup matches, with Souttar partnered by Cameron Burgess in the other.

    Rowles has been used at left-back before, notably in back-to-back games against Mexico and England late last year.

    It appears the most likely option for the upcoming pair of matches against Lebanon, which would give Burgess a chance to nail down a position alongside Souttar in the heart of defence.

    Souttar, of course, remains in virtual exile at club level, having made just four appearances for Leicester all season in all competitions (not due to any fault of his own, but rather that Leicester’s other centre-backs have been outstanding).

    But Souttar’s performances at the Asian Cup proved that despite his lack of match minutes he can be relied upon to deliver for the national team – and means that Rowles could be forced to play at left-back whenever Behich is absent.

    Arnold said his lack of game time was a concern but added: “The way he plays for us, the goals he scores – he’s probably our leading scorer in my reign!”

    “I know he’s working extremely hard and I know he’s ready for these games.”

    23-year-old Sydney FC fullback Joel King has been viewed as a long-term prospect at the troubling left-back position after impressing at the Tokyo Olympics and in four Socceroos appearances.

    He was an unused substitute at the 2022 World Cup but has fallen down the pecking order since then. All four of his Socceroos appearances came in 2022, and missed out on this window due to only just having recovered from a toe injury.

    29-year-old Callum Elder at League One side Derby County could have been in the mix for a recall, only to suffer an ankle sprain a fortnight ago.

    Outstanding 21-year-old Jacob Farrell of the Central Coast Mariners could be the next in line. He will feature this window for the Olyroos (U-23s) at the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia, a crucial preparation for the Olyroos ahead of the U23 Asian Cup which doubles as Olympic qualifiers.

    Graham Arnold will certainly be keeping a close eye on Farrell – and many other Olyroos stars – as he looks to build his squad for the future with the World Cup firmly in mind.

    For now, however, Arnold faces a conundrum over whether to stick with Bos as a winger or shift him to left-back, where he has both the potential and the opportunity to be the long-term answer to a major selection problem.

    Tom Glover (R) could be in line to debut.Source: Getty Images

    THREE POTENTIAL DEBUTANTS

    Behind captain Maty Ryan, there are two young goalkeepers: Joe Gauci of Aston Villa and Tom Glover of Middlesbrough. The highly talented duo headline the list of potential replacements for 31-year-old Ryan, though the Socceroos’ first-choice number one shows no signs of slowing down.

    Glover has been in Socceroos camps multiple times – most recently in October in London – but has not yet debuted. The 26-year-old has played 20 times for second-tier Boro this season and could well earn his first cap should Arnold look to blood the next generation.

    23-year-old Gauci has not yet debuted for Premier League club Aston Villa after his groundbreaking move in the January transfer window, but has two caps for the Socceroos already and is perhaps already ahead of Glover in the pecking order.

    On the other end of the pitch, Germany-based striker John Iredale would be a shock debutant given his patchy form in the Bundesliga 2 this campaign, with three goals and an assist in 16 appearances in all competitions.

    The striking position is an area where the Socceroos are struggling for depth, particularly in the younger generation, and the 24-year-old boasts plenty of physicality – which could help his case for a debut.

    Perhaps the most intriguing decision among the selections was that of defensive midfielder Patrick Yazbek.

    The 23-year-old has been absolutely stellar for Norwegian side Viking FK this campaign and certainly deserves to be in the Socceroos. With Aiden O’Neill and Alex Robertson both ruled out, he is more than capable of stepping up as Keanu Baccus’ back-up in the defensive midfield role.

    Yet questions have been raised over whether he would be better off playing with the under-23s in Saudi Arabia, where he had been called up before being poached by Arnold’s Socceroos.

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  • City roar into CL quarters after ex-Liverpool keeper’s howler; Madrid survive HUGE scare: Wrap

    City roar into CL quarters after ex-Liverpool keeper’s howler; Madrid survive HUGE scare: Wrap

    Manchester City cruised into the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a second-straight 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen, while Real Madrid were pushed all the way by RB Leipzig but narrowly escaped.

    Defending champions City won the first leg 3-1 and needed just five minutes to stretch that advantage in the second leg, with centre-back Manuel Akanji volleying exquisitely from a Julian Alvarez corner.

    In the ninth minute, Alvarez doubled the lead with a cross-shot straight at goalkeeper Kamil Grabara – only for the former Liverpool gloveman to horribly let it slip through his hands into the net.

