You're thinking of the wrong tournament. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7NYgV6FAKs. Australia v Ireland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01SRwI2qGGg&t=6793s Vs Romania

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJsukWrdP0o VS Mexico

can't really think of any....brimmer? 

Not a tournament. Just friendly games then

Kalik was played on the wing in one of the games and has barely had a look in since then. I understand he’s in our most stacked position, I just think he deserves a look compared to players like Jeggo or Metcalfe who’s come straight from Melbourne City.

Didn't Guus organise a move for him to the Eredivisie after the German WC in 2006?

I remember Wilkshire saying it was easier playing for the Socceroos with better players, than playing in League One. Before League One Wilkshire was playing for Middlesbrough in the EPL - I think?

I think for any player trying to make the squad as a bolter they are up against it due lack of more time with no more friendly matches after the September window and the a-league starting in October with 4 or 5 rounds to impress the coaching staff which is ideally not enough time to get proper match fit for the World Cup but if comes in the a-league it will have to be for outstanding form or an eye for the future.

I dont think we will see alot of changes but if there is going to be a bolter it will probably be for the form in Europe which catches the eye of the coaches or in the mind for 2026 and beyond as the possible x-factor.

My possible picks are:
Keanu Baccus
Jake Brimmer
Garang Kuol

Ryan-Vukovic-Redmayne-Birighitti-Gauci

Sainsbury-Deng-Wright-Grant-Degenek

Souttar-Rowles-Mcgowan-Iredale-Good

Atkinson-Miller-Strain-Karacic-Rawlins

Behich-King-Davidson-Elder-Smith

Luongo-Baccus-Devlin-Stesness-Dougall

Irvine-Mooy-Brimmer-Metcalfe-Francois

Hrustic-Mcgree-Rogic-Genreau-Kalik

Boyle-Mabil-Tilio-Arzani-Folami

Leckie-Goodwin-Kuol-Piscopo-Ikonomidis
Taggart-Duke-Maclaren-Kuol-Iredale


very difficult choosing players 20-26

Great post! I have made a couple of adjustments just based on my own personal feelings, and have increased slightly to have 6 players per position. I have generally ordered each position in what I perceive to be strongest to weakest:

Ryan - Vukovic - Redmayne - Birighitti - Gauci - Bouzanis
Rowles - Wright - Degenek - Deng - A.Grant - Rich-Baghelou
Souttar - Sainsbury - R.McGowan - Good - Burgess - Delbridge
Karacic - Atkinson - Miller - Grant - Strain - Risdon
Behich - King - Iredale - Elder - Davidson - Gersbach
Mooy - Devlin - Dougall - Baccus - Holland - Stensness
Irvine - Luongo - Francois - Brimmer - Metcalfe - DeSilva
Hrustic - Rogic - McGree - Genreau - Cummings - Kalik
Boyle - Mabil - Tilio - Arzani - Folami - D’Agostino
Leckie - Goodwin - Piscopo - Ikonomidis - Rukavytsa - Borrello
Taggart - Duke - Maclaren - G.Kuol - Iredale - T.Yengi 

Special mention to these guys who didn’t quite make the 6th choice line-up! - Cancar - Rawlins - Smith - Jeggo - Watts - Fornaroli - D.Juric - A.Kuol, 

And just a footnote that these guys are eligible to play for Australia, but I haven’t considered them here: Circati - G.Jones - Chipperfield - Volpato

we should really go after chipperfields son. someone needs to convince his old man. Kid is going to be star.

He has said several times Swiss or nothing.

“At the moment I’m playing for Switzerland and I don’t think so (regarding the prospect playing for Australia). But you never know what can happen in the future,” he told FTBL.

“Both Switzerland and Australia are in my heart - I love both countries. Of course I grew up here and I’ve played for Switzerland (across several age groups).

“It’s not a ‘no’ to Australia but let’s wait and see.”

Garang Kuol is about it. 

Pretty laughable with some of the names mentioned on here. 

Cam Devlin may be in with a shot if he can nail his spot.

We have very very few players playing in Europe. Having bolters that were playing in the Eredivisie or Bundesliga whereas now anyone playing in either of those leagues would be automatic selections for us. 

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/barcelona-newcastle-chelsea-top-european-clubs-circling-mariners-sensation-20220901-p5bekv.html

Good to see Delbridge named in the Socceroos squad! The other guys not included just yet.

From the list of players that I listed as in contention (see below), I have put in bold/underline all of those players selected for the NZ games (just Langerak who I missed out):

Ryan - Vukovic - Redmayne - Birighitti - Gauci - Bouzanis
Rowles - Wright - Degenek - Deng - A.Grant - Rich-Baghelou
Souttar - Sainsbury - R.McGowan - Good - Burgess - Delbridge
Karacic - Atkinson - Miller - R. Grant - Strain - Risdon
Behich - King - Iredale (Jack) - Elder - Davidson - Gersbach
Mooy - Devlin - Dougall - Baccus - Holland - Stensness
Irvine - Luongo - Francois - Brimmer - Metcalfe - DeSilva
Hrustic - Rogic - McGree - Genreau - Cummings - Kalik
Boyle - Mabil - Tilio - Arzani - Folami - D’Agostino
Leckie - Goodwin - Piscopo - Ikonomidis - Rukavytsa - Borrello
Taggart - Duke - Maclaren - G.Kuol - Iredale - T.Yengi 

(Note: I hadn't considered Circati or Volpato in that list of players since their allegiance is unclear).

A few of the guys missing are injured of course (Rowles, Souttar, Goodwin & Rich-Baghelou) as well as some players like Rogic (and Luongo) with no games under their belt (plus A League players being off-season). As far as those guys that have been playing regularly , and playing well, perhaps those most unlucky to have missed out would be:

A. Grant
R. McGowan
Burgess
Iredale (Jack)
Elder
Davidson
Gersbach
Dougall
Holland
Kalik
Yengi
Circati (pending allegiance)

Overall, it looks like a decent squad and I am really pleased in particular to see G. Kuol and Cummings there. I wonder how many of the other A League guys not included in this squad are any chance at all of breaking into the WC given how few games they'll play between now and then (i.e., Gauci, Good, R. Grant, Risdon, Brimmer, DeSilva, Arzani, Folami, D'Agostino, Piscopo, Ikonomidis, Borrello). Granted that a few of those guys are definitely long shots!

I thought elder and Alex grant were unlucky 

It would appear that Arnold has his system and preferences and Dougall and Elder from a higher level just don't fit into that. Frustrating. 

A couple of points here:

Baffling that Kalik is not selected considering that Francois plays at the same club albeit on loan.

Also no Gersbach who is playing regularly in France’s 2nd division but selects the likes of King who is not a regular for he’s Danish club.

Its also interesting that he has selected some aleague players when he said that he wanted the aleague season to start sooner…nothing against Tilio, Cummings and Kuol etc but they have not played much football apart from a couple of Australia cup games this season. 

Yeah and I think lack of merit and consistency is what got Ange's squad offside not to mention the change of formation. Got to be careful here not to allow cracks. The leadership group needs to clamp down on and dissent in camp.

Needless to say they're all laughy in front of the cameras but like any group there's bound to be people who simply don't like each other. 

Kalic has moved to Hadjuk Split so you'd think that would improve his chances

I was thinking about possible alternatives to Leckie in the future, i expect Wales to go OS end of this year is he a viable alternative?

This would be my 26 man squad if I was selecting it:

Ryan, Langerak, Gauci

That is not a bad squad, a good mixture between experience & youth.