Australia’s run to the last 16 in 2022 was built on organisation, resilience and a collective edge that bigger nations sometimes struggle to match. Leckie’s point appears to be that those traits do not disappear just because the names have changed.
That matters now. This looks like a squad in transition, with established leaders still around but a fresh generation pushing hard for influence. The challenge, as always, is whether promise can survive the pace and pressure of tournament football.
Much of the intrigue surrounds players such as Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato, two attackers who bring a more unpredictable profile. Irankunda’s direct running and willingness to shoot can change the rhythm of a game quickly. Volpato, meanwhile, appears to offer craft in tighter spaces.
Leckie’s reported message to that younger group is a sensible one: trust the level that got you here. He also described Volpato as “sharp” and “tidy”, a small quote that hints at the technical quality Australia hope can lift them from merely competitive to genuinely dangerous.
The reported opener against Turkey feels significant. Start well and belief grows louder; stumble and the pressure arrives immediately. With the United States and Paraguay also in the section, there is little room for a slow burn.
Australia do not need to be favourites to become a problem. They just need the old backbone and the new spark to meet at the right time. The next clue should come in the final tune-up and then, more importantly, on opening night against Turkey.