    Speaking on Sky Sports, former England star Paul Merson claimed: “My six-year-old would have caught that!”

    Copenhagen keeper gift wraps City goal | 00:31

    Grabara, the captain, infamously had a public spat with Socceroos keeper Maty Ryan over the starting position at Copenhagen, leading to Ryan leaving the club for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

    But Copenhagen hit back through an exceptional counter-attack just before the half-hour mark, with former Southampton star Mohamed Elyounoussi finishing off a well-worked move.

    City responded before the interval when Erling Haaland clinically swept home from a cut-back.

    While they comfortably cruised towards victory, City did cop a second-half blow as Matheus Nunes appeared to dislocate a finger in the second stanza – though he was seen smiling on the bench after having the joint realigned by team medicos.

    City turned to a number of youngsters off the bench and came close to extending their advantage on multiple occasions.

    City rested a host of stars for the second leg, making seven changes from their 3-1 win over Manchester United on the weekend.

    It comes ahead of a massive clash with Premier League title rivals Liverpool on the weekend, with coach Pep Guardiola taking the opportunity to rest his first team following the strong first-leg result.

    Phil Foden, who was man of the match against United with two goals, was benched along with Kevin de Bruyne, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake and Bernardo Silva. Belgian winger Jeremy Doku did not make the bench in a potential injury concern.

    Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodrigo and Erling Haaland kept their spots in the starting XI.

    Jude Bellingham brilliantly assisted Vinicius Junior for Madrid’s crucial goal against RB Leipzig.Source: Getty Images

    REAL MADRID SURVIVE HUGE SCARE

    Meanwhile, Real Madrid were pushed all the way in a frustrating and often heated tussle with RB Leipzig.

    Madrid entered the match with a 1-0 lead from the away leg, but struggled to find any rhythm and were incredibly lucky to avoid conceding as Leipzig had a host of strong first-half chances.

    Tackles flew in from both teams as tensions rose, with Vinicius Junior perhaps lucky to avoid a red card in the 54th minute after fouling a rival then following it up by shoving him to the ground.

    In the 65th minute, Vinicius scored his third goal in five Champions League matches to finally break the deadlock. Toni Kroos started a length-of-the-field counter-attack by feeding Jude Bellingham, who played the Brazilian star into the box for a tidy finish – Madrid’s two attacking superstars finally combining effectively. It was Madrid’s first shot on target of the match.

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    But just three minutes later Willi Orban levelled the score with a header following a Leipzig corner. Dani Carvajal failed to properly clear the first ball in, and it was crossed back in for Orban to finally hand Leipzig a deserved goal.

    Leipzig were the better team for much of the game and came close to sending the match to extra-time when Dani Olmo hit the crossbar in stoppage time with a deft chip.

    Leipzig finished with 20 shots to Madrid’s 12, and had eight corners to three.

    TEAMS

    Real Madrid (4-4-2) Andriy Lunin; Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Nacho Fernandez (capt), Ferland Mendy; Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde; Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior

    RB Leipzig (4-4-2) Peter Gulacsi; Benjamin Henrichs, Castello Lukeba, Willi Orban (capt), David Raum; Xaver Schlager, Amadou Haidara, Dani Olmo, Xavi Simons; Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko

    FOLLOW LIVE

    Recap the action from Madrid and Leipzig live below!

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  • Key rule change could revive exiled Roo’s career; ‘crucial’ reason for shock calls: Talking Pts

    Key rule change could revive exiled Roo’s career; ‘crucial’ reason for shock calls: Talking Pts

    Graham Arnold on Friday announced a 26-man Socceroos squad to take on the Asian Cup next month – and there was no shortage of intriguing calls.

    The Australian squad features a 36-year-old in Bruno Fornaroli as well as three uncapped players, one of whom was eligible to play for another nation but was poached by the Aussies.

    There are a number of key absences, including injured veterans and some surprising omissions, while the team represents a bold mix of youth and experience as Arnold looks to the future and the road to the 2026 World Cup.

    And there’s one young gun who is the big winner from a late rule change.

    Here are all the major talking points ahead of the tournament opener on January 13.

    36yo and THREE debutants: Socceroos shocks as Arnie names squad for Asian Cup

    Fresh off two wins in World Cup qualifying last month, the Socceroos are preparing to chase just a second-ever Asian Cup crown.Source: Getty Images

    Drastic squad overhaul as Arnold eyes 2026 World Cup

    Graham Arnold has repeatedly made clear that his major focus is the 2026 World Cup – and rightly so.

