Costly missed chances could come back to haunt the Socceroos, but Saudi Arabia felt equally aggrieved after they were denied an injury-time winner in a dramatic scoreless draw in Melbourne.
Australian hearts sank when Saudi substitute Sultan Al-Ghannam drove a low shot into the bottom left corner from distance with only seconds remaining, but amid jubilant celebrations, the goal was disallowed after it was deemed keeper Joe Gauci was interfered with by an offside player.
If the Saudi attacker was offside, it was by little more than a toe as the visitors remonstrated angrily and play halted for several minutes as the decision was checked by video referee.
The offside call was upheld, only for Australia to go down the other end and almost score via a stunning bicycle kick attempt from Riley McGree which missed right.
The biggest chance for the Socceroos to break the deadlock had come in the 84th minute, when substitute Brandon Borrello burst clear but opted to pass to McGree to his left instead of chipping the keeper.
A desperate sliding challenge from Saud Abdulhamid knocked the ball out of McGree’s path.
After starting slowly but taking control at the half-hour mark, the Socceroos lost key playmaker Ajdin Hrustic at halftime after he had appeared sore before the break.
His replacement Nishan Velupillay was the brightest spark in the second half, but suffered an ankle injury when he was brought down in a tangle of limbs in the penalty box in the 69th minute.
Melbourne-born Hrustic missed a golden opportunity to open the Socceroos’ account in the 45th minute when Aiden O’Neill boldly slid from behind to strip a Saudi defender of the ball and leave his teammate on his preferred left side on the edge of the box.
But Hrustic failed to connect with his shot and barely tested the keeper, before fellow local boy Jackson Irvine was left bitterly disappointed on the stroke of halftime when he moved in on the box but fired his shot just over the top-right hand corner.
The draw left the two sides on equal points midway through the third round of qualifying, with a win over Bahrain crucial for Australia to move towards the top-two finish required to book a World Cup berth by June next year.
Riley McGree of the Socceroos reacts during the Round 3 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on November 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
PENALTY OVERTURNED
The opposition keeper sent off and a penalty in the first 15 minutes? Christmas almost came early for the Socceroos when Saudi gloveman Ahmed Alkassar was drawn into the path of Mitch Duke and the pair clashed heads in the 13th minute.
But despite the referee pointing to the spot after both players hit the deck, it was obvious upon the first replay that the collision had happened outside the box and the decision was swiftly downgraded.
Alkassar, who lay spread-eagled on his back, completely still, for two minutes after the collision, escaped with a yellow card and did not need to enter concussion protocols.
GAUCI’S GLOVES TO LOSE
Mathew Ryan retained the Socceroos captaincy leading into this window, but it would take a dramatic shift for him to remain in the role after Tony Popovic opted for Joe Gauci in goal for the third consecutive match.
Gauci, who has made only two cup appearances for Aston Villa so far this season, had two heart-in-mouth moments on the ball early on, but gained a confidence boost when he pulled off an impressive double save on the brink of halftime.
An eventual offside call erased most of the meaning of a dangerous counter-attack by Marwan Al-Sahafi, but Gauci did well in a one-on-one before getting back to his feet and parrying a follow-up shot to safety.
Joe Gauci of the Socceroos kicks the ball during the Round 3 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on November 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
IN FULL VOICE
The size of Melbourne’s Saudi Arabian community is often underestimated, but there was no missing the Green Falcons’ active support despite organisers cramming them into a single corner at the river end of the stadium.
Driven by a significant international student population, the Saudi crew drummed, chanted and bounced to be easily the loudest bay in the venue, stripping away any home crowd advantage the Socceroos had been hoping to capitalise on.
Well, that was surprising. Tony Popovic’s 26-player squad to face Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in two crucial World Cup qualifiers over the next fortnight has dismantled the status quo.
The family, as the squad and environment were so often described under former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, has been broken up and, in its place, sits an eclectic mix of new faces and ones that seemed to be surplus to requirements.
Others, meanwhile, are completely missing through their own choosing; as is the case with Cardiff City midfielder Alex Robertson, or have been excluded, where they were previously part of the furniture.
Popovic, after taking on the role just weeks before the last international window in October, said he wanted to ensure that nobody felt they had a right to a Socceroos jersey. With this squad he has done just that and perhaps the biggest story surrounds three players who won’t feature in Melbourne and Bahrain this month.
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THE MISSING PLAYERS
Alex Robertson
When Alex Robertson made his debut for Australia in a friendly against Ecuador in March last year, it seemed like the next 100-cap Socceroo had been discovered.
The midfielder, who is now on the books of Championship side Cardiff City, is one of those players blessed with both tactical and technical skill in abundance and it appeared as though the battle for his allegiance was won.
After all, with his father Mark and grandfather, also named Alexander, in the stands in Sydney that night, he became a third-generation Socceroo.
Mark represented Australia in 2001 and Alexander in the mid 1980s.
But Robertson is also eligible to represent Scotland, England and Peru through birth, residence and family.
