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Craig Goodwin set for foot surgery ahead of Adelaide United's 2025-26 campaign
Craig Goodwin set for foot surgery ahead of Adelaide United's 2025-26 campaign

News.com.au

time12-06-2025

  • Sport
  • News.com.au

Craig Goodwin set for foot surgery ahead of Adelaide United's 2025-26 campaign

Returning Adelaide United star Craig Goodwin will have foot surgery next week to ensure he gives himself the best chance of being selected in Australia's squad for next year's FIFA World Cup. Goodwin, 33, is back for a fourth stint with the Reds after spending two seasons in Saudi Arabia with Al-Wehda. '(It) feels like I never left … I'm really looking forward to pre-season and linking up with the boys again,' the veteran winger said. However, before that, Goodwin will have a neuroma removed from his foot, with the recovery set to sideline him until the end of next month. 'It's an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years, and the cortisone's no longer working, so I need to remove the lump, and it's a six-week recovery,' he said. The injury prevented him for being selected in Tony Popovic's Socceroos' squad for wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in the past week that secured Australia World Cup qualification. 'It was somewhat disappointing to not be able to be involved … but now mentally I've got that focus on the 2026 World Cup and to try to get myself there,' Goodwin said. 'I know that international football doesn't come unless you're playing well at club level. 'He (Popovic) has made it very clear to any player that it's about playing regularly and playing your best football, 'He has shown by picking multiple A-League players that it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or abroad. 'I made the (Socceroos squad for the 2022) World Cup playing for Adelaide. I had a really good World Cup there (in Qatar) and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United, so I look forward to the challenge.' Goodwin was 'looking forward' to working under new Reds coach Airton Andrioli, the club's former youth team boss who has taken over the top job for Carl Veart, who wasn't offered a new deal. 'I've known (Andrioli) for a number of years. He coached me back when I was 13, 14 years old. He's done a great job with the youth team, he knows a lot of the boys, so it's an exciting time in this new phase to be able to link up with those younger players, and try to help them bring the best out of their performance. 'A change of coach has happened, and it's a little bit of a fresh start, not necessarily a full reset, but a transition phase in trying to go to that next level, develop those young players and really try to improve that mentality to believe that we're winners, and that we can win something. 'I'm here to win something with the Reds.'

Goodwin looks to foot surgery to get World Cup fit
Goodwin looks to foot surgery to get World Cup fit