    Arnold said Friday: “I’ve got one eye on the Asian Cup but I’ve got two eyes on the World Cup (2026) and qualifying directly.”

    Though the World Cup is the top priority, the Asian Cup stands behind that tournament as the biggest trophy available for the Socceroos.

    It’s also the last tournament that Arnold has not experienced success in, having enjoyed a record-breaking 2022 World Cup with the Socceroos and guiding the Olyroos (under 23s) to an impressive showing at the Tokyo Olympics. Only the Asian Cup, where the defending champion Socceroos were dumped out in the quarterfinals in 2019, remains as a mark on his record.

    The need to forge a team capable both of immediate success and long-term development on the road to 2026 presents a difficult balancing act for Graham Arnold.

    The result is a squad where veterans, like recalled 36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli, have been mixed with young players – almost on a one-to-one basis.

    “The blend, for me, is so crucial,” Arnold said.

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    12 of the 26-man squad were part of the World Cup last year – 13 if you count Martin Boyle, who was ruled out of Qatar through injury but remained in the camp for the tournament as ‘Chief Vibes Officer’.

    That’s a significant turnover in a 12-month period, which reflects just how aggressively Arnold is approaching the redevelopment of his squad for the long term. 14 of the 26 players in this squad have fewer than ten caps, including three potential debutants – midfielder Patrick Yazbek, right-back Gethin Jones, and striker John Iredale.

    It’s not the first time that Arnold has overseen a dramatic rebuild, having done the same thing when he took over the role following the 2018 World Cup. Arnold inherited a very thin squad in terms of depth after losing players like Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak to retirement.

    “It was about really starting again” he says of those early days.

    Five years later, and he’s got depth in spades – with the coach revealing he considered “70-75” players for selection.

    While Arnold will be desperate to erase the failure of 2019 and win just a second-ever Asian Cup for the Socceroos, the squad shows a refusal to sacrifice long-term development.

    It’s not an easy task – but the rewards should come on the long road 2026.

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    Of the three potential debutants in the 26-man squad, Gethin Jones is perhaps the most intriguing. Jones was born in Perth before moving to England, where he was part of Everton’s Academy before churning through a series of clubs on loan and in permanent transfers. Now 28, the right-back has established himself as a consistent performer at third-tier English League One side Bolton. Having played for Wales up to the under-21 level, Jones is just the latest in a long line of players that were eligible to represent multiple nations but were convinced by Arnold to pledge allegiance to Australia.

    The list of recent recruits includes Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar, who have become two key members of the Socceroos unit, as well as Alex Robertson, Alessandro Circati and Jason Cummings (all omitted from this squad). Arnold is also confident that he will eventually win the back-and-forth over the international future of 20-year-old Cristian Volpato, who currently plays for Italy’s under-age teams.

    Harry Souttar headlines the list of Socceroos stars that were eligible for multiple nations – but chose Australia.Source: Getty Images

    Arnold said of Gethin Jones: “He’s one we’ve had our eye on for the last couple of years. He wasn’t hard to convince but it takes time to get through the FIFA regulations to change his registration.”

    “I went and watched him when I was in the UK. Very impressive. Obviously with the Ryan Strain injury it gave us our opportunity.”

    He added: “He’s always wanted to play for Australia, he has played for Wales at a junior level.”

    Bringing in players at the peak of their careers – like 28-year-old Jones – means they can adapt quicker to the unique pressures of international football compared to a promising teen talent.

    Arnold’s ability to convince so many players to don the green and gold is quickly becoming a trademark of the Socceroos coach, and if Jones has half the impact of Souttar or Boyle in the years to come, his recruitment could prove another Arnold masterstroke.

    The striker conundrum amid ‘concern’ over veterans

    No position sums up the squad overhaul with an eye on 2026 quite as much as the striker role, which Arnold labelled “a concern.”

    36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli earned a recall on the back of undeniable form in the A-League Mens competition – 12 goals and an assist in just eight games. Even though the two-cap forward is ageing like a fine wine, the 2026 World Cup looks a step too far. Mitch Duke, the other veteran striker selected, is 32 years old and is a risk for 2026. Jamie Maclaren, who missed out this time, is also 30 years old. Other forwards Mat Leckie, Martin Boyle, and Craig Goodwin are also all 30 or older.

    Arnold said: “That’s why I’m searching, that’s why I’m looking. It’s no secret when you look at that squad that we’ve got some older players up front that might not make 2026.”