After playing his junior football in Sydney, Robertson made the move to the UK as a teenager and represented England at youth level.
The 21-year-old hasn’t featured for Australia since a 2-nil friendly defeat to Argentina in Beijing in June last year and whether he adds to his two caps is now up in the air.
Last month, Robertson’s absence from the squad for games against China and Japan was explained as a paperwork issue with FIFA that hadn’t been resolved yet.
Now, it seems, Football Australia has done everything it can to resolve the matter.
“That sits in his hands now,” Popovic said after unveiling his squad in Melbourne.
“If he wants to play for the Socceroos, he needs to make himself available.
“It’s an Alex decision on what he wants to do.
“If he wants to make himself available for the Socceroos then we can look at whether we select him, but at the moment we don’t have that option.
“You have to respect the shirt, the badge; you have to respect the honour of playing for the Socceroos and we also have to respect the fact that everyone can make their own choice.
“Right now, his decision is not to make himself available.”
It’s a measure of Robertson’s immense talent that Popovic went on to say that the door hasn’t been closed because of this latest development, but fans who have long called for his inclusion in green and gold, at least now have some clarity on the matter.
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Nestory Irankunda
The other big name missing from the squad list was that of Nestory Irankunda.
The 18-year-old, who swapped Adelaide United for Bayern Munich in the off-season, has made a positive start to his time at the German powerhouse.
The winger has been scoring for both Bayern II in the Regionalliga and also in the UEFA Youth League, but his output at international level has been mixed.
He looked lively and dangerous in the last fixtures of the Graham Arnold era, but struggled in his first match under Popovic, when handed a starting role against China in Adelaide last month and then didn’t feature against Japan.
Nestory Irankunda of Australia controls the ball during the round three 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Bahrain at Robina Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Popovic’s system, where the wingers play a more inverted role, doesn’t seem to suit the teenager. He’s more comfortable wider on the right, and so far, that is at odds with Popovic’s preferred tactical set-up.
“It’s just a selection decision,” Popovic said.
“We know he’s a young man with a lot of potential, who is signed at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“We just feel it is an opportunity for him to settle in at Bayern and get the development that he needs there and the growth.
“We still hope that we really see this potential moving forward from him in the national team in years to come.”
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Keanu Baccus
It won’t be a major headline, but the decision not to call-up Keanu Baccus is still notable.
The combative, deeper lying midfielder, was a mainstay under Arnold, who shot to prominence at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 while locked in a fierce battle with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in a heart stopping round of 16 defeat in Doha.
Under Popovic, Baccus has only seen 10-minutes of action, and that was in a largely unfamiliar right-back role against Japan, in the 1-1 draw in Saitama.
The new coach has plenty of options in central midfield too in the form of Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill, Max Balard, Anthony Caceres and Patrick Yazbek.
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THE NEW PLAYERS
Anthony Caceres
Anthony Caceres has often been referred to as the best player never to represent Australia at any level.
Now 32, it appeared the chance of the Sydney FC midfielder shedding that tag was slim, but the door has finally opened.
Caceres seems perfectly suited to Popovic’s system where those further forward are required to be comfortable and make good decisions in extremely tight spaces.
In fact, he’s done just that his whole career.
There was a school of thought over the years that while Caceres was technically gifted, he lacked a killer edge in the final third.
But with three goals, 10 assists and 13 goal involvements to his name last season, those concerns have been allayed, if Popovic ever had them at all.
“He’s been a player that I’ve admired for a very long time,” said Popovic.
“He deserves his chance.
“Every coach has their ideas and this is his chance now.
Max Balard
It’s perhaps the ultimate compliment, that after moving from the Central Coast Mariners to Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda this season, the local media in the Netherlands quickly dubbed the 23-year-old the ‘Australian Kante.’
It’s a nod to former Leicester City and Chelsea star N’Golo Kante, now playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, who is one of the finest ball-winning midfielders of his generation.
Balard missed selection for last month’s window, but should now get the chance to shine, after proving to Australia’s new coaching staff that he can be just as damaging with his range of passing as well.
“He’s had some very good performances this year,” Popovic said.
“We’ve been monitoring him prior to the last camp, but I think in the last month, his game has become more consistent; more balanced in his play, with and without the ball.”
Hayden Matthews
The 20-year-old Sydney FC central defender only signed his first professional contract in January this year and has now earned his maiden international call-up.
At 195 centimetres, he is a towering figure, and although on the surface, it looks like Matthews has been included to get some experience in an extended 26-player squad, it’s interesting that he’s on the radar of the national team boss so early in his career.
Keanu Baccus did not find himself in Popovic’s squad. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
THE RETURNING PLAYERS
Rhyan Grant
The last time Rhyan Grant featured for the Socceroos was in a third round World Cup qualifying defeat to Japan in Sydney in 2022.
The tireless right-back has seen a long list of players cycle through that position in an Australian shirt since then, but never in his wildest dreams did the Sydney FC captain think he’d be considered again.
