Socceroos push for 2026 World Cup to be led by youth, but rising star Alex Robertson is yet to commit

There are many more pressing problems so that Tony Popovic reflects at this time, since he tries to ensure the automatic qualification of the World Cup for Socceroos for the first time in 12 years, but the curious case of Alexander Robertson and the national team continue to advance.

The 22 -year -old, who has presented 35 times for Cardiff relegated to the English championship this season and made his debut in Socceroos in 2023, is not linked to Australia because these games are friendly and is still clearly reluctant to commit to the national team of Australia for the future.

The reason for that is still a mystery, despite the fact that his father and grandfather play for socceros. The Robertson family has refused to comment on the subject.

Due to family links, the midfielder is eligible for England, Scotland and Peru.

It is Australia that has provided the strongest football blood line, but for now, it has been declared not available to represent green and gold.

“It is not eligible for us. It has been left without being available for the selection. If it was eligible in terms of all the paperwork, then I could say that I did not select it,” said Popovic.

“At this time, it is not a selection problem. Unless that changes, it does not become a player in our monitoring list and one that we can select.”

It is a situation that is unlikely that Popovic Massage. It is not the path of the new head of Socceroos.

And although Australia cannot afford to lose any young talent, what Robertson undoubtedly is, Popovic does not have fortuitous people to call at this time.

One of them to break into the scene in recent times is to start resurfaceing.

It can be easy to forget how close Garang Kuol arrived to send Australia to an extra time in the 2022 World Cup, and the nation at all Bedlam, if it is not for an excellent salvation of Emi Martínez of possible Argentine world champions in its round of 32 knockout clashes.

The former Central Coast Mariners striker has barely been seen since then, despite signing a long -term agreement in a great premier -club club in Newcastle United.

The problems of injuries and in form have been the key reasons, but now he is finding his feet again, with regular football and a series of goals for the Newcastle team under 23 years.

It is not senior football, but it is a positive step for a player that the national team still has great hopes.

“We have seen some of his games recently. He only needs consistent football. The level can sometimes be misleading, of course, but for any striker, when they are writing down, they have confidence,” said the head of Socceroos.

“It seems to have much more confidence in the field. When you see it in the box, there seems to be an approach and confidence in it when a player is dripping, which we may not have seen for a while.

“It is an area of ​​the park that we are always seeing. With luck, this will help you move somewhere.”

National team fans still salivate the perspective of an attack group that includes people such as Kuol, Nestory Irankunda and Daniel Arzani at their best.

It is not a assumption of anyone, but Irankunda appears regularly in Glasshoppers in Switzerland, now on the loan of Bayern Munich, while Popovic has pleased the way Arzani reacted to his public clothing in January for the general application of his talents.

There are many others that are knocking down the door and are a great opportunity to be included in the Popovic National Team team for the last two final qualifiers of the group stage against Japan, in Perth in June, and Saudi Arabia, six days later.

Nicolas Milanovic by Western Sydney heads the tail after an excellent season of the A-League, as well as Adrian Segecic by Sydney, Noah Botic by Western United and Archie Goodwin of Adelaide.

All are on the Popovic radar and have not been afraid to inform the national team’s coach about their form, with their goal celebrations in recent times as a sign for the head of Socceroos that they should receive that call.

“They are different moments, I’m not sure I did that,” Popovic said with a smile.

“When I was playing, we all had confidence, personality and belief and nothing would hesitate. I feel that we have lost a lot of that. These boys have shown that they have some personality and character, which is great.

“If you have a message for me, or whoever, that’s great. But you have to support it. You have to be the best park player.”

A victory against Japan is all that is required for Australia to block that automatic place for the 2026 World Cup in North America, but that will not be an easy feat despite the fact that the blue samurai has already described.

The absence of star midfielder Jackson Ivine through an injury, to go with that of the best Australian player in defender Harry Souttar, makes it even more difficult.

And Popovic insists that there will be few chances of Japan arriving in Australia in a complacement way despite blocking its world cup place, even if your first -option squad is turned.

As he points out, there will be several stars in the J-League that cannot take a look at the time he will be desperate to demonstrate his value for a world cup.

It is possible that it is an even more dangerous situation for the socceroos with whom to deal with a player who knows that his ticket on the plane to the United States is sure.

The three-point buffer that Australia enjoys in second place with two games to travel is a more than practical position to be in a team that has had to endure the play-offsuiros for the last two world cups.

A pre-headquarters based in Abu Dhabi before critical accessories will be carried out while socceros seek to prepare their best for their appointment with the destination.

“There is a lot at stake. A World Cup qualification position is at stake. I have had that question before each international window. We have handled that expectation and pressure quite well, and we have to do it once again,” said Popovic.

“We know it’s a challenge, we have to hug him. We know we are in a good position.”