    There are the two youngsters selected this time around – 24-year-old Kusini Yengi who debuted last month and uncapped 24-year-old John Iredale. Iredale plays for Wehen Wiesbaden in Germany’s second tier, and is a strong physical presence coming into his own at the newly-promoted Bundesliga 2 club.

    Arnold said that Iredale had been on his radar for many years, and offers versatility since he can play across the frontline and also in a playmaking No. 10 role.

    “He’s one I’ve admired for a long time because he’s got that strength and skill and he’s starting to do well in the Bundesliga 2,” Arnold explained.

    Kusini Yengi has been excellent for Portsmouth this season.Source: Getty Images

    But when it comes to the veterans – including those who missed out this time around – Arnold says that he’s not running a line through their World Cup hopes.

    “That’s not my choice, that’s theirs. At the end of the day, the older boys – the (Craig) Goodwins, the Dukes, the Boyles and all these – they’ve got to be performing at their club and fit.

    “This is the whole reason, in a way, for Leckie that I’ve left him out. I just want him to get fit and get his body right. He does that, he’ll have a chance – I do believe he’s got a chance of getting to the next World Cup.

    “You don’t rule any of those senior players out. It gets down to the club form, it gets down to injuries, match minutes, how much passion they’ve got to get there and how hard they want to work to get there. That’s the biggest thing.”

    But he said: “I do plan for the bad scenario or the bad side and make sure we’ve got players ready just in case.”

    Leckie has hardly played in the last six months, but Arnold says he’s still a chance of playing in the 2026 World Cup.Source: Getty Images

    Olympics balancing act over young guns

    When Arnold announced his squad, two players in red-hot form were surprise omissions: Alex Robertson and Alessandro Circati. 20-year-old Robertson is a technically gifted midfielder who plays for third-tier Portsmouth on loan from Manchester City, and made his Socceroos debut in March against Ecuador.

    Circati is a 20-year-old centre-back who plays for Italian second-division team Parma, and debuted for the Socceroos in October against New Zealand.

    While both were deserving of a call-up based on form, other factors are at play. Both are in teams top of their respective leagues and chasing promotion. Robertson, for example, could miss as many as eight games for Portsmouth if he was selected for the Asian Cup. And the Under-23 Asian Cup is also a key factor in Arnold’s thinking. That tournament takes place in April-May and doubles as qualification for the Olympics in Paris later in the year. Clubs are not required by FIFA to release players for the U23 Asian Cup, so Arnold not selecting those youngsters now increases the chances that their clubs will release them for the Olyroos team in the coming months.

    Circati was outstanding on debut in October.Source: Getty Images

    Arnold acknowledged there were no guarantees from the clubs around the two players being released for U23 tournaments, but said: “It gives us a better chance. I’ve had great conversations with them and I’ve got to be honest, we’ve got depth in those positions.

    “What’s better for the kids at the age of 20? Coming away in a tournament situation and maybe getting a couple of minutes here and there, or staying at their clubs at this age and playing eight competition games and enhancing their future?

    “We’ll get rewarded in six months’ time (in Paris).”

    But on the other hand, Arnold called up uncapped midfielder Patrick Yazbek, a 21-year-old who has been in incredible form for Viking FK in Norway.

    Yazbek racked up two goals and five assists from 28 appearances (all competitions) – but crucially, the Norwegian season just concluded, so Arnold is actually helping the club by giving the youngster high-level training and match minutes.

    And when it came to Jordy Bos, Australia’s long-term left back, Arnold simply couldn’t leave the 21-year-old out of the squad.

    Bos has been excellent for the Socceroos since debuting in March.Source: News Corp Australia

    New Asian Cup rules could revive exiled gun’s career

    This week, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to expand squad sizes from the traditional 23 players to 26 for the first time ever. It wasn’t even announced in an official press release (unlike, for example, revealing the official match ball). But it’s an important change – and one Socceroo is the biggest winner.

    Versatile 21-year-old forward Marco Tilio moved to Scottish giants Celtic in June for a reported A-Leagues record £1.5 million (A$2.8m), but struggled to adjust to the intensity of the Scottish League and also battled injuries. He has played just twice since the move for a total of 28 minutes. The extra three places available in the Socceroos side means Tilio can train in an environment he is familiar with, having made seven international appearances already, and also hopefully get much-needed match minutes.

    “I can be honest here and say that if it stayed at 23 there was probably a good chance that Marco wouldn’t come,” Arnold said.

