The hard conversations were over. Four players had departed, and just happy faces remained.
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Tony Popovic reckons it’s something he’ll never forget, as he looked around the room at the 26 players that were hand-picked for the task of delivering success for Australia at the World Cup this month.
Players and staff gathered for a group meeting. Suits weren’t optional.
“It was a very smart looking room,” the coach revealed with a smile. “It felt special.”
For some, like four-time World Cup participant Mathew Leckie or Aziz Behich, heading to his third, the joy is evident. While for the large contingent of young stars achieving this dream for the first time, it might take a little longer to realise the full scale of the moment.
At least that’s how Popovic interpreted the reactions anyway.
They were “just trying to process what’s going on here,” he said. “It will hit them.”
Socceroos veteran misses World Cup squad | 07:32
Being in the 26 is an achievement. Stepping onto the field at all, even more so. There are countless players who have been part of World Cup squads and not seen a minute.
To be considered a starter for your country at a World Cup – that is the summit.
So, as 26 Australian players made their way into their Oakland base camp for the first time, suited and with boots at the ready, that next goal is clear.
Who is in line for that ultimate honour?
Some form lines have emerged that we can broadly read into — with the caveat that Popovic has never been afraid to make bold selection calls during his tenure.
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GOALKEEPER — MAT RYAN
It would be a shock of monumental proportions if Mat Ryan isn’t in goal for Australia’s first group stage game against Turkiye in Vancouver on June 14.
This outcome wasn’t always a given, though.
Dropping Ryan, his captain, to the bench, was one of the first big decisions Popovic made when he took charge of the national side for the first time in October 2024.
The shot-stopper was overlooked for a starting spot for three straight games as other contenders stood up.
But he managed to regain his place between the sticks for November’s World Cup qualifier against Bahrain and was the No.1 choice until qualification was achieved. His incredible club form also helped Levante escape relegation from La Liga.
“The experience; something that we don’t have too much of in terms of age or World Cup experience,” Popovic said.
“Maty is obviously the captain, so I think he expected to see himself coming to the World Cup.”
Paul Izzo and Patrick Beach are quality back-ups. Goalkeeping depth has always been a luxury for Australia.
RIGHT BACK — JACOB ITALIANO
Right-back has been a problem position for the Socceroos for the last two World Cup cycles.
No player was able to nail down the role in Qatar. Lewis Miller was building a strong case for this World Cup until he ruptured his Achilles playing for Blackburn against QPR in the Championship in February.
That left Jacob Italiano as the clear first-choice option and the 24-year-old, who plays for Grazer AK in Austria, has made the role his own with a string of impressive displays.
Italiano only made his debut during the October window games against Canada and the USA last year but has looked more than comfortable at international level.
Kai Trewin is the closest player in terms of profile in the squad to Italiano, but the former Perth Glory man looks like getting first crack.
CENTRE BACKS — ALESSANDRO CIRCATI, HARRY SOUTTAR, CAMERON BURGESS
Circati plays in Serie A with Parma, and Souttar and Burgess have played in the Premier League.
It seems like a dream trio, but they’ve never actually started a game together under Popovic due to an ACL injury to Circati and then a ruptured Achilles to Souttar over the course of the qualifying campaign.
Their availability seems like a nightmare for Australia’s group stage opponents.
However, Popovic chose to start 18-year-old Lucas Herrington alongside Circati and Souttar against Mexico at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.
As impressive as the teenager is, overlooking the experience of Circati, Souttar and Burgess together would be a big decision with World Cup points on the line.
LEFT BACK — JORDAN BOS
Jordan Bos is not only Australia’s best left back but also one of the Socceroos’ most destructive attacking weapons.
He’ll enter his debut World Cup off the back of a stunning season for Dutch giants Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.
Bos scored four goals and provided 11 assists from 36 appearances across all competitions for the Rotterdam-based club as they finished second to PSV in the title race.
The 23-year-old has earned the trust of Feyenoord manager and Dutch great Robin van Persie and has the potential to be one of the breakout stars of the tournament if all goes to plan.
CENTRE MIDFIELDERS – JACKSON IRVINE AND AIDEN O’NEILL
This established duo is likely to get first crack at the two centre midfield roles in Popovic’s system, but there is pressure coming from elsewhere.
Retaining the ball and controlling play early in games has been an issue for the Socceroos and Jackson Irvine and Aiden O’Neill will have a large role to play in changing that trend.
This will be Irvine’s third World Cup. O’Neill made his debut for Australia straight after Qatar and has been ever-present over the last three years.
Between them they boast 111 caps of experience, but young gun Paul Okon-Engstler is increasingly making a strong case to break up the partnership.
RIGHT-SIDE INVERTED WINGER — CRISTIAN VOLPATO
Will he start? Who knows. It would certainly be worth a try.
Sydney-born-and-raised Cristian Volpato’s stunning decision to swap Italy for Australia was revealed last week and caught just about everyone by surprise.
The 22-year-old, who plays for Sassuolo in Serie A, and was once on the books of Roma under Jose Mourinho could force his way into the starting side with a strong showing against Switzerland in San Diego on Sunday after arriving in camp too late to face off against Mexico.
Volpato is as close to a replacement for the injured Riley McGree as the Socceroos will get. If Popovic is looking for some spark in attack and composure on the ball, then Volpato could be the answer.
“He’s a very talented player; a young player, so that’s another young player that is doing well in the Serie A, of course with Sassuolo; can be much better,” Popovic said.
“He’s young, so there’s a lot of growth and potential still there.
“He hasn’t played a lot of minutes, which we would’ve like that he’d played more minutes, but that’s the situation we face with him.
