Riley McGree’s chances of representing Australia at a second FIFA World Cup are now in serious doubt after the key attacking player suffered what appears to be a hamstring injury during a devastating day for both the Socceroos and his Middlesbrough teammates at Wembley. With just three weeks until the Socceroos’ opening match against Turkey, the 27-year-old was forced to leave the field in the 72nd minute of Boro’s last-minute Championship playoff final defeat to Hull City.
McGree initially tried to continue playing before being substituted, but he had to watch from the bench as his team conceded a goal deep in stoppage time, ending their hopes of promotion to the Premier League. This heartbreaking loss has raised concerns for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who relies heavily on McGree’s contributions in attack.
As an inverted winger, McGree has become a crucial part of Popovic’s tactical setup. His energy, creativity, and ability to deliver moments of brilliance have made him a vital asset for the national team. Having previously played in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he provided the assist for Mathew Leckie’s goal that secured a win against Denmark, McGree has earned 35 caps for Australia. However, his career has been plagued by injuries, including several setbacks this season while at Middlesbrough.
The severity of his latest injury will be determined by medical scans, and even a minor strain could jeopardize his participation in two pre-tournament friendlies. The Socceroos are set to face co-hosts Mexico on 31 May and Switzerland on 7 June before their World Cup opener against Turkey on 14 June. They will then take on the US on 20 June and Paraguay six days later.
Given his late-season involvement with Boro, McGree had not yet joined the pre-tournament camp in Florida, where Australian players have been gradually arriving over the past few weeks. This is part of a final effort to impress Popovic before he announces his 26-man squad on 1 June.
McGree was expected to travel to Sarasota earlier, but Middlesbrough received a last-minute reprieve following the spygate scandal that led to Southampton being excluded from the playoff final. This allowed Boro to compete again for promotion to the Premier League. Unfortunately, the dream ended in heartbreak for McGree and fellow Australian Sammy Silvera, who was an unused substitute in the match. Oli McBurnie scored the decisive goal in the 95th minute, sending Hull City up at Boro’s expense in what was called the richest game in football history.
There was also disappointment for Nick D’Agostino, who has been forced to withdraw from the Socceroos’ World Cup pre-camp. Football Australia confirmed on Sunday that the fringe striker suffered a leg injury during training, effectively ending his chances of making his debut at the tournament.
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