“I honestly didn’t see this coming, but I’m absolutely delighted,” Grant said.
The 33-year-old, who has 21-caps to his name, thought his time had passed, and stressed that point whenever the topic of a recall to international football surfaced, but could well be the answer to the problematic position again.
Brandon Borrello
The search for a striker who can score on a consistent basis is just as puzzling as the absence of an established right back.
Brandon Borrello will fight for minutes alongside Mitch Duke and Kusini Yengi.
The Western Sydney Wanderers quarter-final exit at the hands of Adelaide United in the Australia Cup left the forward short of minutes for the October window, but with 266-minutes and two goals from three games under his belt in the A-League this season, he’s moved back up the pecking order.
Milos Degenek
Few people are more passionate about the Socceroos jersey than Milos Degenek.
In an extraordinary interview at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 he offered an insight into the mentality he takes into games.
“The lion mentality is, you either eat or you get eaten, and that’s the simplest way to put it,” Degenek said at the time.
“I used this term before the Peru game with the boys, I said ‘there’s bread on the table’.
“Either we eat tonight; my kids, my wife and my family eats tonight, or they eat and my kids go home to sleep hungry and my wife as well – and I don’t want that to happen.”
Degenek has missed most of 2024 due to injury but is back on the park and played in FK Crvena zvezda’s first round Serbian Cup game just over a week ago.
The 30-year-old, who can play as a central defender or right-back, adds versatility to the squad and even if he doesn’t feature on the field, he’ll be a force for good around the squad.
Few people are more passionate about the Socceroos jersey than Milos Degenek. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Martin Boyle
Martin Boyle looked out of sorts in the September window as the Socceroos stumbled against Bahrain and Indonesia in, what turned out to be, the final days of the Arnold era.
He didn’t feature in Popovic’s first squad, but his form for Hibernian, in Scotland, has been hard to ignore.
The 31-year-old has five goals and five assists to his name this season and could potentially be deployed as an inverted winger or striker.
His experience will also help the side deal with the scale of the challenge in-front of them.
A victory over Saudi Arabia next week will go some way towards rectifying the Socceroos dire start to the third round of qualifying.
Australia is currently second in group C but locked on five points with their next opponents, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
A top two finish in the group earns automatic qualification for the next World Cup in 2026, so the stakes around every fixture from here are high.
Squad: Max Balard, Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Jordy Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Anthony Caceres, Milos Degenek, Mitch Duke, Joe Gauci (GK), Jason Geria, Craig Goodwin, Rhyan Grant, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Paul Izzo (GK), Hayden Matthews, Riley McGree, Lewis Miller, Aiden O’Neill, Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan (GK), Harry Souttar, Nishan Velupillay, Patrick Yazbek, Kusini Yengi.
Teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda has been omitted from the Socceroos squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, but uncapped trio Max Balard, Anthony Caceres and Hayden Matthews have been named by national coach Tony Popovic.
The 26-man attacking squad also includes returning attackers Martin Boyle, Brandon Borrello and Kusini Yengi, as well as veteran defenders Milos Degenek and Rhyan Grant.
Apart from Irankunda, also left out from the squad named for last month’s games against China and Japan were attacking weapons Daniel Arzani, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Sam Silvera, midfielders Luke Brattan, Keanu Baccus and Gianni Stensness, and defender Thomas Deng.
Sydney FC star Anthony Caceres has been named in the Socceroos squad. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“We’re in the early stages of this journey as a group and we’ll continue to implement the style of play that will be the foundation of our success throughout this cycle,” Popovic said.
“It’s an important series of fixtures and we’re looking forward to finishing off the year on the right note, and equally, putting on a strong performance for the people of Melbourne who have shown us such great support in recent years.”
Socceroos squad: Max Balard, Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Jordy Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Anthony Caceres, Milos Degenek, Mitchell Duke, Joe Gauci, Jason Geria, Craig Goodwin, Rhyan Grant, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Paul Izzo, Hayden Matthews, Riley McGree, Lewis Miller, Aiden O’Neill. Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan, Harry Souttar, Nishan Velupillay, Patrick Yazbek, Kusini Yengi
Johan Neeskens, part of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created “total football” in the 1970s and a key team-mate of Johan Cruyff, has died aged 73, the Dutch football federation said Monday.
“With Johan Neeskens, the Dutch and international football world loses a legend,” the KNVB federation said in a statement, adding that the midfielder had died on Sunday from an unspecified illness.
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Neeskens was part of the Ajax team that won three straight European Cups in the early 1970s and was also a member of the ‘Clockwork Oranje’ Dutch team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978.
He won 49 caps for the Netherlands.
“With his characteristic tackles, sublime insight and iconic penalties, (he) will forever remain one of the leading players that Dutch football has ever produced,” said the KNVB.
After his playing career, Neeskens took part in coaching programmes around the world including as an assistant to Australian national team manager Guus Hiddink for the 2006 World Cup where the Socceroos progressed from the group stage to the Round of 16.