“When he has come on, you can see technically a very good player, great left foot. He’s comfortable under pressure which you have to be in the Serie A.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
LEFT-SIDE INVERTED WINGER — CONNOR METCALFE
Metcalfe might’ve struggled for consistent game time at club level this season as FC St. Pauli was relegated from the Bundesliga in Germany, but that isn’t an issue that has followed him into Socceroos camp.
Popovic has been and remains a huge fan of the former Melbourne City man.
The coach has never left Metcalfe out of a starting side when the 26-year-old has been fit and available.
STRIKER — MOHAMED TOURE
Toure looks like being handed the responsibility of leading the line for Australia.
His move from Danish side Randers to Championship outfit Norwich in the UK during the January transfer window went better than anyone could’ve anticipated.
A return of 10 goals from 12 games made him an instant favourite with the Canaries’ faithful. He provided three assists as well.
At 186cm tall and with pace and power in abundance, he’s set to be a handful for opposition defenders if he can get service from those around him.
YOUNG GAME-CHANGERS — NESTORY IRANKUNDA, NISHAN VELUPILLAY, PAUL OKON-ENGSTLER AND LUCAS HERRINGTON
There is depth in this squad.
Nestory Irankunda, Nishan Velupillay, Paul Okon-Engstler and Lucas Herrington wouldn’t look out of place in the starting side.
Velupillay is slightly older at 25, but still relatively young in his international career with just seven caps to his name.
There was a moment in the game against Mexico that reinforced to the Socceroos coaching staff that he’d have a part to play in this tournament.
“He won a duel on the halfway line and powered away from the players and then it was just the final ball. He tried to put Nestor (Irankunda) through and it didn’t quite get there. I think that was a sign that at this level that he actually can make an impact,” Popovic said.
“I’m not sure if he remembers that moment but we certainly do as a coaching staff.
“He can play really well between the lines. We always call him a bit of a hybrid because he plays well between the lines but he also likes to run in behind.”
Velupillay can play either of the inverted winger roles or as a lone striker, as can Irankunda.
Okon-Engstler is a different type of midfielder to Irvine and O’Neill and turns the tempo of matches in Australia’s favour with his ability to receive and play in tight spaces.
“I could see the huge potential that he has,” said Popovic.
“He hasn’t reached, I believe, half of what he could reach, but his improvement over 12 months has been significant.”
18-year-old defender Lucas Herrington has started Australia’s last three games against Cameroon, Curacao and Mexico.
There’s every chance he does the same against Turkiye in Vancouver if Popovic decides to overlook Cameron Burgess.
His switch from the Brisbane Roar to the Colorado Rapids in the MLS in January has taken the teenager’s game to another level.
Popovic, who carved out a career in the same position, knows Australian football could have something special in Herrington.
“He can be really good,” said Popovic.
It didn’t take long for Herrington to impress the coaching staff during his first call-up in March this year.
“Once I saw him train, he was playing and I see that same carefree kid, that loves football, has no fear and he’s 18 so it is quite special at 18 to be doing what he’s doing.”
“I’m sure he’s pinching himself.”
EXPERIENCED HEADS — MATHEW LECKIE AND AJDIN HRUSTIC
A fit-again Mathew Leckie at this World Cup appeared long odds, but his body has come good at just the right time after a horror run with injury.
The 35-year-old has been restricted to 38 appearances for Melbourne City across the last three seasons and just eight appearances this campaign.
Popovic was searching for experience to guide the talented crop of youngsters through their first World Cup and that role, in part, has fallen to Leckie.
“A couple of months ago, God knows what he was thinking in terms of his football with all the injuries that he’s had,” said Popovic with a smile that reflected just how remarkable it is that Leckie has managed to be fit again at the perfect time after years of misfortune.
“We offered him the opportunity to come in the early group and I’m sure if he didn’t do that, there’s no way he would be selected.
“I think that proves the benefit of coming in and starting on the fifth of May, and when you think about it almost four weeks later, he’s getting selected for the Socceroos.”
Leckie can play just about anywhere except the backline in Popovic’s system and you wouldn’t put that past him either.
Ajdin Hrustic will fill one of the inverted winger positions and will be high in the rotation for that position.
UNTRIED OPTION WHO COULD SURPRISE – TETE YENGI
Tete Yengi is 25, the brother of injured Socceroo and fellow striker Kusini, and has never played for Australia before.
The fact he has come from taking no part in the qualifying campaign and subsequent friendly games to a spot in the final 26-player World Cup squad is nothing short of remarkable.
Popovic started scouting the giant forward, who stands 197cm tall, when he was at Livingston in Scotland.
“We wrote some notes on him and left it at that at that stage,” he says.
A loan move to Japan with Machida Zelvia – Mitch Duke’s former club – in January, piqued Popovic’s interest again as they competed in the rejigged J-League and made the final of the Asian Champions League Elite, eventually losing the decider to Al-Ahli 1-0 in late April.
“He just stayed on our mind in terms of the profile that he has, it’s very different to anything that we have here in terms of his size and presence on the pitch.
“We felt that that gives us a different option.
“Tete probably sums up the whole process since we started in giving players an opportunity and not closing the door on anyone.”
FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (c), Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach
Defenders: Aziz Behich, Jordan Bos, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Jacob Italiano, Harry Souttar, Kai Trewin
Midfielders: Cameron Devlin, Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler
Inverted wingers: Ajdin Hrustic, Connor Metcalfe, Mathew Leckie, Nestory Irankunda, Awer Mabil, Nishan Velupillay, Cristian Volpato
Forwards: Mohamed Toure, Tete Yengi
Socceroos WC squad settle into US camp | 02:41
WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
June 14: Australia v Turkiye, BC Place, Vancouver – 2pm AEST
June 20: USA v Australia, Seattle Stadium, Seattle – 5am AEST
June 26: Paraguay v Australia, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara – 12pm AEST