    “But the fact that it got extended to 26, it enables us to have someone completely different that can play at left wing, right wing, number 10.

    “He’s got that experience of being at major tournaments with me at the Olympics in 2021 and also the World Cup (last year). Also, I do believe this can help his Celtic career.”

    Tilio in action for the Socceroos in March.Source: Getty Images

    That could mean Tilio gets his chance to show club coach Brendan Rodgers what he is capable of – or potentially earn him a loan move for the second half of the season. But as Arnold says, it’s also about getting him back in form with the Olympics looming.

    Arnold said: “Tilio, I’ve looked at how we can also help that Olympic campaign. Conversations with Brendan Rodgers, at the end of the day Tilio hasn’t played much at Celtic but we know what he can do.

    “He can bring that bit of difference as an impact player as well and be with us to get that smile back on his face and get him ready for Celtic, but also available and fresh and fit for the Olympic campaign as well.”

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  • FIFA World Cup 2026, Asian Cup 2024, Socceroos, football news, Australia vs Bangladesh, qualifying, fixtures, schedule,

    FIFA World Cup 2026, Asian Cup 2024, Socceroos, football news, Australia vs Bangladesh, qualifying, fixtures, schedule,

    Fifty years ago today, the Socceroos booked their place in the FIFA World Cup for the very first time, with Jimmy Mackay scoring a wonder-goal against the Korea Republic to punch Australia’s ticket to the 1974 tournament.

    Australia wouldn’t appear at another men’s World Cup until 2006, but have qualified for every tournament since.

    On Thursday night against Bangladesh, the Socceroos take the first step in the road to the next World Cup – in 2026, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

    It will be a long journey for the Socceroos to reach a sixth-straight World Cup, though major changes to the qualification format should make things easier for Australia.

    But the Socceroos still have plenty of challenges to address – and the next 12 months could prove crucial.

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    HOW DOES QUALIFICATION WORK?

    The 2026 tournament will be expanded from 32 teams to a whopping 48 for the first time ever, something which provides a major boost for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations including Australia.

    The number of automatic qualification spots for the AFC will rise from four to eight – plus one more spot for the winner of a playoff against teams from other confederations – resulting in a shake-up in the qualifying format.

    In this round, 36 teams were divided into nine groups of four teams. Australia’s group features Palestine, Lebanon, and Bangladesh, with the Socceroos to play each of them home and away.

    Australia will play two matches this month, two in March 2024, and the final two in June.

    The Socceroos must finish in the top two teams of this four-nation group to progress to the next stage, while a top-two finish also ensures qualification to the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

    In the next round, 18 teams (winners and runners up from the nine groups in this round) will be split into three groups of six.

    The Socceroos would then play the other five teams in home-and-away games, beginning in September 2024. Finishing in the top two of the group after those ten matches ensures direct qualification to the World Cup.

    But if the Socceroos finish in third or fourth in that next stage, they would then be put into a group of three teams. Australia would play the other two teams once each, with the group winner qualifying for the Cup.

    Finish runner-up of the three teams and Australia would then be forced into a do-or-die series of playoffs, first against another AFC team then against nations from other confederations.

    Effectively, the Socceroos will be aiming to qualify in 16 games – six at this stage, and 10 at the next.

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    It’s not quite as long as the 1,008 day, 20-match road to qualifying for Qatar 2022, or the 22-game road to Russia 2018 – where they clocked up over 240,000 kilometres in travel and played more games than any other qualifying nation.

    But even with the changes to the qualifying format, crisscrossing Asia for 16 games is still one of the longest qualification journeys for a World Cup.

    However, there is another major difference from last time around: the Socceroos will now get to play far more matches on home soil now Covid-19 border restrictions have eased.

    As Arnold said: “It’s been a really, really long time since we played here in Australia. You know, I was looking just the other day, in my reign of 44 matches, we’ve only played nine games here in Australia. So we’ve been away a long time and played a lot of football away from home.”

    Irvine similarly stated: “I think for us, one of the most important things is having the chance to play in Australia, in front of our home fans again.

    “I think over the last five years this is maybe the ninth or 10th game we’ve played at home, which in the context of a qualifying campaign is barely anything.

    “So we don’t take these experiences for granted to play in front of our home fans.”

    The greater number of qualifying spots on offer for Asia, and the new-look format, should make qualifying for 2026 significantly easier for the Socceroos.