Known on the pitch for his uncompromising tackling, he also had a softer side, the KNVB said in its statement.
He was “a world citizen and a gentle family man who was proud of his children and grandchildren and who, until the very end, knew how to touch others with his love for football.” The KNVB said it would hold a minute’s silence at the next two international matches against Hungary and Germany.
Ajax wrote on X: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Johan Neeskens. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.” “Rest in peace, Ajax legend.” Barcelona, where he was known as “Johan The Second” (after Crujff), according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, also tweeted condolences.
“A blaugrana legend who will forever be in our memory.” Current Dutch coach Ronald Koeman described Neeskens as his “great idol”. Playing football in the street as a boy, Koeman said his friends either wanted to be Crujff or Dutch star Willem van Hanegem.
“But I wanted to be Neeskens,” said Koeman, cited by local news agency ANP. “His style really appealed to me. His fight, for example. And he was also a great penalty specialist.”
Neeskens, tough midfielder in Cruyff’s Ajax and Dutch teams
Johan Neeskens, who has died aged 73, was the powerful but smooth engine of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created “total football” with Johan Cruyff at their heart.
Neeskens was part of the Ajax team that won three straight European Cups and a key component of the “Clockwork Oranje” Dutch team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, losing both.
“He was worth two men in midfield,” Ajax team-mate Sjaak Swart once told FIFA.com.
Neeskens was a relentless runner and tough tackler, but he was also skilful. He finished the 1974 World Cup with five goals, second to only to Grzegorz Lato of Poland and top scorer in a Dutch team that also contained Cruyff and the flamboyant Johnny Rep.
“I always liked to play with style — and to win,” Neeskens said. Johannes Jacobus Neeskens was born in Heemstede, west of Amsterdam, on September 15, 1951. He was signed from his home-town club by Ajax coach Rinus Michels in 1970.
Neeskens was right-back when the club beat Greek side Panathinaikos 2-0 for their first European Cup win in 1971. He then switched to central midfield, playing there as Ajax won two more titles in 1972, against Inter Milan, and 1973, against Juventus.
The Ajax team led by Cruyff and Neeskens formed the spine of the Dutch side that dazzled on the way to the 1974 World Cup final in West Germany.
After just two minutes in Munich, Neeskens set two World Cup final records, scoring the quickest goal in as he converted the first penalty, awarded before any West German and most Dutch players had touched the ball.
“As a player it is a little bit strange because sometimes you need the feeling,” he later told FIFA.
“I’d hardly touched the ball and wasn’t even warm. Then you have to make that penalty in front of 80,000 who are against you and of course the whole world is watching it.
“That was the first time that I was a little bit nervous in taking a penalty,” he said.
“When I started running, I was thinking: ‘which side am I going to shoot?’ It was more or less always in the right side of the goal. At the last step, I thought ‘no, I’m going to shoot the other way’. It was not my meaning to kick the ball straight through the middle.” But he also said: “If you’re not sure, just hit it as hard as possible. If you don’t know where it’s going, nor will the keeper.” The West Germans fought back, equalising with the second ever World Cup final penalty, converted by Paul Breitner, and winning with a goal by Gerd Mueller.
Despite the loss, “that tournament was a dream,” Neeskens told FIFA. “I was 22 and a key player.” The Dutch had caught the eye, but West Germany took the trophy. “We lost that game but everybody was talking about our team and our football,” Neeskens recalled. “We deserved to win that final.”
– ‘Kamikaze pilot’ –
Four years later in Argentina, as Cruyff opted to stay at home, Neeskens was again a key part of the Dutch team that reached the final.
He was injured early in a group loss to Scotland and missed the revenge victory over West Germany. He returned for the last two matches, including the 3-1 defeat in extra time as the Dutch again lost the final to the host nation.
By then Neeskens had followed Cruyff to Catalonia, where Barcelona fans dubbed the midfielder “Johan the Second”.
In five years at Barca, he won a Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup before heading to the United States for five seasons with the star-studded New York Cosmos.
Bobby Haarms, Michels’ assistant at Ajax, was quoted in “Brilliant Orange”, a book on Dutch football by David Winner, as saying Neeskens was “like a kamikaze pilot.” He coached in the Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland and South Africa and spent more than four years as Netherlands assistant coach under first Guus Hiddink and then Frank Rijkaard.
He was also Rijkaard’s assistant at Barcelona and Hiddink’s assistant with Australia.
New Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is prepared to “win ugly” if it means Australia qualifies for the next FIFA World Cup, but has also promised more “dynamic” performances from the national team under his tenure.
Popovic’s appointment was confirmed just four days after Graham Arnold made the shock decision to quit in the wake of two poor World Cup qualifying results.
Having won two A-League premierships, Popovic also guided the Western Sydney Wanderers to becoming the first Australian team to win the prestigious AFC Champions League.
“This is the ultimate challenge and I’m excited by it,” Popovic said on Monday ahead of Australia’s matches next month against China and Japan.
