Mohamed Touré's Absence Raises Concerns for Socceroos Before Türkiye Clash

ALAMEDA, California — The cameras were rolling, the drills were sharp, and the Socceroos moved crisply through their paces on a cool Wednesday evening in the East Bay.

But the player everyone expected to be front and centre was nowhere to be seen.

Mohamed Touré, widely tipped to spearhead Australia’s attack at this tournament, missed the open portion of training at the Oakland Roots and Soul facility, triggering immediate concern just days out from the Group D opener against Türkiye.

A conspicuous absence

For the 15 minutes that media were allowed to watch, Tony Popovic had all but one of his 26-man squad on the pitch. Balls pinged around, instructions rang out, players went through their patterns. Touré, though, was missing.

It wasn’t a planned smokescreen. Even his teammates were caught off guard.

“No, I actually don't know,” defender Jordan Bos admitted when asked about the striker’s absence. “It was actually during training where I noticed he wasn't in there, so I don't know why he wasn't.”

Once the session wrapped and players began drifting off the pitch, a Socceroos spokesperson moved to steady the narrative, confirming Touré is expected to resume training on Thursday. No explanation was given for why he sat out on Wednesday. No detail on whether it was precaution, niggle, or something more serious.

That silence will only fuel speculation.

From team photo to uncertainty

The Norwich City forward did arrive with the squad. He took part in the team photo before the session began, standing alongside the teammates he is supposed to lead into this campaign. Then, as the footballs came out and the intensity lifted, he vanished from the work that matters most.

For Popovic and his staff, the timing is awkward. Türkiye loom on Saturday. This is the moment when combinations should be locking in, when the starting XI settles, when the main striker sharpens his finishing. Instead, the man expected to wear that responsibility is a question mark.

Any absence, even a short one, would be a major blow. Touré, 22, has been earmarked as the focal point of Australia’s attack, his form at club level with Norwich City and his physical profile making him the obvious choice to lead the line.

“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, underlining just how central Touré has become to the Socceroos’ plans.

Thin at No. 9

If Touré cannot go against Türkiye, the depth chart suddenly looks very thin.

Tete Yengi would be the only fully fit out-and-out striker in the squad. The 25-year-old only just made his international debut in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland in San Diego last Saturday, but he made it count, scoring Australia’s 56th-minute equaliser. It was an encouraging first step, not a long-term audition that was supposed to be fast-tracked into a starting role in a major group opener.

Behind Yengi, the options require reshaping the system or asking players to step out of their usual roles.

Nestory Irankunda offers one intriguing solution. Used on the wing against the Swiss, he has previously been deployed centrally by Popovic, his pace and directness giving defences a different kind of problem. Throwing him into the middle from the start against Türkiye, though, would be a bold call.

Then there is Mathew Leckie. The veteran has spent much of his career drifting between positions, often pushed inside when coaches needed energy, nous and flexibility through the middle. Popovic has already flagged just how valuable that versatility is.

“The luxury of Mathew Leckie is that he can play anywhere,” the coach said when naming his squad. “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.”

If Popovic hesitates to start Yengi in such a pivotal game, Leckie may well be the first name he turns to as a false nine or central outlet, especially in a match likely to hinge on discipline and structure as much as flair.

Waiting for Thursday

For now, the official line is simple: Touré is expected back on the training pitch on Thursday. The session will be held behind closed doors, away from cameras and questions, which means the first real clue about his status may come only from who walks out at kickoff against Türkiye.

Inside camp, the message will be about adaptability and trust in the squad. Outside, the focus will remain on one name.

If the Socceroos’ chosen spearhead is missing when the group stage begins, how quickly can Popovic’s side reinvent their attack on the fly?