World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[Quicky]

Teague is good but there are better midfielders to pick. Teague is good technically, always presents for passes, has a good first touch, scans and looks for forward passes. That's at AL level and I expect it will be a step up at international level, so we'll see if it translates.

I posted this before the game. I think it's fair too say he can do it at international level now. Japan would be another step up again though.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

I bet you were stoked when Popovic decided to sit back. You could see it coming.

I remember us growing into the game second half and gradually taking charge, but we did that a lot last year with Nizzy and Balard calling the shots.

But yes, Victory were strangely lethargic second half and only one nil up.

 

[Alex M]

Ah hang on you’re right @JS96 - they’ve changed it this time around to be head to head for tied nations - this changes things

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/18d857c3ec3e64f8/original/FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Preliminary-Competition_EN.pdf

The FIFA regs list tiebreakers for group stage as below (Page 20 clause 5)

In the league format, the ranking in each group is determined as follows:
a. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches
b. Highest goal difference in all group matches
c. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their
rankings shall be determined as follows:
d. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the
teams concerned
e. Highest goal difference resulting from the group matches between the
teams concerned
f. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams
concerned
g. Greatest number of goals scored away from home by the teams concerned
h. The highest team-conduct score relating to the number of yellow and red
cards for players and team officials in all group matches is considered
according to the following deductions:
• First yellow card:
• Second yellow card/indirect red card:
• Direct red card:
• Yellow card and direct red card:
minus 1 point
minus 3 points
minus 4 points
minus 5 points
Only one of the above deductions shall be applied to a player in a single
match. The team with the highest number of points shall be ranked highest
i. Drawing of lots by FIFA in collaboration with the confederation(s)

 

[jas88]

was my birthday last night so missed the game was out with the family. Seems like a good result how did Teague do? will try watch replay tonight.

Cant even find the replay on Paramount... these cunts are useless.

 

[Alex M]

My maths is, a win in either, or draws in both, means at worst case it’s down to goal difference for us regardless (which is currently either at +9 over Saudi, and +14 over both Indonesia and Bahrain)

Two points qualifies us for sure, 3 points means we may still miss out.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

was my birthday last night so missed the game was out with the family. Seems like a good result how did Teague do? will try watch replay tonight.

Cant even find the replay on Paramount... these cunts are useless.

Happy Birthday ... hoped you like the present Poppa brought ya?

 

[Alex M]

Australia, has two very hard qualifiers to go, Japan will be tough, very tough, and we will be lucky to get a draw. Saudi Arabia away is going to be even tougher with the heat. Just looking at the table, the Saudis have only scored 4 goals in 8 games, and have conceded 6, so they struggle to score inspite of playing some good football, but they defend reasonably well.

I pray Australia can finish in second spot, and gain automatic qualification, I don't want to go through the nightmare of having to go through play offs.

Technically the 4th round is another group stage with two groups of 3. If we finish second in a round 4 group then the playoffs begin.

 

[Alex M]

Genuine question - on what basis do people believe that system/style that Popavic is wanting the team to play is complicated and difficult for the players to learn? Is there any evidence for this or has it just been repeated so many times by punters that it has become “fact”?

I can’t see anything in the way the Socceroos play that should be beyond any professional player understanding it? I mean, Miller seems to be far from the sharpest tool in the shed and often makes fundamental mistakes, but he seems to be locked-in in the team at the moment. If he can understand and implement the style of play, why (apparently) can’t Ballard, Triantis, Irankunda?

Some players are pretty inexperienced still and haven't had prior exposure to this tripe of formation and may struggle with it at first. I agree a more experienced professional should be able to adapt a lot quicker.

 

[Quicky]

was my birthday last night so missed the game was out with the family. Seems like a good result how did Teague do? will try watch replay tonight.

Cant even find the replay on Paramount... these cunts are useless.

Happy Birthday! Teague did great. I thought he controlled the game in midfield. Good technique and first touch. Good scanning and positive forward passes. Some good tackles and duels won. Faded in the second half though.

 

[Quicky]

@jas88 re: Paramount use AFC Asian Qualifiers as your search term. It should be there with all the other games. Its worth favouriting.

 

[Muz]

was my birthday last night so missed the game was out with the family. Seems like a good result how did Teague do? will try watch replay tonight.

Cant even find the replay on Paramount... these cunts are useless.

Depending on who you ask he was rubbish or fantastic and everywhere in between.

Cheers!

 

[Muz]

Some players are pretty inexperienced still and haven't had prior exposure to this tripe of formation and may struggle with it at first. I agree a more experienced professional should be able to adapt a lot quicker.

Deliberate?

Freudian slip?

 

[Decentric]

RMIB posted a response to a post I made some pages back. I can't find it. He made some good points re fans critiquing coaches, like Popa, for the Socceroos.

Rightly or wrongly, I believe some posters on G and G, not our Socceroo hating posters from the right wing nut job forum who troll G and G, but genuine Socceroo fans who always appear disgruntled with whomever the Socceroo coach is - at any given point in time. For the record I think all of Ange, Bert, Arnie and Popa have been effective coaches for the Socceroos. I thought Holger was the wrong coach - which was raised a lot in national coaching conferences with Han Berger.

For the first 2 games in this WCQ round, the final round, Australia lost to Bahrain (with stats showing we should have won decisively), and drew with Indo in Jakarta. Again the match stats showed we should have won in Jakarta.

Then Arnie quit. He said he had lost the plot since the Asian Cup. I admire his honesty.