“Five years ago I wasn’t ready for this role. Three years ago or two years ago, I wouldn’t have looked at this role.
“(Now) I’m ready. I want this job. I’m here because I want to be here.”
Popovic, 51, said the Socceroos looked a “bit flat” in this month’s 1-0 home loss to Bahrain and 0-0 away draw with Indonesia.
“That can happen … (but) there are some areas I believe we can improve. That’s talking from the back to the front,” he said.
“Maybe we can be a little bit more dynamic, we can move the ball quicker, we can get more players in then box … I’m sure we can get that back and do it even better moving forward.
“We need to be a lot more connected as a team with and without the ball … (play) with the energy and desire, and with the speed and the dynamic type of play that I believe the players will enjoy.”
However, the ultimate goal is qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with Popovic – who departed Melbourne Victory after guiding them to last season’s A-League grand final – suggesting he would do whatever was required to achieve that.
“We need to win. We should always look to improve, but qualifying is not easy,” he said.
“It’s always OK to win ugly. That’s not to say you’re planning to play that way.
“I’ll never be satisfied when we win and we don’t play well. We’ll be satisfied with the win but we need to make sure the style gets better. We should always aim to be the best.”
A member of the Socceroos’ famed “Golden Generation” that included the likes of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill, John Aloisi, Mark Bresciano, Craig Moore and Mark Schwarzer, Popovic vowed his players would “honour” the Socceroos’ jersey.
“We always wore that shirt with integrity, and we wore it as privilege, as a badge of honour – we never took it for granted,” he said.
“We need those values. Honour is number one to wear the shirt and wear it with pride, and represent your country and your family.
“Looking ahead, I have great faith and confidence in our ability to grow as a team. Together, we will work tirelessly to improve, evolve, and continue Australia’s success on the international stage.”
Football Australia chief executive officer James Johnson said Popovic was the “ideal choice” to guide the Socceroos moving forward.
“We have moved quickly to secure the best possible candidate for this crucial role,” Johnson said.
“Tony’s proven leadership and strategic football acumen, combined with his deep understanding of Australian football, our players, and what it means to be a Socceroo makes him the ideal choice to lead out national team moving forward.”
TONY POPOVIC’S COACHING RECORD
– A-League Success: He has won two A-League Premierships, first with Western Sydney Wanderers FC in 2012/13 and then with Perth Glory FC in 2018/19. During the 2023/24 season, Popovic led Melbourne Victory FC to the grand final.
– AFC Champions League Victory: In 2014, Popovic led Western Sydney Wanderers FC to become the first Australian team to win the prestigious AFC Champions League
– AFC Coach of the Year: His success in Asia was recognised when he was named AFC Coach of the Year in 2014.
The rapid rise of Kaitlyn Torpey has left Charlotte Grant out in the cold as the Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson revealed his 18-player squad for the Paris Olympics.
Foxsports.com.au breaks down the team headed for Paris in Matildas Winners and Losers!
In the space of a week, Torpey earned a move from Melbourne City to NWSL powerhouse San Diego Wave and was called up to the Matildas squad for the first time.
Torpey, who can play as both a full back and a winger, made her debut on February 24 against Uzbekistan and has not looked back since.
The 24-year-old even scored in just her second international game for the Matildas against Uzbekistan in the Aussies’ 10-0 demolition on February 28.
Torpey also started the first friendly against China and showed promising signs in her link-up play with winger Cortnee Vine on the right flank.
Gustavsson clearly has plenty of faith in Torpey and one imagines her versatility will be vital in a relatively thin squad at the Olympics.
Katrina Gorry
There were serious fears Gorry would miss the Olympics when she was forced off the field just 21 minutes into West Ham’s WSL clash against Chelsea in March.
Gorry left the stadium limping in a moon boot as her season was unfortunately brought to an early end, with the tough-tackling midfielder undergoing surgery in early April.
She was also not named in the Matildas squad for the recent friendlies against China.
However, Gustavsson has plenty of faith she can complete a full recovery in time for the Matildas’ first group game against Germany on July 25.
Gorry has formed a tight bond with Kyra Cooney-Cross in the Matildas’ midfield and if the two are alongside each other on the park in France, it’ll no doubt give a massive boost to the team.
Gorry has not played since March. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Caitlin Foord
After a taxing season for Arsenal and the Matildas, Gustavsson knew Foord was one of several that had to be carefully managed during the friendlies against China.
So when Foord went down just 15 minutes after coming on in the Adelaide fixture clutching her hamstring, some pondered if the Matildas were about to be short of yet another attacking option.
Thankfully Foord was not severely injured and would have been declared fit to keep playing, but Matildas medical staff deemed it wise to bring her off given how close the Olympics were.
Unsurprisingly, Foord played no part in the second friendly against China as the team wrapped her in cotton wool.
LOSERS
Charlotte Grant
Grant can consider herself tremendously unlucky not to have made the final cut.
The South Australian came into the fold as Ellie Carpenter’s replacement due to the latter’s ACL injury and looked at home in the Matildas backline, even scoring in a 2-0 win over England last April.
