Sure we're only a few hours into the celebrations, but now the reality has set in - we're going to Qatar to play in the World Cup that should have been on our own turf. So who goes? IMO a lot of those players proved themselves and that they deserved to be there tonight, I hope the squads are bigger than 23 cause there are a few unlucky misses. No chance I would have had Duke on this list 6 hours ago but he was massive this morning. Souttar obviously comes in, then you've got the Rogic predicament - does he deserve to take part in this after sitting out of the qualifier? I've put him in but a big part of me wants to tell him to piss off, especially if Arnie is telling the truth that he didn't tell him why.

I would go with this (obviously a lot can change before then).

1 Mark BIRIGHITTI
2 Andrew REDMAYNE
3 Mat RYAN

4 Nathaniel ATKINSON
5 Fran KARACIC

6 Kye ROWLES
7 Trent SAINSBURY
8 Harry SOUTTAR
9 Bailey WRIGHT
 
10 Aziz BEHICH
11 Jason DAVIDSON

12 Denis GENREAU
13 Ajdin HRUSTIC
14 Jackson IRVINE
15 Riley McGREE
16 Aaron MOOY
17 Tom ROGIC
 
18 Martin BOYLE
19 Mitch DUKE
20 Craig GOODWIN
21 Mathew LECKIE
22 Awer MABIL
23 Jamie MACLAREN

still 5 months till the world cup, i would like the AL to start 'earlier' to ensure some of the AL boys have at least 10-15 games under there belt to ensure fitness - Dont think Duke deserves to go he is 31 so isnt going to bepar of the next gen and he hasnt shown much on the pitch but that is just my opinion 

also, anyone know if Mabil has a club yet

also, if Connor Metcalfe might get some minutes in Germany so would be worth a shout

Squad size increased to 26 -


World Cup will allow five substitutes and bigger rosters

Jmac has had an average season and he has been bollocks when he's played for Australia. I'd be happy to leave him in Australia in exchange for taggart and one of the exciting young guys. 

Mabil has joined La Liga club Cadiz

if the squad was chosen today then it probably would be hard to argue with most of your list but i would put big questions marks against davidson, Mclaren and Duke. Davidson had a good aleague season but is very much suspect at international level, same with Jmac. Taggs in form is a much better option than dukes and Jmac but really we need to unearth a form striker to have any hope of progressing out of our group. (Taggs in form, maybe one of the kuols has an absolute ripper of a start of next season, id give cumdog a shot to see what he can do)

Feels weird saying the golden boot winner has had an average season. However, it should be noted that he was pretty much unable to score against the top AL sides this season. The vast majority of the goals were against lower performing sides. So if he can't score against top-level AL opposition, he's not going to score against any WC level opposition.

Dagostino has way more x factor than Jmac

How come Mcgree not getting a run? 

I'd like to see Alou Kuol in the team.

I was gonna post this earlier and agree, JMac leave out.
Whats happenned with Gersbach ?
I'm not keen on Atkinson after what I've seen last couple of games, shift Behich to RB with Karacic, try Davo at LB with Gersbach if games under his belt and King possibly as back up ?

I'd like to see Dagostino given another run or 2 pre WC warm ups and see IF he has the X against better backlines.

Behich was outstanding...hopefully Davidson gets another chance to prove himself as a back up or starter if behich is injured

I said a few months ago mcgree will be our best player by December and I’m sticking with it I think he’ll take Irvine’s spot 

Reminiscing from 2018 World Cup, feel sad that Arzani didn't use the last 4 years as a breakout for his career. So much buzz and promise from Arzani's cameos leading up the last World Cup and the actual games.

if genreu keeps his starting sport for his club team in ligue 1 it would be hard to keep him out of the starting squad in qatar wouldn't it?

Souttar should be there too which will be huge. Rogic will be a welcome return as well

keep the sore neck looking back.

26 players removes some headaches.

Ryan Vukovic Redmayne 

Atkinson, Karacic, Sainsbury, Souttar, Rowles, Wright, Degenek, Behich, Elder

Mooy, Hrustic, Rogic, Irvine, Genreau, Devlin, 

Boyle, Leckie, Taggart, Mabil, McGree, G Kuol, Tilio, Cummings 

Lots of others names around. It'd be cruel not to take those who got us there. 

Atkinson was the weakest link by far.....  Dont know about King but Behich had his best game for ages this morning but dont think he could play on the right. Souttar back would be a welcome relief and with Rowles, Degenek, Karacic and Wright (even Sains)  I might feel a little better about things. I thought Boyle was outstanding but we still (just like the past 2 or 3 WC cycles) need that striker ... Dukes and McClaren shouldn't even get on the plane for me.

Usually a World Cup is held in the off-season, so it'll be interesting to see if we get any wildcards staking a claim off the first 2-3 months of next season.

Really just hope we get some strikers in a rich vein of form. Taggart, D'Agostino, Cummings, Maclaren, Yengi (x2), Ruka, Stamatelopolous - anyone! I appreciate Duke's endeavour but really think we can do better. 

This ^^^

davidson used to be very bad at tracking runs and off side traps

has he improved? He is technically quite a good fullback

I've barely seen him play in recent times.

True about Genreau.  

If he is holding his starting position in Ligue 1 by WC time, he will have improved to another level.

Irvine has done quite well in the last few weeks.

His box to box work and engine has been good.

I'd surmise he covers most ground in the Aussie team. 

Rogic will need to answer some questions if he’s to make it. Obviously he’s one of our best players, but he left the team high and dry for these qualifiers.

I actually differ from most people in the fact I don't mind duke. He isn't a goal scoring threat really but he creates space, chases down defenders and is quality when it comes playing off the ball. 

Considering none of our other options have worked I'd be happy to play him with the goal to bring the other players into goal. 

And qualified without Rogic.

Ten is Hrustic's best position.

Decent competition for spots when our players come back

means we can rotate key positions. Last world cup we were gassed against peru after spending our energy in the first two games

This world cup we have a chance to rotate players

thought to throw this up here being its about Qatar and talking our players......
Not bad for Hearts
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/cash-injection-for-hearts-after-australia-qualify-for-world-cup-2022-3730380