TBH I have no great hope for this tournament - we have some great youth coming through but most will be maturing to their best over the coming couple of years 

I think it will be an 'older squad; with only youngsters from the ALM. A lot that would be in contention are either injured or GA will want for the non FIFA date U23 Asian Cup (lead in to the Olympics) that he will try to negotiate for release by not selecting them now.  Gauci, Farrell, Irakunda all ALM younger players. Cummings I agonised over but our AM ranks are really short because of injuries (and my feeling that GA will not be picking players that may make the Olympics)  but he has the football brain to drop deep, play a good ball and arrive late in the box a la Irvine.  

If Ryan is injured ask Langerak and play him if he accepts..  
 
Ryan/Langerak, Thomas, Gauci, 
Atkinson, Miller, Souttar, Burgess, Behich, Deng, Rowles, Farrell
O'Neill, Irvine, Luongo, Baccus, Brimmer, Cummings (playing an Irvine type role), 
Duke Fornaroli, Boyle Arzani, Goodwin, Irakunda

Luongo's retirement makes it fairly clear O'Neill is in which is a good thing.

Question remains with McGree, who is and isn't a midfielder with player listings. 

It's certainly Irvine Baccus Metcalfe, O'Neill. I really hope Robertson. Perhaps Genreau has just crept in? 

https://www.espn.com.au/football/story/_/id/39137648/socceroos-depth-chart-ranking-every-position-player-player

Just saw Massimo Luongo has retired from international football!!! However I can fully understand that he had a huge decision to make, especially with his Ipswich contract concluding at the end of this season and I'm sure he doesn't want to jeopardise the chance of a new contract and the chance of playing in the EPL by missing up to 7 league games for Ipswich.

Maybe Luongo can reverse his decision later and still play a part in World Cup qualification and maybe even the 2026 World Cup. I think he is Australia's best midfielder at the moment.

It highlights the difficulty in scheduling the Asian Cup (and AFCON too for that matter) in the middle of the European seasons. I wouldn't blame any Europe-based Asian or African players for trying to miss Asian Cup or AFCON.

I don't know if it has been mentioned yet but the AFC federation overnight are now extending Asian Cup squads from 23 to 26. Which is a huge difference for us. Can now have some wiggle room with a bolter like Irankunda and others. Very interesting...

Metcalfe is injured, McGree seems to be on the mend. 

The AFC confirmed to Football Australia overnight that it would allow competing nations to increase their squad size by three players for the competition in Qatar, which will commence on Jan. 13.

So that's 26. That's very comforting yet I fear potential waste allowing those who should be left out a guaranteed ticket. 

When did Metcalfe pick up the injury? He came on late in Sunday's game. Might you have confused him with Devlin. 

I swear if Metcalfe misses out too. We've just got news we can add 3 and now others are potentially out? Big opportunity for some.

Well we're pretty much at squad day so here's mine

Ryan Gauci AMB 

Miller Atkinson Souttar Burgess Circati Rowles Bos Behich 

Irvine McGree O'Neill Baccus Metcalfe Robertson 

Goodwin Boyle Silvera Yengi  Irankunda Arzani Duke Fornaroli Iredale 

I basically agree on this, I doubt Iredale will be chosen even though he eventually should, but the loss of Luongo and Leckie and the 3 additional players has really opened it up for the Irankunda's of the world. But unfortunately I assume Maclaren will also be selected over Iredale. 

It just feels like Robertson is going to have a massive Asian Cup similar to Luongo in 2015. Both in and out of squads before being selected whilst they were in League One for the Asian Cups respectively. Both young, granted Robertson is younger than Luongo was and has a higher technical ceiling. Exciting times. Before the Luongo retirement, I would've left Robertson at home for similar reasons such as not losing out on 4-6 weeks of club football when he is essential to the club's promotion and both teams are first. No point bringing him when he isn't going to get many minutes instead of getting 6 weeks of club football minutes.  Also, really want him for the U23's Asian Cup and Pompey would be more likely to agree to that due to it being 2-3 weeks instead. But this retirement changes things, now it's he is an essential piece for us. We really don't have anyone else like him. 