However, Grant has rarely featured for the Matildas since Carpenter’s return and now finds herself as a reserve player for the Olympics with Torpey taking her place.
Lydia Williams
Gustavsson opted not to call on Williams’ experience at the Olympics as Teagan Micah was preferred as Mackenzie Arnold’s back-up.
Williams recently announced she would retire from international football after the Olympics and was given a fitting farewell in the Matildas’ second friendly against China.
Could Gustavsson have done with a cool head like Williams in Paris had the pressure cranked up after a tough result?
Williams enjoyed a fitting farewell in the Matildas’ second friendly against China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Sharn Freier
Freier was an unlikely candidate to have made the final 18-player squad but when Foord went down holding her hamstring against China, the Brisbane Roar forward’s inclusion might not have seemed so far fetched.
The 22-year-old could still feature having been named as an alternate player so if Foord or any other forwards have injury issues, she may still feature at the Olympics.
Freier enjoyed a breakout season for the Roar with three goals and five assists as well as creating the third-most chances in the A-League Womens.
Her impressive form earned a deserved call-up to the Matildas squad for the China friendlies and clearly impressed Gustavsson while in camp.
The insane numbers behind Kylian Mbappe’s inevitable move to a Spanish giant have been revealed as Manchester United’s skipper is attracting interest from two massive clubs.
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou could raid one of his former clubs for a teenage star.
Catch up on the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
The worst-kept secret in football looks set to be confirmed in the coming days as Kylian Mbappe will make his move to Real Madrid official.
Mbappe elected to leave Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent and although the French superstar would have had his pick of the clubs, he’s had his heart set on Madrid for several years.
One glance at the dizzying figures involved in the deal provides further evidence as to why Mbappe never really considered any other clubs.
According to Sky Sports, Mbappe will pen a five-year contract with the Spanish giants, who recently claimed its 15th Champions League title after beating Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Mbappe’s contract will net the World Cup winner a cool $AUD24 million salary, a significant downgrade on his $122 million-a-year deal with PSG.
However, Mbappe will earn plenty via his staggering $163 million signing-on bonus with Madrid.
Mbappe leaves PSG with six Ligue 1 titles as well as 256 goals in 308 games across all competitions but failed to lead the team to a Champions League title.
Mbappe is set to bank a staggering signing-on fee as part of his contract with Real Madrid. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
UTD TALISMAN’S AGENT OPENS TALKS WITH RIVALS
The agent of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has reportedly held talks with one of Europe’s biggest clubs amid building speculation he could leave Old Trafford.
The report also mentions Barcelona are keeping a watchful eye on the situation, although they are yet to formalise any interest.
Fernandes, who has made 232 appearances for United since joining from Sporting, is under contract with the Red Devils until the end of the 2025/26 season.
The talismanic midfielder has gone on record stating he would like to remain at the club, but insisted he wouldn’t engage in any transfer talk until after Euro 2024.
The loss of Fernandes would put a serious dent in United boss Erik ten Hag’s plans to return the club to the bright lights of the Champions League after the club finished eighth in the Premier League.
However, a stunning FA Cup triumph over Manchester City secured a spot in the Europa League for Ten Hag’s troops.
Bruno Fernandes’ agent has reportedly opened talks with Bayern Munich. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ANGE SET TO RAID FORMER CLUB FOR TEENAGE PRODIGY
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou could raid one of his former clubs as a teenage star continues to attract interest from some of Europe’s biggest names.
The Daily Record claims Postecoglou’s Tottenham have entered the race for Celtic young gun Daniel Kelly, with Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Bologna and newly-promoted Como all interested in securing the teen’s services.
Postecoglou worked with Kelly in his two years as Hoops boss, although the 18-year-old did not make a first team appearance in that stint.
However, Kelly has impressed in his six appearances for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers, even scoring in a 7-1 rout over Dundee in February.
The report claims only Leverkusen have a formal interest in Kelly, meaning Postecoglou may have to act fast if he does want to bring the teenager to north London.
Ange Postecoglou has been linked with a move for a Celtic teenager. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS …
Fulham have reportedly made a 23-year-old England international their main transfer priority this summer, but he will not come cheap.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe is the name at the top of Fulham manager Marco Silva’s wishlist.
For the Gunners, a sale of the midfielder will represent pure profit in regards to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), so they may be tempted to boost their own transfer kitty.
Although Smith Rowe has three England caps to his name, he struggled to break into Arsenal’s starting line-up and made just 13 league appearances in the 23/24 season.
Incoming Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is set to waste little time in being active in the transfer market as he plots a move for Manchester City young gun James McAtee.
The Sun claims Maresca was desperate to secure McAtee had he remained as Leicester City boss, but even with a significantly larger budget, the Italian is still keen on the 21-year-old.
McAtee endured a tough season with Sheffield United as the Blades finished last in the Premier League, but still showed enough glimpses of why he’s so highly rated by those at City.
