Obviously we’d expect to beat Palestine at home, on a decent pitch, after receiving some charity from the match officials … but you still have to uphold your end of the bargain by playing well and scoring goals.

The Socceroos did play well last night. What’s more, we even looked sharp up front in a way we’ve not really done since Timmy Cahill retired.

Arnie suddenly has options and fitting them all into a 23 man squad will be difficult. Picking our best eleven will be a nightmare – but one of those good nightmares where the monster who’s been chasing you is just trying to tell you you’ve won Powerball.

Gauci looked confident in goal. He didn’t have a lot to do but what he did have to do he did well. The Palestinians had some big forwards but Gauci looked untroubled dealing with crosses – and it really does give a team a lot of confidence to see its keeper commanding in the box. He'll develop out of sight at Villa.

Burgess was his usual calm self but it was Alessandro Circati who really had us reaching for superlatives. His performance at the back was as memorable as Kye Rowles vs Peru or Harry Souttar vs Tunisia. His desperate blocks were sensational but his general play was all class – love those long switch balls also. Found feet with a forty meter plus pass on several occasions – not only does that set up an attack, it deters the press when the opposition know he’s got that in his kitbag.

Baccus had one of his better games at #6 and looked very good running with the ball on occasion. Mat Leckie also defied the years (and so many injuries) to show why Arnie keeps picking him.

But it’s up front that we are starting to look potent.

Kusini Yengi had a fantastic game – two goals and a peach of an assist for Boyle’s goal. I, for one, got him completely wrong in the past. He showed flashes for Adelaide and Western Sydney but I was surprised to hear he’d got a guernsey OS – even if only League One. He has improved enormously and you’d think playing in the Championship will really add some shine. He’ll be so important for us over the next two WC campaigns.

Adam Taggart also showed why he won the Golden Boot despite playing for cellar-dwelling Glory. His finish for the second goal was first class and exactly the sort of chance we’ve too often squandered in the past. He’ll be an excellent foil for Yengi with Apo Stamatelopoulos and others to keep the pressure on also.

Most interest, of course, is in the fast, flashy youngsters. Nestory Irankunda is already the most exciting thing to happen to Australian football since Daniel Arzani in 2018. If (unlike poor Arzani) he stays on his current trajectory, he will not only be the biggest name in Australian football – he’ll be one of the biggest names in Australian sport. Absolutely has the world at his feet – our version of Kylian Mbappe with his brutal power and pace,

So, looking ahead to the World Cup Finals in 2026 – I actually feel confident we’ll be there, rather than just my usual “hopeful”. Not only that, if the quality in our current team continues to develop both collectively and individually, we can be confident of troubling the other nations once we get there.

In 2026, our team could look something like:

                        Gauci

Strain   Souttar         Circati      Bos

            Robertson  Baccus

                        Nisbet

Arzani              Yengi               Irankunda

Now that’s a team to get the fans excited.

There would still be places in the squad for the likes of Ryan, Rowles, Burgess, Atkinson, Irvine, Devlin, Taggart, Stamatelopoulos, Leckie, Boyle, Hrustic, Goodwin et al, but there are also likely to be others emerging over the next couple of years.

I can see Ryan Teague, Jacob Farrell, Max Balard, Lachlan Brook, Calem Nieuwenhof putting their hands up. And there might even be a recall for Garang Kuol if he can get his career back on track.

A quick word on Josh Nisbet. I was disappointed he didn’t get more minutes over the last two matches – especially when you consider how often Irvine loses possession. I know he’s captain in Ryan’s absence and is picked for reasons beyond just the football, but he (and Hrustic) are picked ahead of Nizzy who is, without any doubt, our best option for holding the ball.

In Asian competition our midfielders are constantly hounded out of possession – even by teams lower in the rankings – so we have to have players who won’t just turn it over every time an opponent says: "Boo!" Add to that his incredible passing rate and reputation for assists … we cannot afford to leave him out.

I’d even suggest that we ought to be building the team around him.

But it's all looking good right now and I am weirdly confident about the next phase. Alex Robertson should be the next new Roo so continue with the interesting selections Arnie.

 

Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) was published by Hague Publishing in July 2023. The ebook can be purchased here and the paperback can be ordered here or at your local store.