McGree eager to 'make memories' in first World Cup campaign

Fresh from scoring another wonder goal at club level, Subway Socceroos midfielder Riley McGree is keen to make more memories in Green and Gold at his first FIFA World Cup. 

The 24-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder is at his first World Cup tournament with Australia and he cannot wait to create some new memories on the world stage. 

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McGree made his debut for the Socceroos as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 victory against Kuwait in June 2021. The South Australian then became an Olympian a month later, starting every one of the Olyroos’ Tokyo 2020 fixtures.

As one of nine members from the Olympic contingent selected in the Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ squad, McGree told Socceroos Insider Live in-camp Q & A that he hopes to create more exciting memories in Green and Gold in Doha.

“It’s a huge experience,” McGree explained. 

It’s my first World Cup so I’m just taking everything in, taking the small things and the big things as much as I can and making memories.

“It's been good here. We've obviously trained and had a few games here in Doha in the past so it’s a little bit easier than normal. So far, so good.”


Having started Middlesbrough's last five matches in the Championship and after turning heads with a sublime equaliser in an eventual 2-1 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road last weekend, McGree enters Socceroos camp full of confidence. 

He produced a scissor kick to fire home a bouncing ball with his left foot and stun the home crowd in the 64th minute. After McGree’s goal drew Boro level, they managed to edge ahead with a stoppage-time winner and move up to 14th in England’s second tier.

"It kind of all happened at once," McGree said reflecting on his goal. 

It's a bit of a blur and I didn't quite realise the kind of goal that I scored until after when I saw it. But it was good to start a come back and get the three points in the end as well."

The goal from McGree is yet another in an ever-growing collection of worldies. He netted a Puskas nominee back in 2018 for his sublime scorpion kick when he was with the Newcastle Jets.

As for scoring another incredible goal against the likes of France, Tunisia and Denmark at the World Cup, McGree is concentrating on getting on the pitch at the biggest tournament on the planet.

"I'd love to but you don't really think about these things," he said. 

"They kind of just happen as they come. Just to get out on the pitch and to be involved would be awesome."