I can hope all I like, no doubt … Arnie is noted for his allegiance to the players who’ve always done a job for him, notwithstanding his usual rhetoric about players needing to be playing (and in form) if they want to be picked.

That means we can expect to see Maty Ryan, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Martin Boyle, Matt Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Mitchell Duke et al unless they’re badly injured.

Obviously, there is a need for continuity, but there is also a need for replenishment – regeneration. There are some really exciting players banging on the door for the Socceroos and the fans are demanding they be picked.

And maybe the continuity now needs to be provided by the lads who’ve come into the team just in the last handful of years.

That suggests the backbone of the team ought to be provided by the likes of Souttar, Burgess, Rowles, Baccus, McGree, O’Neil, Metcalfe, Goodwin, Taggart, Yengi.

They could provide the platform of experience, into which could be thrown Gauci, Strain, Circati, Bos, Watts, Robertson, Nisbet, Arzani, Iredale and Irankunda.

There are a handful of others I expect to stake a claim over the next year or so, including Triantis, Farrell, Balard, Teague, Nieuwenhof, Yazbek, Stamatelopolous, Bennie, Silvera, Mo and Musa Toure. (I have no interest in Volpato if he has no interest in playing for the Socceroos.)

And as usually happens, there is likely to be some new wunderkind emerge, just in time for the World Cup.

Goalkeeper is a problem. Mat Ryan is getting on and is now third choice at Roma. He’s been fantastic for Australia but, more than any other, keeper is the position where you need to be playing to have your confidence and timing right. Gauci is also not playing (at Aston Villa) but Paul Izzo is playing at Randers. For my money, Gauci is the best choice right now but if Arnie is true to his word Izzo would have the advantage. Now is the time to make a change Arnie…

The next biggest focus of contention is likely to be the wide backs. Atkinson, Karajic, Miller and Jones have all had their chance. For me the best option is Ryan Strain (by miles) but he does seem to be injured a lot.

On the left, Aziz Behich has surely had his run. He’d be okay in a crisis but we must look to the future which I believe will be a decade long battle between Jordy Bos and Jacob Farrell – both of whom (I think) are injured at the moment. Callum Elder has never let anyone down and Kye Rowles can play there also.

In the middle, I’m really keen to see Alex Robertson have a run in the team. Caleb Watts also, but I doubt whether Arnie will pick them both unless Nisbet misses out while sorting out his future (reportedly at Ross County). It’s probably too soon for Max Balard who had rave reports in NAC Breda’s win over Ajaz on the weekend (on top of an outstanding year in the Mariners’ treble winning season). His time will come.

Riley McGree is one of my favourite Socceroos but always seems to be injured.

Injuries (and recovery) are unpredictable and the A League players are only in preseason, so putting injuries (a bit) and seasonal variation to one side, the next squad (for September) is likely to be…

GK: Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

DEF: Strain, Atkinson, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Rowles, Behich, Bos

MID: Irvine, Leckie, Baccus, Metcalfe, Nisbet, Robertson, O’Neill

FOR: Duke, Yengi, Irankunda, Goodwin, Silvera

I’d prefer to see Arzani in the squad but the time of year doesn’t suit his fitness. I’ve left out Hrustic (not playing). Boyle also as (according to the Hibs forum) he’s badly out of form. Conversely, Silvera is getting mixed reports on the Portsmouth forum but the good judges have been praising his positivity and industry. He’s much faster than Boyle so he gets my nod.

That could mean a side for the next qualifiers of:

                        Ryan

Strain   Souttar       Circati       Bos

            Baccus       Irvine

                    Metcalfe

Irankunda      Yengi        Goodwin

The team I’d really like to see, at some stage, is:

         Gauci

Strain   Souttar       Circati       Bos

            Baccus       Robertson

                    Nisbet

Irankunda      Yengi        Arzani

And by 2026:

        Gauci

Strain   Souttar       Circati       Farrell

            Balard       Robertson

                    Nisbet

Irankunda      Yengi        Arzani

But football is always about opinions. Fifty percent will likely agree with me and the other fifty percent will regard this article as not even fit for lining a budgie cage.

Of course, you’d have to print it off on A3 to do that.

In any case, I think we are putting together some impressive talent and it will be fascinating to watch the team develop over the next two years – there is competition for places everywhere and we have at least one (potential) world class player in Irankunda.

We should be way too strong for Bahrain at home but Indonesia away will be a stern test. They have really improved in recent years.

 

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.