Is Mabil definitely out?

I just feel if we name some players who can do something on the ball like Arzani, Kuol and Irankunda, we'll have a better chance of creating something and can potential draw fouls in critical areas. 

You're right - it is Devlin.

Especially vs teams that park the bus

https://www.youtube.com/live/X7n2BuyYFt0?si=eVResodcQ-8vacJY

Press conference set for Friday 10am

A lot of chatter and hot rumours now even some straight from the horses mouth.

I asked myself whether the squad release would be as leaky as the GTA 6 trailer. Maclaren has stated he has to accept the decision of being left out. 

Fornaroli stated as one of 3 strikers. It's him and Duke and I guess Yengi is listed as one. There's no way Silvera will miss out. He's a winger. The adding of 3 spots really puts some of the headaches to rest. 

I think the defence is midfield is so obvious by now. 

I don't think Japan or South Korea players present the issue of Asian Cup and Olympic qualification release for their clubs but Australia do. 

Why do I feel we should just give the clubs a big fuck you and pick whoever we want? The players are good. Someone else will buy them if the club shafts them. 

I imagine they have players more secure in their sides than us. 

Great news. Sensible decision. 

Resding a couple of reports, here is my latest predicted 26:

Ryan
Gauci
Thomas

Souttar
Rowles
Burgess
Circati
Miller
Atkinson
Bos
Behich

Baccus
Irvine
Metcalfe
O'Neill
Robertson
McGree
Yazbek

Duke
Boyle
Goodwin
Fornaroli
Leckie
Silvera
Yengi
Iredale

Do feel the squad is light on x factor. Would love to see one of Irankunda or Kuol but 23s is more likely. Yazbek and Iredale are there as they are easy squad selections when an extended of 26 is compounded by them being in winter break.

Yazbek training with Sydney FC

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=football+australia

10am press conference

Squad is in

Ryan Gauci Thomas

Atkinson Miller Jones Souttar Burgess Rowles Deng Behich Bos

Irvine O'Neill Baccus Metcalfe McGree Yazbek

Boyle Goodwin Tilio Silvera Yengi Duke Fornaroli Iredale

Definitely the Olympic clash is why Cricati and Robertson aren't in. Pretty disappointed about Robertson missing out. Centre mid might be on tired legs at some point with only 4 players who can sit comfortably deep. Over the moon Iredale is in. Really surprised Jones and Deng are in. We've got 5 CB but Jones and Deng are experienced at RB.

Pretty stacked in attack but Irankunda, Kuol or Arzani would've been nice. 

You must be pumped for Iredale John! 

I wonder if Circati pulled out or we are just letting him focus on promotion for his club?

Jones is a bolter. Jones, Behich + Bos makes me think we'll play Bos higher up the pitch. 

I'm a bit frustrated no Irankunda or Kuol. I woild have left out Tilio and Behich. 

I'm kinda weirded out by the defensive selections at sacrifice of midfield. Jones is surely cover and probably won't see a minute but Deng would've sufficed and I would've added Genreau or Nisbet. Interesting our wiki list sees Mooy, Luongo, Hrustic and Devlin there as recent calls ups but all unavailable.

It's just the Olympics wedge here. Circati and Roberston will be great for us later.

Tilio has played close to stuff all football at celtic at senior level?! Bullshit selection. Not in form!!

No Robertson either. Damn! Missing some creativity in midfield absent Luongo, Robertson, Hrustic. 

Great squad.

Circati is a strange omission?

Can only imagine the omissions of Circati and Robertson are down to Olympic Quals. Pretty disappointing not to see them.

Don't know why we'd go for Tilio over Irankunda. The form of the two is pretty telling.