<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s World Cup squad is beginning to take shape with a host of impressive performances in Europe surely catching coach Tony Popovic\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n
Most pleasing for Socceroos fans has been the influx of goals coming from Australian boots, particularly for English clubs, in recent weeks. Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportsmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n While another attention grabber was Popovic being spotted in Italy last week, making his pitch to a young star who rejected Graham Arnold\u2019s advances four years ago.<\/p>\n If the manager\u2019s words prompt a change of heart, Australia\u2019s front three could look even more dynamic.<\/p>\n The veteran in goal, meanwhile, is on track to join Tim Cahill as the only Socceroo to be in the squad at four World Cups \u2014 and claim the solo record for most appearances in the global tournament.<\/p>\n We take a look at the contenders for a place in Australia\u2019s starting XI \u2014 with Popovic preferring a 3-4-2-1 formation \u2014 well as who is in the mix for the 26-player squad that will travel to Canada and the United States of America.<\/p>\n Scroll down for foxsports.com.au\u2019s Socceroos State of Play ahead of this year\u2019s FIFA World Cup!<\/i><\/p>\n Socceroos to face Mexico in friendly | 00:36<\/p>\n GOALKEEPERS<\/b><\/p>\n For some time it appeared as though Australia\u2019s No.1 jersey was up for debate.<\/p>\n But Mathew Ryan <\/b>has silenced any chatter with an impressive run of form in La Liga for Levante, including a spectacular double save against Barcelona<\/a> earlier this week.<\/p>\n Ryan was benched by Popovic at one stage last year as his club future remained up in the air, but the 33-year-old will almost certainly become the Australian with the most World Cup appearances.<\/p>\n He needs just one more to usurp Mat Leckie\u2019s total of ten, while in North America he will join Tim Cahill as having been in four World Cup squads, barring injury.<\/p>\n Ryan is likely to be joined in the squad by Paul Izzo<\/b>, who is plying his trade for Danish side Randers at present.<\/p>\n The third goalkeeper spot remains uncertain, however.<\/p>\n Melbourne City\u2019s Patrick Beach <\/b>was in the most recent Socceroos squad, but the 22-year-old could be edged out by Joe Gauci<\/b>.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old is on loan at League One outfit Port Vale from Premier League side Aston Villa, but has never made a first team appearance for the Villans since joining from Adelaide United.<\/p>\n Veteran Andrew Redmayne<\/b>, who was the hero of the playoff penalty shootout to qualify for the last World Cup, could be an outside option to add some more experience to the squad.<\/p>\n Socceroos select US World Cup base | 01:12<\/p>\n DEFENDERS<\/b><\/p>\n Perhaps Australia\u2019s strongest section of the park is its defence, which often bodes well in tournament play.<\/p>\n Popovic\u2019s preference is to play three centre backs with two wing backs.<\/p>\n Alessandro Circati <\/b>captained the national team last year and the 22-year-old, who plays for Parma in the Serie A, appears to be a certain starter in the heart of defence.<\/p>\n Milos Degenek <\/b>and Cameron Burgess <\/b>were also in the most recent national squad.<\/p>\n Degenek brings experience to the group, having played in all four matches last World Cup as well as having been in the squad in Russia in 2018.<\/p>\n While Burgess is captain of Championship side Swansea City and has impressed with his consistency in the English second tier.<\/p>\n Central defence is where Australia boasts depth, if they stay fit and a talented youngster has a change of heart.<\/p>\n Predicting the Socceroos World Cup squad | 09:06<\/p>\n Harry Souttar <\/b>was excellent in Qatar four years ago, and offers a significant aerial threat, having scored 11 goals in 36 matches for the Socceroos.<\/p>\n But the 200cm 27-year-old has not played a match in more than a year since tearing his Achilles and faces a race against the clock to be World Cup ready.