Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic Unveils Squad with Three New Faces for Crucial Friendlies
Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic has announced a 26-player squad for upcoming international friendlies against Cameroon and Curaçao, featuring three uncapped players. This selection marks one of the final opportunities for players to impress before the World Cup, with Popovic emphasizing that he will not make promises to young talents to secure their commitment to the national team.
New Additions and Notable Absences in the Squad
The three uncapped players called up are:
- Ante Šuto: A striker for Hibernian in Scotland, born and raised in Croatia, who qualifies for Australia through his father and has never visited the country.
- Lucas Herrington: A young defender playing with Colorado Rapids in the United States.
- Deni Jurić: A forward who previously left Socceroos camp due to injury in November.
Absent from the squad is Adrian Segečić, last season's A-League Men golden boot winner now at Portsmouth, who has switched allegiance to Croatia. Popovic stated he respects Segečić's decision and reiterated his policy of not "selling the shirt" to convince players. "If you're getting called up for Australia through the junior levels, then you get called up by the Socceroos, shouldn't that be enough that you're wanted?" Popovic said, questioning the need for promises to young players.
Popovic's Philosophy on Player Commitment and World Cup Preparations
Popovic explained that he did all he could to persuade Segečić but maintains a firm stance on not guaranteeing playing time to secure commitments. "We've got young players in this squad now. Do I promise them that they're going to play, and if they don't, I have to fear that he will leave?" he remarked, suggesting it might be better for Segečić to pursue his desired path with Croatia. However, Popovic did not rule out a potential return for Segečić if his situation with Croatia changes.
The friendlies serve as critical auditions for World Cup spots, with Popovic noting that "places are up for grabs" given the new faces in the squad. Injured striker Mo Toure is missing, opening opportunities for Jurić and Šuto to prove themselves upfront. Šuto, in particular, faces a unique challenge as his first visit to Australia coincides with his national team call-up. "It's a nice surrounding to come for your first time," Popovic said, acknowledging the excitement and novelty for the player.
Upcoming Matches and World Cup Schedule
The Socceroos will face Cameroon in Sydney on Friday, March 27, followed by a match against Curaçao in Melbourne the following Tuesday. Curaçao's qualification for the World Cup adds intrigue, as they will be the smallest nation to compete in the finals. Ahead of the tournament, Australia will hold a training camp in California, playing friendlies against Mexico and another team to be determined.
Australia's World Cup campaign begins on June 13 against a Uefa playoff winner, with subsequent matches against the USA in Seattle on June 19 and Paraguay in Santa Clara on June 25. Popovic emphasized that the door remains open for players to earn their spots, reflecting the competitive nature of the squad selection process.
Full Socceroos Squad for Friendlies
The 26-player squad includes:
- Patrick Beach, Aziz Behich, Jordan Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Ajdin Hrustic, Nestory Irankunda, Jacob Italiano, Paul Izzo, Deni Juric, Fran Karacic, Awer Mabil, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Alex Robertson, Mat Ryan, Ante Suto, Kai Trewin, Nishan Velupillay, Patrick Yazbek.
This squad announcement underscores Popovic's approach to building a competitive team for the World Cup, balancing experience with new talent while upholding principles of player commitment and national pride.
