Socceroos Prepare for Türkiye Amid Mohamed Touré's Absence

ALAMEDA, California — On a cool Wednesday evening at the Oakland Roots and Soul facility, the Socceroos went through their paces, 26 players listed, drills sharp, voices loud. But the absence was louder.

Mohamed Touré was nowhere to be seen.

For the 15 minutes that media were allowed inside the session, every outfield player and goalkeeper in Tony Popovic’s squad moved through the warm-up and ball work. Touré, the striker widely tipped to spearhead Australia’s Group D campaign, did not appear once.

When the cameras were ushered out and the gates closed, the questions began.

A quiet withdrawal, a loud question

Jordan Bos, pushed in front of the microphones after training, didn’t dress it up.

"No, I actually don't know," he said when asked where Touré was. "It was actually during training where I noticed he wasn't in there, so I don't know why he wasn't."

No spin. No explanation. Just a missing centre-forward days before Türkiye.

A Socceroos spokesperson later confirmed that Touré is expected back on the training pitch on Thursday. The session will be held behind closed doors. No further detail was offered on why the Norwich City attacker missed Wednesday’s work.

What is clear: he arrived at the facility with his teammates, posed for the team photo before the session, and then disappeared from view just as Australia’s preparation should be sharpening to a point.

With Türkiye looming in the opening Group D fixture, that’s enough to fuel concern.

A potential blow at the sharp end

Any kind of absence from Touré would hit Australia where it hurts most: up front.

The 22-year-old has been widely viewed inside and outside the camp as the man to lead the line during this campaign. His form since joining Norwich City, his power, his direct running – they’ve all pushed him to the front of the queue.

"He's a big asset for us, he's been doing really well, and his new club, he's scoring goals and his power -- everything about him -- is great," Bos said, summing up how highly the squad rates him.

Take that profile out of Popovic’s plans for Saturday and the picture changes quickly.

If Touré is unavailable, Tete Yengi suddenly stands as the only fit out-and-out striker in the squad. The 25-year-old only made his international debut last weekend, coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland in San Diego and grabbing a 56th-minute equaliser.

It was an impressive start. It was also his first.

Throwing him straight into a starting role against Türkiye would be a bold call, even if his confidence is high and his frame and movement offer a clear focal point.

Shuffling the deck

Popovic does have alternatives, though none as straightforward as writing “Touré” on the teamsheet and building around him.

Nestory Irankunda, electric on the wing against Switzerland, has previously been used centrally by Popovic. His pace and unpredictability could stretch defences, but leading the line from the first whistle in a major tournament game is a different kind of responsibility.

Then there is Mathew Leckie, the veteran who has spent a career drifting between flank and middle, always willing to plug the gap where the team needs him most. Popovic made a point of underlining that versatility when he named his squad.

"The luxury of Mathew Leckie is that he can play anywhere. He has the experience and maturity that you don't need a week or two of training in a position with him. You can basically show him a video, and he would know what to do."

That kind of trust hints at how quickly the coach could pivot if Touré is not ready. Leckie as a false nine, Yengi as a traditional target, Irankunda as a central wildcard – the shapes are there, but none carry the same sense of inevitability as Touré leading the press and attacking the box.

Behind closed doors, ahead of a defining opener

So Thursday’s session, hidden from view, suddenly carries weight. Not for tactics. For a headcount.

If Touré steps back onto the grass with his teammates, some of the tension eases and Australia can lean into the plan they’ve been building towards for months. If he doesn’t, Popovic’s staff will be forced to accelerate contingencies that, until now, have lived mostly on whiteboards and in video rooms.

Group D doesn’t wait. Türkiye won’t show sympathy. And for a Socceroos side that has been crying out for a reliable No. 9, the next 48 hours will say plenty about how far this campaign can really go.