<\/p>\n In positive signs for Souttar and the Socceroos, he recently returned to training with Leicester City – who are in a relegation battle in the Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kye Rowles<\/b>, Jack Iredale <\/b>and Jason Geria <\/b>were also in Popovic\u2019s last squad, and present further centre back options.<\/p>\n So too does 18-year-old Lucas Herrington<\/b>, who started ahead of former Arsenal defender Rob Holding in the Colorado Rapids\u2019 MLS season opener earlier this week.<\/p>\n Herrington joined the American club from the Brisbane Roar earlier this season. <\/p>\n Australia\u2019s best player right is now arguably Jordy Bos<\/b>, who will start a left wing back in the tournament opener barring injury.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old has been in stellar form for Dutch club Feyenoord since joining Robin van Persie\u2019s side at the start of the season.<\/p>\n Bos was named the Eredivisie\u2019s player of the month in September and has scored three goals and provided four assists in the league this season.<\/p>\n Who will combine with Bos in the right wing back position remains to be seen following Lewis Miller<\/b>rupturing his Achilles<\/a> while playing for Blackburn Rovers earlier this month.<\/p>\n Veteran Aziz Behich <\/b>is very likely to be on the plane, but as left back cover for Bos.<\/p>\n On the right side, Derby County\u2019s Callum Elder <\/b>may be shifted from the left to the right, while the likes of Fran<\/b>Karacic<\/b>, Sammy Silvera <\/b>and Jacob Italiano <\/b>are among the contenders.<\/p>\n The bolter would be James Overy<\/b>, the Manchester United academy member<\/a> who was called up to his first national squad in the same week he celebrated his 18th birthday.<\/p>\n Overy has been training with the Red Devils\u2019 senior squad, but has not yet played a first team professional game – having not done so at Perth Glory either.<\/p>\n Socceroos defender OUT of World Cup | 02:19<\/p>\n MIDFIELDERS<\/b><\/p>\n Riley McGree <\/b>has shown why he will be vital to Australia\u2019s World Cup hopes with a superb run of form for Middlesborough in the Championship.<\/p>\n McGree has five goals and three assists in his last eight starts for The Boro, who sit second on the table and are eyeing off promotion to the Premier League.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old will almost certainly be joined in the middle of the park by Jackson Irvine<\/b>.<\/p>\n The pair started in every match together in Qatar, and only injury is likely to cause that formula to change in North America.<\/p>\n Irvine is captain of St Pauli in the Bundesliga and played 80 times for the Socceroos.<\/p>\n Aiden O\u2019Neill<\/b>, Connor Metcalfe <\/b>and Ajdin Hrustic <\/b>are all near-certainties to be selected.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill just started the new MLS season for New York City FC, while Metcalfe plays alongside Irvine in Germany and Hrustic is plying his trade in the Netherlands with Heracles.<\/p>\n Max Balard<\/b>, Cameron Devlin <\/b>and Paul Okon-Engstler <\/b>were all in the most recent squad.<\/p>\n Balard is also playing in the Dutch top flight with NAC Breda, while Devlin could lay claim to being one of the best players in Scotland this season.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old form was in superb touch for league leaders Hearts but has been sidelined by an ankle injury for the past month.<\/p>\n Devlin also has not received any minutes for the Socceroos under Popovic.<\/p>\n Toure continues epic Norwich scoring run | 01:54<\/p>\n ATTACKERS<\/b><\/p>\n In less than a month, Mohamed Tour\u00e9 <\/b>has become almost the first name on the Socceroos team sheet for the tournament opener against a European qualifier – either T\u00fcrkiye, Slovakia, Kosovo and Romania – in Vancouver on June 13.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old striker has been a revelation since leaving Danish club Randers for English Championship outfit Norwich City during the January transfer window.<\/p>\n Tour\u00e9 has scored five goals in four games for the Canaries, including a hat-trick in his first start of his new club.<\/p>\n The weekend\u2019s 2-1 loss to Birmingham was the first time Toure\u2019s name has been absent from the scoresheet since joining Norwich.<\/p>\n But the Adelaide United product turned provider, registering his first assist for the club.