    There are more chances for redemption if they slip up and can’t finish right at the top of their group at each stage, while the larger number of groups should spread the higher-ranked teams around – meaning more matches against lower-ranked opposition.

    But there is no doubt that despite the new format and the benefit of more home matches, the road to a place in the 2026 World Cup will not be an easy one.

    Captain Maty Ryan said: “It’s a long journey and a gruelling one, but the fruits at the end of it are so sweet that you have no worries in confronting them and doing all you can to reach the end goal of playing in the World Cup.”

    Mathew Leckie celebrates the winner against Denmark at the 2022 World Cup.Source: AFP

    WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST WORLD CUP – AND SINCE?

    The Socceroos enjoyed a historic performance in Qatar last year.

    They led reigning champions and eventual runners-up France in their first group game before losing 4-1, but rebounded to beat Tunisia 1-0. Then they overcame Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark 1-0 to make it out of the group stage.

    They then fell 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina in the Round of 16 despite a stellar performance where they even came close to equalising in injury time through teen sensation Garang Kuol.

    Nevertheless, securing two group-stage wins was a first in Australian men’s history, and the clean sheets in both wins were also impressive and rare – not since 1974 had the Socceroos kept a World Cup clean sheet.

    The win over world number 10 Denmark was also the first time the Socceroos had beaten a top-ten nation at the WC.

    Mitchell Duke shakes hands with Lionel Messi after the Round of 16 defeat.Source: Getty Images

    The Socceroos played with tenacity – that oft-spoken-about Australian fighting spirit – but were also tactically excellent, with renowned French publication L’Equipe naming coach Graham Arnold the best of any manager at the tournament.

    “L’Equipe is one of the most respected and one of the harshest markers of games, coaches, players you name it,” former Socceroo Robbie Slater said at the time. “They’re the most respected in all of Europe.”

    It also saw the Socceroos surge up the rankings by 11 places into 27th, their best spot since September 2012 (25th).

    Arnold, having been on the brink of being sacked just six months before the World Cup after the struggling Socceroos missed out on direct qualification and were forced into the intercontinental playoffs, was handed a new deal to remain in charge through to the 2026 tournament.

    Since then, he has set the Socceroos on a brutal path – facing off against some of the world’s toughest teams in a series of testing friendlies.

    They faced Ecuador (#41) in a pair of fixtures in March, battled Lionel Messi’s Argentina (#1) in June, clashed with Mexico (#12) in September, before last month facing England (#4) at Wembley Stadium and New Zealand (#104).

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    If the 2022 World Cup proved the Socceroos deserved to be on the world stage, that run of fixtures was deliberately designed to take the team to the next level, to be able to compete against the elite.

    It was a rare opportunity for the Socceroos, who have struggled to squeeze friendly matches into their packed schedule in the past.

    And while the results were mixed – there were wins over Ecuador and New Zealand, a sloppy draw with Mexico and three losses – far more important was the opportunity to experiment with new tactics and line-ups, with Arnold handing out a host of debuts to young talents.

    “We’ve had the opportunity to test ourselves against some of world football’s best in the last six months, and our performances have shown just how effective we can be, learning a lot along the way,” Arnold said last week.

    “It was a chance to grow as a group, providing opportunities to younger players in preparation for the start of the 2026 World Cup qualification cycle.

    “Those performances have not only shown what we’re capable of, but reinforced a strong belief within this group as we begin an extremely important period.”

    Now, the trialling phase is over. The Socceroos must turn their minds to victory – because the next few months aren’t just about World Cup qualification.

    As Arnold said: “Now? It’s a World Cup qualifier. I think that experimenting is over, now it’s all about getting the tactics right, getting the players on the pitch, getting their performances right, and winning those games at all costs.”

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    THE ASIAN CUP

    The Asian Cup will take place from 12 January to 10 February next year, and the Socceroos will rightly believe they are contenders for just a second title after their 2015 win on home soil.

    The tournament was meant to be held in China in July of this year, but that nation relinquished hosting rights last year due to Covid-19. Qatar eventually won the rights but – just like last year’s World Cup – scorching mid-year temperatures forced the rescheduling of the tournament to the cooler months.

    That is arguably a blessing for the Socceroos, who have now used the additional time to squeeze in the aforementioned run of high-quality friendly matches.

    But it also means that the Socceroos cannot simply focus on the longer term goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and reshaping the squad to be ready for that tournament.