I don't believe Popa has had enough credit on this forum for:

* In 6 games since taking over from Arnie, Popa has accrued 3 wins and 3 draws. In doing so, he has turned the Socceroo WCQ campaign around. Aus is now 2nd on the table by 3 points. I think some posters on G and G should be more positive about Popa's tenure, given these results and the turnaround.

* Popa has had considerable success selecting A L players that Arnie ignored, like Geria, Villupillay, Borrello, Matthews, Caceres, Taggart, Teague and Arzani. All have showed they value add to the team based on performance. If you disagree on any of these players, I'll set out why they have been an asset. On the other hand, Brattan struggled against the best team. How about some Popa love for his AL selections?

* Arnie ( and I agree with almost everything he did and said) perplexingly said because Strain, Miller and Gethyn Jones were injured, and Atkinson was clubless, he had to play Circati at RB. How did he fail to identify Geria, now one of the Socceroos best players? Geria is far better than Geraint Jones as RB too.
How about some plaudits for Popa for the Geria selection as a Right CB in a back three? In 1 v1 stats, Jason G is the best ball winner in the team in those 6 games when he has been on the pitch.

* Popa's 3-4-3 flat midfield in Ball Possession, manifesting as 5-2-3, and 5-4-1 in Ball Possession Opposition has worked well, in terms of results. It is a conventional Dutch KNVB formation and a derivative of the 1-4-3-3 system. Why are some so sceptical?

* Senior players like Irvine and Ryan, claim Popa's attention to fine detail for game plans, and even diet, is quite a step up. That it has value added to players individually - and - as a team unit. How about some more Popa love?

* Popa has moved away from selecting players in the Scottish league, outside the Old Firm. Only 3 players from Hibs were in the recent squad. It is the antithesis to Arnie. Popa's decision has brought more success.

* It appears to me, that some posters rationalise that any player playing anywhere in Europe, has to be better than any A L player - and - our veteran Socceroos.
UEFA is diverse and heterogeneous. There is a chasm between the UEFA Big Five league clubs, as well as the Big 30- 40 clubs who play in Lower UEFA Leagues, but regularly play Champ and Europa league football on the one hand ( Ajax, Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, PSV, Porto, Feyenoorde, Young Boys, Anderlecht, maybe Celtic, et al) , and the rest of UEFA.
Recently I've seen a lot more Italian Serie A teams play, and Scottish league teams. The difference between most of the Scottish league teams and Serie A teams, is enormous in quality ( sorry Lurker). AL teams play a style of football much closer to Serie A teams, than Scotland does. Having said this, Celtic play superb football.

* There also appears to be a prevailing view, that there are these amazing Aussie players not selected, or in Socceroo squads, who aren't getting Socceroo game time. That they are far better than the Socceroo incumbents - Popa just can't see it though.
Any coach sees how players perform relative to each other in camp. Some combine much better with each other, than other players. There was a profound difference between Behich and Davidson at LB a few years ago in terms of playing fluently and cohesively with players around them when they played Socceroo LB.
Experience is absolutely paramount. Some veteran players like Irvine, Ryan, Behich and Goodwin, may be peaking in their 30s. Their bodies are holding up, and their experience means they make few mistakes, and make good decisions, plus have very good positioning in a team context.
Their game sense continues to improve. Moreover, they mentor inexperienced players around them. They may have great leadership qualities too.

End of rant.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

Depending on who you ask he was rubbish or fantastic and everywhere in between.

Cheers!

Don't think anyone said he was rubbish.

Most said he was good but some noted he was less effective in the second half - and he was. But so were all of them.

 

[Decentric]

On another note, I thought it was shocking that Ten doesn't show Socceroo away games on FTA. Why?

Thanks to those on here who persuaded me to subscribe to Paramount.

Does Ten show Matildas games FTA?

 

[JS96]

A good game by Teague. Of course playing direct and forward is a pretty rudimentary thing for a professional. I'm glad he followed Popovic's instructions.

China were like traffic cones which probably embellishes Teague's game. It's a good start and now we'll have to see it against a better opponent.

We haven't had that many play in midfield to compare. Mooy is untouchable but Teague is better than Devlin, Brattan, Caceres. Baccus had occasional good games while O'Neill's debut against Ecuador was excellent. Irvine has only started to sharpen on his passing and had been woeful for a long time.

Short cameos but Yazbek and Nisbet looked very good on the ball too. That's what it's about, getting it moving. It was a joy to see Australia playing directly for a change.

 

[Kitwally]

On another note, I thought it was shocking that Ten doesn't show Socceroo away games on FTA. Why?

Thanks to those on here who persuaded me to subscribe to Paramount.

Does Ten show Matildas games FTA?

Channel 10 are clueless which is why they are basically bankrupt. Ok, maybe Paramount put pressure on them not to broadcast the match so they can get more subscriptions?

 

[Muz]

Channel 10 are clueless which is why they are basically bankrupt. Ok, maybe Paramount put pressure on them not to broadcast the match so they can get more subscriptions?

It's not that. I can't remember exactly but it's why the cricket and Union and that are locked away when they play overseas. Somebody will add more but it has something to do with the rights holders in those countries.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

That was a great night!

My mates and I watched the pitch invasion in disbelief for a few minutes, but the instant I said: "Fuck it, let's get out there too." The announcer started telling people to get off the grass.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

It's not that. I can't remember exactly but it's why the cricket and Union and that are locked away when they play overseas. Somebody will add more but it has something to do with the rights holders in those countries.

I believe it's the anti-siphoning rules which dictate what must be made available to FTA and what doesn't have to be,