open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc... The eight possible 'surprises' who could be in the Socceroos squad later this month - none of whom have ever been in a Socceroos squad before.

Report on Jackson Irvine's performance vs. Eintracht Frankfurt. Very interesting to observe the way he plays at club level compared to how he plays for the Socceroos. open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc...

This is really outstanding stuff from Patrick Yazbek (2002).

In the second instalment of my reports on Socceroos players ahead of the World Cup, I report on Aiden O'Neill's performance for New York City FC in their 5-0 win over Orlando City. open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc...

Riley McGree is shaping up as one of Australia's key players ahead of the World Cup, after an exceptional run of form for promotion chasers Middlesbrough. I wrote a report of his performance in Boro's 3-1 win over Birmingham City. open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc...

There’s a lot of talk about Australian players playing overseas, often without much reference to how they are actually performing. Thus, I’m planning to write a series of match reports on Australians abroad ahead of the World Cup. Which players would you like to see reports on?

As it becomes a contentious issue yet again, I wrote an article explaining how I believe Australian should approach the recruitment of dual-national players. open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc...

Selecting Australia's World Cup squad: 4 months out (a long read) open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc...

Lucas Herrington (2007) played 90 minutes for Colorado Rapids in their 2-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders on starting debut in the Rapids' MLS season-opener. I wrote up a report on his performance - you can read it here: open.substack.com/pub/aussiesc...

This chart measures A-League strikers' xG involvements (xG + xA) per 90 as a proportion of their team's total xG per 90. Archie Goodwin (2004) is the standout. He is involved in a huge amount of chances (1.29 xG+xA per 90) which is 53% of Adelaide's total chance creation per 90.

Medin Memeti's (2007) shotmap in his first 345 minutes of pro football. This is extraordinary for a 17 year old. He is a box predator whose movement is intelligent and finishing is typically clinical. He's averaging 0.81 xG per 90 in a team which is only creating 1.53 xG per 90.

That is a quite sensational finish from Medin Memeti (2007). Memeti's movement in the box is electric and his finishing is outstanding. He is an important prospect for Australian football.

This chart represents the U23 minutes per junior male participant in each Australian state/territory during the current A-League season. South Australia is producing a disproportionately large number of elite players, while WA and Queensland are producing disproportionately few.

Team made up of young Australian players whose performances in this season's A-League should, in my opinion, be attracting interest from overseas clubs. Standouts so far are Scicluna, Bos, Waddingham, Botić and Milanović. Big shame that Brad Tapp is injured.

Just quietly, WSW are looking more functional, progressive and composed in possession against a strong team in Melbourne City than they have all season.

An interesting youth team for Australians to follow overseas in OFI Crete U19. There are three Australians starting regularly in the team: striker Niko Stavropoulos (2006), creative midfielder Manos Chnaris (2008) and his brother - centre-back Kostas Chnaris (2004).

Harry Steele (2002) has improved hugely on the ball over the past few seasons. He now possesses genuine quality to receive between the lines and connect play crisply.

Noah Botić (2002) now has two assists. Great to see.

Noah Botić (2002) has been unlucky so far today but he seems to be finally turning into the high-volume shooting penalty-box weapon that he was at youth level. That's very promising for the Socceroos.