    They must focus on the here and now – something that is also true of the Olyroos, Australia’s Under-23 team which will compete in the U23 Asian Cup in April next year. That tournament doubles as qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the Olyroos needing to finish in the top three to directly qualify, while fourth place plays off against an African team for another berth.

    The Olyroos finished third at the 2020 U-23 Asian Cup to book their place at the Tokyo Olympics, the first time the men’s team had competed at the Olympics since 2008.

    While they failed to make it out of their group, their development was crucial – especially given Socceroos coach Graham Arnold took on the Olyroos coaching role in a deliberate attempt to guide a new generation into Socceroos.

    That approach was remarkably successful: nine of the Olyroos that featured at the 2020 Olympics went on to play at the 2022 World Cup with the senior side (10 if you count Mitchell Duke, who competed at the Olympics as a designated overage player).

    As the Socceroos progress towards the 2026 World Cup, the squad will naturally need to bring in fresh faces, just as they did before the last World Cup. The development of the Olyroos, who play a similar style as the senior team – could prove crucial in that regard.

    That’s why the next 12 months looms as a crucial period for both the Olyroos and the Socceroos – and not just because both teams will be contending for major silverware.

    As Jackson Irvine said: “Of course this is the beginning of a long journey, but it can also be viewed as a short preparation for what’s coming in January.”

    While the road to the 2026 World Cup is just beginning, Graham Arnold needs to balance competitiveness now with the long-term future of the squad. It’s hardly an enviable task.

    The Socceroos are chasing a second Asian Cup title after their 2015 success.Source: News Corp Australia

    THE SQUAD

    Arnold’s squad for Thursday’s clash with Bangladesh and next week’s meeting with Palestine is largely unchanged from last month’s fixtures, with just four changes to the 23-player unit.

    Veteran defender Milos Degenek was dropped after struggling for game-time at Red Star Belgrade, as is goalkeeper Tom Glover at Middlesbrough. Winger Awer Mabil was dropped, as was another gloveman in Andrew Redmayne.

    The squad is a mix of youth and experience – which very much sums up the current state of play for Graham Arnold’s side.

    Arnold said last month before the matches against England and New Zealand: “We are going through a bit more of a rebuild situation at the moment. When you look at the squad overall, there are 11 players who’ve had less than 10 caps, there’s five or six players that have had between 11 and 20.”

    There’s been significant turnover in the last 12 months, with just nine members of the squad having competed at the World Cup in Qatar.

    Midfield stalwart Aaron Mooy retired, while Nathaniel Atkinson and Riley McGree are both injured.

    Australia’s midfield general Aaron Mooy has retired.Source: AFP

    But a number of other players from Qatar are struggling for form or match minutes at club level, including Degenek and Bailey Wright, or Ajdin Hrustic who was arguably Australia’s best player in the qualification road to Qatar but now can’t get a game at Hellas Verona in Italy.

    It’s clear from the number of debuts handed out in recent months that Arnold is looking towards the future and attempting to increase the depth of the squad – something he also prioritised when he took over after the 2018 World Cup, when a host of retirements including the likes of Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak forced a generational shift in the squad.

    Arnold used 68 different players in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup – and it would hardly be surprising if he exceeds that number this time around.

    Seven players have already debuted in 2023, while 37 have been used in total. In the current squad, there are two uncapped players – Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer of Charlton Athletic.

    Maynard-Brewer is one of two young goalkeepers called up in place of more experienced heads like 34-year-old Andrew Redmayne. Maynard-Brewer was included in the September squad for the Mexico match but has not yet debuted for the Socceroos. Joe Gauci also returns to the set-up, having debuted against Ecuador in March before being left out of the past couple of squads while his Adelaide United waited for the new A-League season to begin.

    Ashley Maynard-Brewer in action against Manchester United in January.Source: Getty Images

    The pair of young talents (at 24 and 23 years old respectively) are viewed as the likely long-term successors to captain Maty Ryan. The 31-year-old remains in fine form with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands and has a monopoly on the number one jersey at present, but ensuring the next generation of keepers are ready to step up is crucial, especially given the ever-present threat of injuries.

    At the opposite end of the park is an equally pressing need to find long-term solutions. Yengi is one of four strikers included, alongside veterans Mitch Duke (30 caps), Jamie Maclaren (30) and Brandon Borrello (9). But with Duke 32 years old and McLaren 30, the need to plan for the future in the number nine role – arguably the position where the Socceroos have struggled for depth the most in recent years – is clear.

