Emma KempUpdated June 7, 2026 — 5:00am,first published 4:34am5.00amKick-off is almost hereBy The players are out on the pitch and the anthems are being played, and sung. Not by nearly as many as for the Mexico match, mind you. Snapdragon is comparatively empty compared to last week’s pro-Mexico crowd.4.58amXhaka captains strong Swiss sideBy The fiery defensive midfielder is the one to watch out for, in a starting line-up similar in quality to what Turkiye’s could well be.Switzerland: 1. Gregor Kobel (gk), 5. Manuel Akanji, 4. Nico Elvedi, 13. Ricardo Rodríguez, 8. Remo Freuler, 10. Granit Xhaka (c), 3. Silvan Widmer, 9. Johan Manzambi, 20. Michel Aebischer, 11. Dan Ndoye, 23. Zeki Amdouni.4.52amRugari has more on Yengi: the Socceroos’ answer to Frankenstein’s monsterBy Vince RugariOakland: Tete Yengi is a footballing version of Frankenstein’s monster. And not just because he’s a big, imposing lump of a bloke who is actually much quieter, thoughtful and nuanced than first impressions may suggest – but because he describes himself as a composite player, made up of the sum of his experiences in the game, good and bad.It’s been a long, winding journey for him to get to Camp Socceroo, and it featured a bunch of pit-stops off the beaten path in pursuit of his dream.Five years ago, Yengi was playing semi-professional football in South Australia, having failed to make the cut at Adelaide United in his youth. Three years ago he was on loan in Finland, searching for an opportunity at the end of the earth. Less than a year ago he was in the Scottish second division, and the prospect of a World Cup appearance at that moment seemed absurd.Read the full article here.Tete Yengi celebrates an AFC Champions League win with Machida Zelvia.Getty Images4.48amPopovic on Volpato and Yengi debutsBy “Theye’re obviously the most recent arrivals – they needed a bit of time to settle in,” he tells the pre-game broadcast.“We’ve had them now for a good week. In terms of training, they’ve looked relaxed, they’ve looked confident, and today we felt was a good opportunity to put them out there and let them experience playing for Australia in a tough game from the start.”And on his mass changes in general:“You always want to win. We don’t want to change that, regardless of who we’re playing, so that’s the mindset. But it’s a good opportunity to get some minutes into the players in preparation for the game next week. That’s ultimately what we’re here for. But today’s a good chance to see some players, see how they gel together, see if we can build some relationships out on the park.”4.21am‘It’s time to come home’: Why Volpato finally picked the Socceroos over ItalyBy Vince RugariSan Diego: For years, Cristian Volpato says, he has been trapped between two identities. But a feeling he could no longer ignore finally tipped the scales in favour of Australia over Italy.“Something in my heart just said, ‘I think it’s time to come home’,” he said.The 22-year-old from Sydney, who had been at the centre of an international tug-o-war since his Serie A breakthrough with AS Roma five years ago, has made his first public comments since his decision last week to pledge his allegiance to Australia and accept a place in Socceroos coach Tony Popovic’s 26-man World Cup squad.In an interview posted on the Socceroos’ social media channels, Volpato admits he was genuinely torn about which way to go, a dilemma he said millions of Australians with heritage from other countries could relate to.“Obviously, everyone knows I’m Italian and I’m Australian, so it’s actually been a big decision that’s always been on my head 24-7 for quite a while,” he said.Read the full article here.Cristian Volpato poses with a Socceroos fan after training in Oakland.Getty Images4.18amVolpato to start as Popovic rings seven changesBy Vince RugariGood morning Australia, from beautiful San Diego. This is going to be fun this morning, I hope. Tony Popovic has named a fun starting XI.Only four players from the team that lined up against Mexico last week have retained their spots – the back three of Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington, and midfielder Aiden O’Neill. Everything else is different. Do the math; that means seven changes, including Cristian Volpato and Tete Yengi, the two uncapped players in the Socceroos’ World Cup squad who will be uncapped no more. The back-ups out wide also get some minutes in Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich, plus there’s Nestory Irankunda on the wing and Paul Okon-Engstler in midfield. And Patrick Beach in goal. That’s seven. Phew.Fun fact: at an average age of 24.6, this is the youngest starting XI that Popovic has fielded as Socceroos coach. The previous record was 25.9 against Canada last year, so this is more than a full year younger. Wild.It’ll be fascinating to see how that attack, in particular, functions, and whether the Socceroos will be on from the start. They weren’t at the Rose Bowl, but then again, there were 80,000 Mexican fans in the stands then, and there’s practically nobody here at Snapdragon Stadium. Not a huge surprise, given it’s a midday kick-off in a part of the world where I would imagine the Australian and Swiss diasporas are not huge.Popovic told us yesterday that he wasn’t looking for any particular “answers” from this match, and that he was keen to get as many minutes into as many of them as possible – so expect the maximum 11 changes to be made. Apparently there’s no VAR today, what a small blessing.4.15amHello and welcome!By To the Socceroos. To Switzerland. To San Diego. Thanks to all of you for the alliteration slam dunk. Hopefully Tony Popovic’s team will shoot a few baskets over the next couple of hours. Yeah, okay, that analogy didn’t work. How about: this is Australia’s final friendly before their World Cup officially, and it would be good if they can make a bit of a statement ahead of next weekend’s tournament opener against Turkiye? Even maybe: let’s start faster than last week’s 1-0 loss to Mexico at the Rose Bowl.What awaits the Socceroos on the US west coast? We’ll find out after kick-off at 5am AEST. Myself and Vince Rugari, who is at Snapdragon Stadium where it will be a 12pm start local time, will live it all with you live.1 of 1