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Key Socceroos change floated for Egypt clash
SEN • July 2nd, 2026 3:35 pm
Former Socceroo Paul Wade would make one key change to Australia’s starting lineup for this weekend’s clash with Egypt.
The Socceroos meet the North African giants in the World Cup Round of 32 in Dallas on Saturday morning after finishing second in Group D.
Tony Popovic made significant changes in each of the three group stage games and Wade believes the same will occur.
He would like to see Mo Toure return to the first-choice XI, or maybe Tete Yengi for a rare start, with Cristian Volpato perhaps dropping back to the bench.
That would allow Nestory Irankunda to operate as a winger on the left which would suit him and the team much better.
“The whole of this World Cup has been about the selections,” Wade said on SEN Football’s World Cup coverage.
“It’s not about the tactics or the formation but it’s about what player is in that moment.
“I’ve got to go to Toure or Yengi down the middle. Volpato or (Connor) Metcalfe on the right - Metcalfe hasn’t done anything wrong - and Irankunda is a deadset, locked in, concrete player on the left-hand side.
“I’d put (Jackson) Irvine in there (again) instead of (Paul) Okon-Engstler with (Aiden) O’Neill (in midfield).
“I’d put (Aziz) Behich on the left and (Jordy) Bos on the right (as wingbacks), then (Alessandro) Circati, (Harry) Souttar and (Lucas) Herrington at the back and (Patrick) Beach in goals.”
SEN Football’s Jordan Kounelis concurs with starting Toure who was great in the 2-0 Turkiye win but not so effective in the 2-0 loss to the USA.
“I think we need to have Toure up front, I agree with that,” Kounelis said.
“That combination worked well in the first game against Turkiye when we had Toure and Irankunda up front and then Metcalfe out wide.
“You’ve got to have at least those two, and then whether you pick Metcalfe or Volpato on the other flank I think is the right way to go.
“We haven’t seen Toure since that opening game really play an important role. I think he is an important player for the way the Socceroos line up.”
The Socceroos will be keeping a close eye on Egyptian star Mo Salah who suffered a minor hamstring strain in the Pharaohs’ last game against Iran.
The winner of the Australia v Egypt clash will meet the winner of Argentina v Cape Verde in the Round of 16.