The magical sporting story that is the Central Coast Mariners has delivered the ultimate final chapter with back-to-back A-League championship wins and a history making treble of trophies in season 2023/24 following an epic 3-1 extra time win over the Melbourne Victory in Gosford.
Just when you thought the Central Coast fairytale had finally come to an end, English striker Ryan Edmonson delivered a superb normal time equaliser in the 91st minute to break Victory hearts, just minutes away from what would have been a record equalling fifth Australian football title for them.
Ryan Edmondson celebrates scoring a goal. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
His heroics were matched by that of Mariners youngster Miguel Di Pizio who struck early in the first half of extra-time, finishing off a move that he started himself.
The 18-year-old drove forward from midfield and got on the end of a Ronald Barcellos cross to become the youngest scorer in A-League Grand Final history.
As the Victory pushed forward in hope of an extra-time equaliser, Edmondson added his second to secure the Joe Marston Medal for best on ground and ultimately seal a treble winning feat that is simply hard to fathom for a club that was once the laughing stock of the competition.
The match-winning moments sent a record breaking, sell-out crowd of 21,379 in Gosford into utter delirium as they celebrate a club that is now the jewel of the region as it continued to defy every obstacle possible over the last two years to become arguably the best single season team in A-League history.
That emotion spilled over on the final whistle as the Mariners fans ran onto the field to celebrate with their heroes and manager Mark Jackson in spectacular scenes not seen before in an A-League Grand Final but one fitting of an Australian football feat that is simply unmatched.
Instrumental in both Mariners goals was Socceroo midfielder Josh Nisbet, who may be diminutive in stature but is simply massive in heart and talent.
Once the Mariners went behind, he drove his side on like no other to help set-up both goals and add a Championship Medal to his Johnny Warren Medal for best player of the season.
The defeat for the Victory continues one of the more stunning droughts in Australian sport, that of manager Tony Popovic and his now five Grand Final losses across spells with Western Sydney, Perth and now Melbourne.
His credentials as a manager are undoubted but it’s a heartbreaking hurdle that he simply cannot get past.
It is one he and the Victory faithful thought he had finally evaded though after Jason Geria’s second half strike to put the Victory 1-nil up.
The Mariners celebrate with Ryan Edmondson. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesDanny Vukovic and Ryan Edmondson of the Central Coast Mariners celebrate Edmondson scoring a goal. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The 31-year-old Socceroo was set-up nicely by some tricky interplay from Daniel Arzani and Jordi Valadon who teed Geria up on the edge of the area to side-foot a stunning strike home into the top left-hand corner to send the several thousand travelling Victory fans into ecstasy.
That only served to spark the Mariners out of their malaise and into history making action.
With Nisbet and his midfield compadrade Max Balard at the heart of every foray forward they finally broke a resolute Victory defence late in normal time and seemingly driven on by an entire city, went on with it to deliver a second successive championship for the Central Coast Mariners, third trophy for the season and third title in their now glittering history.
NISBET’S SEASON CRYSTALLISED
There are few better on-field stories in Australian football than Josh Nisbet. The Mariners dynamo’s spectacular campaign was rewarded with a first Socceroos cap this year and now he has a Championship and Johnny Warren Medal – the highest individual honour in the domestic game – to go with it for the player of the season. The award was presented at full-time with Nisbet finishing on 36 votes, seven clear of Victory striker Bruno Fornaroli with Wellington star Kosta Barbarouses in third.
VISCIOUS OPENING
Bar a couple of Daniel Arzani long range strikes, and a Ryan Teague header, there weren’t a plethora of chances in the first half but the game, that the Victory had the better of early, was played at a cracking place with plenty of physicality. So much so, that a head clash between Victory defender Damien Da Silva and Mariners striker Alou Kuol left both players bloodied and needing head strapping. With his bleached blonde hair, Kuol cut a true retro figure but the knock took enough out of him for him to be substituted at half-time.
GLORIOUS GOSFORD
The A-League may have its myriad of issues at present but the finals series yet again has shown the support is certainly there. There were sold out finals the whole way through and the Grand Final arena, adjacent to the Gosford water, presented a stunning scene. Three thousand travelling Victory fans added plenty to a sold out stadium while every surrounding pub and restaurant was adorned with Mariners colours and will now be in celebration mode for weeks and possibly months to come.
The A-League Men’s All-Stars have sent Newcastle United back home with their tails between their legs after embarrassing the English Premier League club 8-0 at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe expressed his lack of enthusiasm during the week about making the long trip down to Australia so soon after the end of the EPL season.
And, just five days after playing their final Premier League game, his Magpies played like a team that couldn’t wait to head back home.
Newcastle fielded a much more inexperienced team than the one that beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties at the MCG on Wednesday night. Excluding fourth-choice goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, the average age of their starting line-up was 19.5.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 24: Alex Murphy of Newcastle United and Aidan Harris of Newcastle United look on following the the exhibition match between A-League All Stars Men and Newcastle United FC at Marvel Stadium on May 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Magpies were missing multiple mainstays from their side such as Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schar, Sean Longstaff, Anthony Gordon, Martin Dubravka and Dan Burn.