The Advertiser

time11-06-2025

  • Sport
  • The Advertiser

Goodwin looks to foot surgery to get World Cup fit

Missing out on the Socceroos' jubilation on qualifying directly for the World Cup is a sore point for star forward Craig Goodwin. But a more pressing soreness is a nerve in his left foot, requiring the Adelaide United talisman to go under the knife in a bid for a full A-League Men season to push his World Cup chances. Despite the injury setback keeping him out of the Socceroos' last two World Cup qualifiers, Goodwin is clear on what's expected if he's to return for the big dance in North America next year. A return to hometown club Adelaide United from Saudi Arabia has also given him added confidence in his ability to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in the next 12 months. "(Popovic) has made it very clear, it's about playing regularly and playing your best football," Goodwin said. "I think he's shown by picking multiple A-League players it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or playing abroad. "I made the last World Cup playing for Adelaide and had a really good World Cup there and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United." Goodwin played a starring role in Australia's Qatar 2022 journey, scoring against France and taking the deflected shot credited as an own goal in the knockout stage against Argentina. However, the Reds forward knows Popovic's expectation for any prospective Socceroo is good long-term club form, something Goodwin is hoping surgery can help him achieve. "The injury I have is a neuroma, an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years," Goodwin said on Wednesday. "The cortisones are no longer working so I need to remove the lump and it's a six-week recovery." The disappointing fortunes of Goodwin's relegated Saudi club Al Wehda led the 30-cap Socceroo to explore options both within Saudi Arabia and around the world. Ultimately, it was the appeal of running out again for his hometown team that drew Goodwin back to South Australia where he'll continue to push his Socceroos credentials under new Adelaide boss Airton Andrioli. "It was a little bit of the decision of OK, I'm 33, I don't see myself retiring any time soon," Goodwin said. "I had two really good seasons (in Saudi Arabia) individually, and that translated into national team call ups and being consistent on the national stage. "But going forward, it's about being where I feel the most passion for and I believe that's going to get the most out of my football." Missing out on the Socceroos' jubilation on qualifying directly for the World Cup is a sore point for star forward Craig Goodwin. But a more pressing soreness is a nerve in his left foot, requiring the Adelaide United talisman to go under the knife in a bid for a full A-League Men season to push his World Cup chances. Despite the injury setback keeping him out of the Socceroos' last two World Cup qualifiers, Goodwin is clear on what's expected if he's to return for the big dance in North America next year. A return to hometown club Adelaide United from Saudi Arabia has also given him added confidence in his ability to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in the next 12 months. "(Popovic) has made it very clear, it's about playing regularly and playing your best football," Goodwin said. "I think he's shown by picking multiple A-League players it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or playing abroad. "I made the last World Cup playing for Adelaide and had a really good World Cup there and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United." Goodwin played a starring role in Australia's Qatar 2022 journey, scoring against France and taking the deflected shot credited as an own goal in the knockout stage against Argentina. However, the Reds forward knows Popovic's expectation for any prospective Socceroo is good long-term club form, something Goodwin is hoping surgery can help him achieve. "The injury I have is a neuroma, an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years," Goodwin said on Wednesday. "The cortisones are no longer working so I need to remove the lump and it's a six-week recovery." The disappointing fortunes of Goodwin's relegated Saudi club Al Wehda led the 30-cap Socceroo to explore options both within Saudi Arabia and around the world. Ultimately, it was the appeal of running out again for his hometown team that drew Goodwin back to South Australia where he'll continue to push his Socceroos credentials under new Adelaide boss Airton Andrioli. "It was a little bit of the decision of OK, I'm 33, I don't see myself retiring any time soon," Goodwin said. "I had two really good seasons (in Saudi Arabia) individually, and that translated into national team call ups and being consistent on the national stage. "But going forward, it's about being where I feel the most passion for and I believe that's going to get the most out of my football." Missing out on the Socceroos' jubilation on qualifying directly for the World Cup is a sore point for star forward Craig Goodwin. But a more pressing soreness is a nerve in his left foot, requiring the Adelaide United talisman to go under the knife in a bid for a full A-League Men season to push his World Cup chances. Despite the injury setback keeping him out of the Socceroos' last two World Cup qualifiers, Goodwin is clear on what's expected if he's to return for the big dance in North America next year. A return to hometown club Adelaide United from Saudi Arabia has also given him added confidence in his ability to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in the next 12 months. "(Popovic) has made it very clear, it's about playing regularly and playing your best football," Goodwin said. "I think he's shown by picking multiple A-League players it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or playing abroad. "I made the last World Cup playing for Adelaide and had a really good World Cup there and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United." Goodwin played a starring role in Australia's Qatar 2022 journey, scoring against France and taking the deflected shot credited as an own goal in the knockout stage against Argentina. However, the Reds forward knows Popovic's expectation for any prospective Socceroo is good long-term club form, something Goodwin is hoping surgery can help him achieve. "The injury I have is a neuroma, an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years," Goodwin said on Wednesday. "The cortisones are no longer working so I need to remove the lump and it's a six-week recovery." The disappointing fortunes of Goodwin's relegated Saudi club Al Wehda led the 30-cap Socceroo to explore options both within Saudi Arabia and around the world. Ultimately, it was the appeal of running out again for his hometown team that drew Goodwin back to South Australia where he'll continue to push his Socceroos credentials under new Adelaide boss Airton Andrioli. "It was a little bit of the decision of OK, I'm 33, I don't see myself retiring any time soon," Goodwin said. "I had two really good seasons (in Saudi Arabia) individually, and that translated into national team call ups and being consistent on the national stage. "But going forward, it's about being where I feel the most passion for and I believe that's going to get the most out of my football."