    It’s a similar story with the rest of the attacking unit. Craig Goodwin is turning 32 next month, Martin Boyle is 30, while absent veteran Mathew Leckie is 32. While they are key contributors now – and could prove vital to a good run at the Asian Cup in January – how many will still be part of the team should Australia qualify for the World Cup in 2026?

    Samuel Silvera (23) and Brandon Borrello (28) are in this squad, while Awer Mabil (28) is missing – but there’s no shortage of younger attacking talent waiting in the wings for their chance. Garang Kuol already has five caps at age 19, while Marco Tilio (22) also featured at the World Cup last year. Yengi (24) can also be deployed on the wing.

    Garang Kuol scored his first Socceroos goal against Ecuador earlier this year, but hasn’t made the current squad.Source: Getty Images

    Mohamed Toure (19) earned his debut against England last month, while fellow teen sensation Nestory Irankunda (17) is set for a move to German giants Bayern Munich and has also trained with the Socceroos squad in the past.

    Socceroos veteran and Toure’s former Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin told Foxsports.com.au after that debut last month: “He’s someone with massive potential.

    “He’s someone that in my opinion could be the Socceroos’ striker for the next 10 years.”

    While they may not be in the team this time around – and might not become regular fixtures until later in the World Cup qualification journey – there’s no doubt that the kids are coming.

    And with three years and at least 16 games on the road to the next World Cup, the young guns will get their chance.

    For now, though, the Socceroos must start winning.

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  • Aussies come agonisingly close to securing all-time upset as England edge out narrow win

    Aussies come agonisingly close to securing all-time upset as England edge out narrow win

    The Socceroos can feel extremely hard done by as a momentary lapse in concentration cost them dearly in a 1-0 defeat to England at Wembley Stadium in London.

    Ollie Watkins punished the Aussie backline who fell asleep at the wheel for a brief moment as he slid home to convert Jack Grealish’s driven ball across the face of goal in the 58th minute.

    The Aston Villa star’s strike was a cruel blow for the Socceroos, who looked the more dangerous side despite England enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

    With just over 10 minutes to go, Connor Metcalfe’s header smacked against the post from a Martin Boyle corner while Ryan Strain had an effort cleared off the line not long before half-time.

    Keanu Baccus played a perfect long ball over the top which found Martin Boyle, who had drifted in from the right to take up a dangerous position in the middle.

    Boyle turned on the ball and drove at the English backline before slipping in Strain, who had made a lung-bursting run up from right back.

    However, Strain’s effort was cleared on the line by England centre-back Lewis Dunk as the Aussie sunk to his knees and held his head in his hands.

    It was the best chance of the game as the two nations traded blows in an entertaining first half.

    Baccus himself came close to opening the scoring when his long-range effort took a deflection and forced England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to pull off a diving save to deny the St Mirren midfielder.

    England themselves had a golden chance to open the scoring thanks to some tidy work down the right flank.

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    Winger Jarrod Bowen had the ball and looked to drive at Australian left-back Kye Rowles, but he slipped in Connor Gallagher who had made a bursting run from midfield and had escaped his marker Jackson Irvine.

    Gallagher squared a ball across the face of goal but England stiker Ollie Watkins couldn’t get his feet set as the ball rolled between his legs and out of harm’s way.

    Watkins again had another gilt-edged chance to put England ahead when he was slipped through by James Maddison and rounded Mat Ryan, but he fired his effort wide from an open goal.

    TEAM NEWS

    England manager Gareth Southgate has fielded an experimental line-up, no surprise given they face Italy on Tuesday in a qualifier for next year’s European Championships, with a win guaranteeing England qualification.

    Chelsea defender Levi Colwill starts at left-back for his debut, while just three England players have ten caps or more – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish and Jordan Henderson. In fact, just one England player – centre-back Lewis Dunk – also started their last match (a win over Scotland last month).

    Australia has named a strong starting side, with Jackson Irvine recovering from an ankle injury suffered against Mexico last month to start.

    Socceroos XI

    4-3-3 (R-L): Maty Ryan; Ryan Strain, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles; Keanu Baccus, Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe; Martin Boyle, Mitch Duke, Craig Goodwin

    England XI

    Sam Johnstone; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Connor Gallagher, Lewis Dunk; Fikayo Tomori, Jack Grealish, Jordan Henderson, Ollie Watkins, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen

    LIVE BLOG

    Follow the action in our live blog below. If you can’t see the blog, click here.

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