The All-Stars took full advantage and wrapped up the contest in little over half an hour after needing less than five minutes to open the scoring when Wellington star Ben Old rammed it home from 12 yards out at the back post.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when Dylan Charlton failed to negotiate Western United veteran Ben Garrucio’s cross from the left and after the 17-year-old Newcastle defender looped it towards his own goal, the ever-alert Nicolas Milanovic pounced and toe-poked it past Gillespie.
Nine minutes later, A-League golden boot winner Adam Taggart made it 3-0 with a magnificent effort from the edge of the box as he turned on a dime and let loose with a peach of a hit that went in off the left upright.
Things fell apart dramatically for the visitors in the second half and in the 62nd minute, Newcastle Jets star Apostolos Stamatelopoulos put the All-Stars four goals to the good against his namesake club when, from 20 yards out, he whipped it magnificently past Gillespie diving at full stretch.
MELBOURNE , AUSTRALIA. May 24 , 2024: Apostolos Stamatelopoulos of the All Stars celebrates a 2nd half goal with Nestory Irankunda . Pic: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Stamatelopoulos completed his brace 12 minutes later when he made it 5-0 with a tap-in from the goal line after being fed by a beautiful pass from Nestory Irankunda who went on a blistering run down the right in what was a parting gift for the Australian public from the precocious teenager before he heads to Germany to link up with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
The All-Stars scored again in the 82nd minute when Irankunda and Bozhidar Kraev combined to get it to Jake Hollman who tapped it home from a few yards out into an unguarded net under absolutely no pressure.
Jordan Courtney-Perkins made it 7-0 eight minutes later when he popped it home from close range at the back post after mopping up Stamatelopoulos’ header from Tolgay Arslan’s corner and in the first minute of stoppage time an unmarked Kraev completed the rout when he elegantly chipped it over Newcastle goalkeeper Aidan Harris.
The All-Stars’ winning margin could have been even greater. In the 17th minute, Gillespie kicked it straight to Milanovic who gleefully sprinted to 16 yards out and unleashed a strike which had the Newcastle custodian beaten, but incredibly Milanovic watched on in disbelief as it pinballed off both posts and back out again.
Rashford LEFT OUT of Euro squad | 01:17
Under their feisty coach Patrick Kisnorbo, the All-Stars treated the match as anything but a friendly and went full throttle from the first whistle.
In many respects it was a case of boys against men as the hosts’ high-intensity press put the young Newcastle team under huge pressure, forcing multiple skill errors, and the more seasoned and experienced All-Stars made sure they capitalised.
The hosts dominated the first half and blitzed Newcastle for shots on goal (12-2) and shots on target (6-1), before ultimately winning both stats convincingly 23-5 and 13-1 respectively.
After coming on in the 71st minute for his first ever Newcastle bow against Tottenham, Aussie teenager Garang Kuol made his maiden start for the Magpies.
Kuol produced Newcastle’s only decent chance of the match in the 25th minute when he fired from 17 yards out but it went straight into the chest of All-Stars goalkeeper Alex Paulsen.
Things came full circle for Kuol who landed at Newcastle, thanks largely to his sensational performance for the All-Stars against Barcelona two years ago which grabbed the attention of global scouts.
Australian young gun Garang Kuol is set for more time on loan in Europe next season despite making his run on debut for Newcastle at the MCG and scoring in the penalty shootout.
After spending his first 16 months with Newcastle on loan at Hearts in Scotland and Volendam in the Netherlands, 19-year-old Kuol, from Shepparton, fittingly made his first appearance for the Magpies in front of his home crowd.
Magpies coach Eddie Howe viewed it as an opportunity for the teenager to “showcase his talents” but also said Kuol needed more game time in his next stint away from Newcastle before being a chance to make an impact in the EPL.
“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.”
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Since moving to Europe, Kuol has only managed a total of 23 senior appearances for various teams and an average of 38 minutes per game.
That included just 32 minutes coming in the 2024 calendar season after Volendam sacked their coach following board instability in December, Kuol left to watch from the sidelines as the club tumbled to relegation.
It leaves him desperately in need of match minutes to continue his development, with the youngster currently well out of the Newcastle first-team picture.
Kuol came in to the game at the MCG in the 71st minute and went on to convert one of the spot kicks in the penalty shootout which Newcastle won 5-4 after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
“It was a case of just defending and seeing the game out in that way and I thought he contributed to that and took his penalty really well so I’m delighted for him,” Howe said.
Kuol is set for more of the game time Howe suggested when Newcastle turn out against the A-League All-Stars at Marvel Stadium on Friday with the toll of travel taken on a lot of the touring party who played on Wednesday night with some on their way home.
“Yeah, definitely he’ll be involved,” Howe said.
“A lot of our international players will now move back to their various countries where they’re going to prepare for the Euros and different competitions.
