Connor Metcalfe: Everyone wants to make the final squad | Interview | CommBank Socceroos

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Connor House, camp going for you and the team.

[00:00:04]Uh camp's been going good. I only arrived I think this is my fourth day, maybe third day.

[00:00:11]Um but it's been really good. Uh it's good to see all the lads. There's a lot of us.

[00:00:16]Um so it's been a yeah, a uh tense and um competitive environment, but I think it's good for, you know, the spirits and obviously it's a major tournament. We're all looking forward to it. So um no, it's been it's been good.

[00:00:31]A mixed end to the club season for you.

[00:00:34]St. Pauli got relegated. On a positive note, you got a couple of starts, which have been quite rare this season. How do you reflect on the end of the season for you from a club perspective? Um yeah, I think personally I was I was uh pretty chuffed to get a few more minutes towards the back end of the season, but um No.

[00:00:55]I mean, it was it felt like it was coming um a lot earlier in the season, I think. We were quite poor and and you know, but I say this and one or two wins during the season could have been the difference, but I mean, it's football at the end of the day and and it it just yeah, didn't go our way and yeah, I mean, it is what it is.

[00:01:22]Uh Jacko spoke about this as well. It was good to sort of get on with it and come into camp and and and move on and I guess turn your attention to um you know, Socceroos and and World Cup mode.

[00:01:33]So yeah, from that perspective, how's it been and uh I guess we're just chatting about it um off air.

[00:01:40]You know, you've generally come in underdone and you know, not playing much and whatnot. So coming in with a bit of a a a physical foundation, if you like, um must be nice.

[00:01:52]Yeah, I mean it's way better are in with a little bit more minutes and um little to none. So, uh uh yeah, I mean, I'm I'm just yeah, like Jaco said in his interview, it's it's good that it was like 2 days after because then you don't dwell on it and think about it. Um so, yeah, it's just good to be here, take your mind off it, and um yeah, crack on.

[00:02:19]There's a good number of players, more players coming in. Can you just talk to I guess the competition for spots? I know, you know, everyone gets on really well, but there are obviously competition for spots. There's only 26 spots up for grabs for for the World Cup squad. So, yeah, how's it been from that perspective? It's been tense.

[00:02:37]It's been competitive. Um but, it's how it's how it should be really. Like, everyone wants to go, and everyone wants to be in that final squad. So, uh there's players that are it's their first camp, and, you know, they're probably thinking why why not, you know?

[00:02:54]Um and for us boys that have are usually in the team, um we don't want to lose our spot. So, it's a good um environment to be in because everyone's pushing hard, everyone's um yeah, training to their absolute best.

[00:03:13]Um and I think yeah, it's it's it's what we need um to get the best out of everyone.

[00:03:22]What's been the message from the boss, coach Tony Popovic?

[00:03:27]Um probably just give it 100% every day, every training.

[00:03:33]Um so, that's what he wants to see.

[00:03:35]Um because yeah, I mean, you have to. If you're not giving 100%, he's going to see it, and you know, it could ruin your chances.

[00:03:47]Connor, what would it mean for you to be part of this World Cup squad.

[00:03:53]It mean a hell of a lot.

[00:03:57]Um Yeah, I mean, it's probably the old saying worked a whole career for this, but it is true like all the times when I was a young kid and thinking, "Yeah, I'm going to do it one day. I'm going to do it." And we've finally got the opportunity to be a part of it. So, I think being in that final squad will just be be amazing, you know, and it will make my whole family super proud.

[00:04:21]Um and I mean yeah, it's the pinnacle of football, isn't it? So, fingers crossed.

[00:04:28]Um Turkey, you know, opening game June 13th. Can you think that far ahead? And obviously there are a couple of friendlies in the in the meantime with yeah, Mexico and and Switzerland.

[00:04:40]Yeah, I mean I don't know. It's Feels weird, to be honest, cuz like it's not that far away, but it's feels, you know, it doesn't feel like it's around the corner. Um but my main focus is just to this Mexico game, really. I think just get out there and and being able to work on everything we work on in training and see how we gel as a team and and get that feeling, you know, the team spirit. So, um but yeah, Turkey it's going to be a cracker of a game. Like I've heard the fans are bloody insane. So, um yeah, it's going to be good.