A few years ago, Max Balard couldn’t even get a run for Manly United’s under-18s. Now he’s set to make his Socceroos debut after earning comparisons with one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era at his new club in the Netherlands.
Coach Tony Popovic has unveiled another surprise-packed 26-man squad for next Thursday’s critical World Cup qualifying showdown with Saudi Arabia in Melbourne, with the uncapped Balard one of several eye-catching inclusions.
A cornerstone of the treble-winning Central Coast Mariners team last season, the 23-year-old subsequently moved to NAC Breda and has so far played every minute of every game in the Dutch Eredivisie. He’s even been dubbed the ‘Australian Kanté’ by local media, so reminiscent of the former Leicester City and Chelsea star N’golo Kanté is his workrate and industry in midfield.
Max Balard is poised for his Socceroos debut.Credit: Getty Images
Born in Sydney to French parents – his father, a French youth international rugby player, first travelled to Australia as part of his rehabilitation for an ACL tear – Balard is a classic late bloomer who spent time in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the UAE during his childhood before emerging through the Mariners’ academy. He quickly became an integral player in their back-to-back grand final wins in 2022 and 2023 alongside last season’s Johnny Warren medallist Josh Nisbet.
Popovic is still working through his options to partner Jackson Irvine, who has been in fine form for FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga, at the base of Australia’s midfield, and Balard shapes as a potentially perfect foil for him – but there is another wildcard candidate in the squad.
Veteran midfielder Anthony Caceres is also in line for his long-awaited Socceroos debut at the age of 32, and is one of three Sydney FC players handed call-ups by Popovic, along with 20-year-old central defender Hayden Matthews, who has been named for the first time, and right-back Rhyan Grant, who hasn’t played international football in three years.
Popovic has also rewarded the A-League form of Western Sydney Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello while recalling regular squad members Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek and Kusini Yengi, none of whom have featured for the Socceroos since Graham Arnold’s departure as coach.
Eight players have been omitted from the October window, including 2022 World Cup regular Keanu Baccus, Bayern Munich prospect Nestory Irankunda and Macarthur FC midfielder Luke Brattan.
After a win over China and an unexpected draw away to Japan last month, the Socceroos sit second in Group C – equal on points with the Saudis and Bahrain, who they will face in Riffa on November 19. Only the top two teams will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will progress to the fourth qualifying round.
Following an indifferent start to their own campaign, Saudi Arabia last month sacked Roberto Mancini – the highest-paid coach in international football – and brought back Herve Renard, who masterminded their boilover victory against Argentina at the last World Cup and only left to take charge of France for the 2022 Women’s World Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the Matildas.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD FOR NOVEMBER WINDOW
GOALKEEPERS: Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Maty Ryan.
DEFENDERS: Aziz Behich, Jordy Bos, Cameron Burgess, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Rhyan Grant, Hayden Matthews, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar.
MIDFIELDERS: Max Balard, Anthony Caceres, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Aiden O’Neill, Patrick Yazbek.
FORWARDS: Brandon Borrello, Martin Boyle, Mitchell Duke, Craig Goodwin, Nishan Velupillay, Kusini Yengi.
—
IN: Max Balard, Brandon Borrello, Martin Boyle, Anthony Caceres, Milos Degenek, Rhyan Grant, Hayden Matthews, Kusini Yengi.
OUT: Daniel Arzani, Keanu Baccus, Luke Brattan, Thomas Deng, Nestory Irankunda, Sam Silvera, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Gianni Stensness.