Socceroos reach crunch time with World Cup 2026 qualification in sight
Socceroos reach crunch time with World Cup 2026 qualification in sight

Yahoo

time03-06-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Socceroos reach crunch time with World Cup 2026 qualification in sight

Australia's rapid recovery under Tony Popovic in qualification for the 2026 World Cup has left the Socceroos on the cusp of a place in North America with two group games to play, and a direct berth could be secured as early as Friday morning. But the result of the Socceroos' match on Thursday in Perth against Japan – group leaders and already qualified – cannot alone guarantee the qualification fate of Australia, currently lying behind the Samurai Blue in second place. Advertisement Instead, the group's other automatic qualification slot will be determined by the performances of third-placed Saudi Arabia in their two remaining matches – first away to Bahrain then on Tuesday in Jeddah against the Socceroos – and fourth-placed Indonesia who need two victories and a miracle. Related: Socceroos dealt blow as injured Craig Goodwin out of squad for crunch World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia are Australia's main rivals, trailing by just three points, but with a goal difference of -2 compared to the Socceroos' +7. It means if Australia avoid defeat against the Green Falcons next week, they are almost guaranteed second place. Advertisement And if they do something they haven't done in 16 years on Thursday – beat the Samurai Blue, who have sent a squad missing several key players – it will be time for Socceroos fans to start checking flights to Mexico, the US and Canada. The players are aware of the odd qualification situation, and the strange dynamic whereby – even if they win on Thursday – they won't be able to fully celebrate after the game. 'If we do get the win, hopefully, which we will, we are obviously almost there,' defender Milos Degenek said on Tuesday. 'We'll have to wait and see how Bahrain play with Saudi, obviously.' That game in Riffa kicks off at 2am AEST. Advertisement The permutations are largely positive for the Socceroos, but just last year they looked precarious. A shock home loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia triggered the departure of former coach Graham Arnold, who had taken the Socceroos to the round of 16 in Qatar and a gallant defeat to eventual winners Argentina. Popovic won his first match against China, is yet to taste defeat, and appears to have earned the trust of the players. 'The way we see the national team is completely different to what it was before,' Degenek said. 'There's so much pride and there's so much, I guess, love for the shirt and the culture that the boss has brought in here.' The team has benefited from the new qualifying format for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico, an increase of 16 teams compared to Qatar and an extra three slots for the Asian Football Confederation. Even if the Socceroos let slip their automatic qualification opportunity in coming days, there is a fourth round and, failing that, a playoff phase. 'Now that there's more countries at the World Cup, there's a – if you don't qualify through this group stage – another group stage, and you get through that group stage is another playoff game. So there's another almost a year of football if you don't qualify directly,' Degenek said. 'So hopefully we'll do the job to on Thursday, and hopefully Bahrain can do a job for us as well.' Advertisement Failure to qualify for the 48-team tournament would be damning for this generation of players, coaches and administrators. But the Socceroos, ranked 26 by Fifa, are trying not to look beyond Thursday's showdown. They have not beaten Japan since 2009, and have done so only twice this century. The first was the famous 3-1 comeback inspired by Tim Cahill in the 2006 World Cup. Three years later he scored twice again in a 2-1 victory at the MCG. Related: Socceroos prove hard to beat as quest to reach 2026 World Cup goes down to the wire | Joey Lynch Since then it has been 10 matches without an Australian victory, including a defeat in the 2011 Asian Cup final and five losses in six matches between 2013 and 2022. That run was ended by the stoic display in Saitama in October, when the Socceroos came away with a 1-1 draw. That result, and a draw with Saudi Arabia three months ago, are the only matches in which the Samurai Blue have dropped points this phase, which has consolidated their place as Asia's leading power. Advertisement The side ranked 15 in the world could afford to leave out European stars including Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, Ao Tanaka of Leeds, Borussia Mönchengladbach's Ko Itakura, Feyenoord's Ayase Ueda and Sporting's Hidemasa Morita from the squad for Thursday's match, which includes seven first-time call-ups. Degenek challenged the notion that this would make Japan any less formidable, warning the new and fringe players will be motivated to earn their place in the squad for the World Cup. 'It's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out, because the boys that are coming in, whether they're from the J-League or other clubs in Europe, are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup,' he said. 'So it's not going to be a walk in the park.'

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