Australia

Tony Popovic's appointment as Socceroos manager in 2024 featured the introduction of a back three system that we haven't typically seen from Australia sides of the past, but this group of players have taken to it well. It helps that the squad features a fresh crop of emerging talent, at least 4 or 5 of which will likely start. The greatest beneficiary in this regard from Popovic's tenure so far has been Italian dual-national centre back Alessandro Circati, who takes the central position in the back three along with Harry Souttar and one of Cameron Burgess or Lucas Herrington. Jordan Bos has emerged as another favourite at left wing-back, capitalising on his excellent recent form at Feyenoord.

This system has empowered Australia to deny space and compact the central areas on defense, but they may have been forced into more direct patterns of play in their own possession phase, as a last-minute hamstring injury to Riley McGree has left the Socceroos missing a creative force in midfield. Jackson Irvine's place in the midfield pair is set, but his partner certainly isn't. Even if Australia have to lean further into vertical passes and set pieces, they still have firepower up front in Nestory Irankunda and Mo Touré, as well as another dual-national wildcard in Sassuolo's Christian Volpato who has already flashed attacking promise, but will likely come off the bench for Connor Metcalfe for now.