The centre-forwards vying to fire the Socceroos to the 2026 World Cup

A successful international window has seen Australia take a giant leap towards the World Cup qualification.

However, last week he has only underlined what he now feels like an ancient question: who is the right man to head the attack of socceroos?

After Mid-Window hits Adam Taggart and Kusini Yengi, Green and Gold finished Thursday’s triumph over China with the replacement of Mitch Duke injuries in advance.

The 34 -year -old has had an excellent international race, but with only 45 minutes of club football to his credit throughout the season, Duke’s time with the national team is surely almost updated.

And with Yengi and Taggart’s injury records in the best case, the head of Socceroos, Tony Popovic, certainly has much to reflect.

Popovic preferred options

Given the initial composition of its last 26, it seems that Popovic currently sees Taggart, Yengi or Tuesday’s opener Brandon Borrello as the best Australian option in advance.

With the chief of Socceroos married to his 3-4-2-1 training, it seems that there will only be space for a true front center in a Popovic from 11.

However, with men on both sides of that focal point sometimes playing as some of the traditional ends and sometimes as more central, the number 10 dualling, the role and profile of the soccer striker could change from one game to another.

With an appearance in the 2026 World Cup, it solidifies and approaches quickly, here are some surprising potential soccer solutions.

Brandon Borrello

“The nine is a very selfless role sometimes,” Borrello told Paramount Plus after playing 80 minutes in advance for the Socceroos in China’s 2-0 defeat on Tuesday.

“Just try to hold as many balls as I can, make sure you are there for the link game, by balls around the corner, making sure I am in the box.

It certainly does not leave much out there.

The last inclination of Borrello in the role of surprising central was a worker, effective and completely not planned.

Only those injuries to Taggart and Yengi opened the door on Borrello, whose house is usually on the wing for the side of the Western Sydney club.

Thirteen goals in 19 games this season shows that his advantage is undoubtedly cutting at this time, but his future of Socceroos probably leaves widely.

Southern yngu

If you are completely fit, Portsmouth striker is the best Australian option in advance.

However, that is a great yes.

After returning from a dismissal of a two and a half months injury at the end of February, Yengi retired from the last Popovic team after suffering another blow to the training before the socceros left for China.

With six goals in 11 international appearances so far, an adjustment and dismissal of Yengi is an obvious choice for Popovic.

The 26 -year -old is strong, intelligent and creative, but his injury record suggests that he is not someone to build a team.

Noé Botic

However, the current male scorer of the A-League could be.

The 23 -year -old Western United player has found the network 11 times this season, the last of which was accompanied by a celebration of ‘Call Me’ only days after missing the last Popovic team.

Given its recent twinkling form, as well as the shortage of socceroos blow options, it seemed that Botic was nailed for an international single call. For some reason, it was not to be.

But with the World Cup now potentially only one more point, Popovic could feel more comfortable bleeding Botic with the ship somewhat stable.

Speaking to News Corp after his last desaira, Botic said he hoped that a debut was not far away.

“Obviously, it disappointed me not to be selected in this team, but I respect the decision of Tony Popovic and the players he has chosen,” he said.

“He has a reason why he has chosen those players, but does not mean that I will never do the team in the future. It’s only for this particular team.

“I still have the potential to do the team in June, so if I keep focusing on myself and my club’s football, then the rest will take care of itself.”

Adam Taggart

A constant scorer at club level, Taggart of Perth Glorry has had a stop -stop race.

After having debuted when I was a teenager in 2012, only green and gold have been put 20 times since then.

Chosen by Popovic to lead the line against Indonesia, an injury in the first half prevented the 31 -year -old from reminding the Socceroos his serious goals score credentials.

Taggart is a known amount, a natural scorer and, if it can be kept in shape, a useful advance option that is directed to the tournament next year.

Anthony Carter

It has been a late season for the old MacArthur bull.

15 goals and five assists in 28 games for the Portuguese team of the Second Division FC Alverca puts Carter in the conversation for the center more in the form of Australia.

At 30 years of age, it is not a long -term option, but if it continues to find the network in Portugal, could it be worth it?

Of course, the second Portuguese level is not exactly the Champions League, however, in the 2022 World Cup, a Mitch Duke then exercising his trade in the second Japanese division led the line for the socceros.

Those who are on the wings and waiting in them

There is no doubt that the socceroos attack the depth are found on both sides of those who begin in advance.

The beginning of Nishan Velupillay in life in green and gold has been a success without mitigating, Martin Boyle is close to a guaranteed head to the right, and Craig Goodwin, despite not starting against Indonesia or China, is probably the best Australian attacking player in Australia.

Add the improvised front stroke on Tuesday night, Mercurial Daniel Arzani and the Irankunda Nestory overlooked, and socceros have an excess of talent both in the wings and in them.

All these players, perhaps aside, Goodwin, could do a job for Australia in advance.

Their most exciting of them, of course, is Irankunda.

Bayern Munich’s borrower has had a promising beginning in life at Swiss Club Grasshopper, and imagines that he will return to the selection of crispy games against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Closer to home, Archie Goodwin should not be far from the conversation either. He already scored nine goals for Adelaide United this season, and a strong domestic stretch could see him usurpe Botic as the next surprising debutant of the socceroos.

A year is a long time in football

It is still more than a year until the 2026 World Cup. In terms of football, that is more than a full season of action of the club, at least two more qualifiers and a large number of international friendlies.

That is a long time for another person to break through Popovic’s plans.

Could Garang Kuol find for a way after a few difficult years in Europe?

Will Adam Sececic continue to score goals in the A-League?

Or could a Duke of then 35 years meet, either through an impressive return to the form or as the last man who is in a horrible pandemic of only nine rasgaduras through the striking Australian actions, is he leading the line in a last World Cup?

You wouldn’t put it beyond him.