<\/p>\n Now, Australian fans will be hoping the groin injury he sustained on Thursday morning<\/a> is not severe enough to hamper his World Cup campaign.<\/p>\n Nestory Irankunda <\/b>is the other near-certainty to join Tour\u00e9 in the starting line-up.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old dazzled with two stunning long-range free kick goals early in his first season for Championship club Watford.<\/p>\n The winger has also provided three assists in his first season in England and appears set to form a youthful, but exciting, combination with fellow Adelaide United product Tour\u00e9.<\/p>\n Who they will be joined by in Popovic\u2019s first-choice front three remains up in the air, however.<\/p>\n A potential huge boost for the national team could be the addition of Cristian Volpato<\/b>.<\/p>\n Popovic and assistant Paul Okon were spotted in Italy last week at Sassuolo\u2019s 3-0 win against Hellas Verona, according to Italian media outlet TuttoMercato.<\/p>\n Volpato turned down Graham Arnold ahead of the last World Cup, but the current regime were clearly more helpful of getting the 22-year-old to commit to the nation of his birth.<\/p>\n The Sydneysider has resisted the Socceroos\u2019 advances because of his desire to represent Italy.<\/p>\n The former Roma winger or attacking midfielder has scored once and provided four assists in 14 Serie A appearances this season.<\/p>\n Martin Boyle <\/b>presents an experienced option as the 32-year-old and would be a heartwarming story after missing the last World Cup with a knee injury on the eve of the tournament.<\/p>\n Boyle has scored ten goals in 37 appearances for the Socceroos and the Hibernian captain has scored nine goals in all competitions for the Scottish side this season.<\/p>\n But the winger is seen to have lost a bit of his pace after multiple knee injuries, and younger options could overtake the veteran.<\/p>\n Also based in Scotland, Zac Sapsford <\/b>has been turning heads for Dundee United.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old scored against both Celtic and Rangers this season, bouncing between playing as a centre forward, winger and attacking midfielder.<\/p>\n Adrian Segecic <\/b>has also impressed in Britain with Championship outfit Portsmouth.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old has scored five goals this season, but has primarily played in midfield despite previously being seen as a winger.<\/p>\n Bolter options include teenager Daniel Bennie<\/b>, who scored his first goal for Queen\u2019s Park Rangers on the weekend<\/a>, and 16-year-old Antonio Arena, who last month scored with his first touch on debut for AS Roma<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bennie scores outside the box screamer! | 00:46<\/p>\n But like Volpato, Australia faces a battle to get him to commit as Arena represented Italy at last year\u2019s U17 World Cup.<\/p>\n Deni Juric <\/b>and Al Hassan Toure <\/b>were both named in the most recent Socceroos squad, but have since been struck down with injury concerns.<\/p>\n Wingers Garang Kuol <\/b>and Awer Mabil <\/b>have both fallen off the national team radar in recent times with Kuol playing for Sparta Prague in the Czech top their and Mabil playing in La Liga 2 for Castellon.<\/p>\n The other contenders to lead the line for Australia are Mitch Duke <\/b>and Nicholas D\u2019Agostino.<\/b><\/p>\n Duke, who scored the winner against Tunisia in the group stage in Qatar four years ago, has been a reliable option for the national team, scoring 13 goals in 48 appearances in the green and gold.<\/p>\n The 35-year-old returned home to Australia at the start of this year after four-and-a-half years in Japan, and has scored twice in five games for Macarthur in the A-League.<\/p>\n D\u2019Agostino also came back to Australia at the start of the year.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old joined Brisbane Roar on loan from Norwegian side Viking, where he was part of the title winning team in 2025.<\/p>\n He has scored twice in five A-League games this year.<\/p>\n An A-League star who is unfortunately unlikely to be on the plane to North America is Craig Goodwin.<\/b><\/p>\n The 34-year-old, who scored against France in Qatar, is currently sidelined by a significant groin injury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n