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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

We don't know our alternative viable combinations because so much time was wasted always starting Irvine, unnecessarily starting Baccus and O'Neill and then stupid experiments with Brattan and Caceres. To think we had some moments late against Argentina in China with Hustic, McGree, Metcalfe and Robertson on the pitch where they had a couple of very good passing combinations.
 
Max Balard called up zero minutes, dropped from the next squad.

Triantis called up for zero minutes, maybe Popa rates neither of them.
 
Thinking on this more, and considering Popovic's system, I think my favourite CM combos are the following:

1. Triantis - Robertson
2. Balard - Nisbet
3. Teague - Luongo
4. O'Neill - Caceres

You can chop and change that a lot too. Looking at the options I don't there is a lot to worry about. We'll find something competitive.
 
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Midfield 3 of Triantis/Balard, Teague, Robertson would be ideal. Nisbet if Robertson is still playing hard to get and doesn't accept the call-up
 
Alex M said:
well two 0-0 draws will see us qualify (unless Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain by 9 or more).
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Well yes but less than that actually - Saudi Arabia have to beat us at home full stop in most scenarios I've played out in my head. Realistically for us we get a free hit at an already qualified Japan we beat them great that effectively wraps it up regardless of SA wins in their last 2 [Aus greater GD?] We draw in Perth not enough as it only gives us 2pts adv over SA. (I think we are all assuming SA will win vs BH)

Of course, if SA loose and we get a result in Perth that gives us 4pts so all over.

I still think the most likely scenario is a straight shootout between SA and AU
The final game for them has and always was THEY must beat us in JEDDAH.

For us a Loss vs JP and Draw with SA should be enough*
*Though potentially a pretty limp way to qualify for the in theory easiest WC to qualify for.

Popovic is undefeated I think too much to ask to continue that streak?
 
Quicky said:
Thinking on this more, and considering Popovic's system, I think my favourite CM combos are the following:

1. Triantis - Robertson
2. Balard - Nisbet
3. Teague - Luongo
4. O'Neill - Caceres

You can chop and change that a lot too. Looking at the options I don't there is a lot to worry about. We'll find something competitive.
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-Balard-Nisbet creative
-Triantis-Balard defensive
....Would be my choice from afar.
Robo for Nisbet maybe if available....
 
Ozirekt said:
Midfield 3 of Triantis/Balard, Teague, Robertson would be ideal. Nisbet if Robertson is still playing hard to get and doesn't accept the call-up
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I'd love that but Popovic doesn't really play a midfield 3. He plays 2 DM/CM and 3 forwards. The wide forwards are often midfielders that invert. The 3rd forward and centre of those 3 is the CF. It's a bit awkward in that CM/DM is probably our strongest area but we play 2 not 3.
 
ftbl-newb said:
Well yes but less than that actually - Saudi Arabia have to beat us at home full stop in most scenarios I've played out in my head. Realistically for us we get a free hit at an already qualified Japan we beat them great that effectively wraps it up regardless of SA wins in their last 2 [Aus greater GD?] We draw in Perth not enough as it only gives us 2pts adv over SA. (I think we are all assuming SA will win vs BH)

Of course, if SA loose and we get a result in Perth that gives us 4pts so all over.

I still think the most likely scenario is a straight shootout between SA and AU
The final game for them has and always was THEY must beat us in JEDDAH.

For us a Loss vs JP and Draw with SA should be enough*
*Though potentially a pretty limp way to qualify for the in theory easiest WC to qualify for.

Popovic is undefeated I think too much to ask to continue that streak?
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Yep, looks like it will pretty much boil down to that.
Assuming we finish ahead in Goal Difference:
  • Winning against Japan guarantees qualification.
  • Drawing against Japan and a win/draw against Saudi Arabia guarantees qualification.
  • Drawing against Japan, then losing to Saudi Arabia means Australia qualifies UNLESS Indonesia wins both of their games AND/OR Saudi Arabia defeat Bahrain
  • Losing against Japan means Australia must at least draw against Saudi Arabia - the scenario of us losing to both Japan and Saudi Arabia and still qualifying is possible, if Saudi Arabia have lost to Bahrain, and Indonesia does not win both matches against China and Japan.

I had a bit of downtime, so just wanted to look at outrageous scenarios that could see us fail to qualify on goal difference.
  • A draw with Saudi Arabia, alongside a Saudi Arabia victory over Bahrain, and an Australia loss to Japan by a collective 10 goals would see Saudi Arabia finish ahead on goal difference
  • Draws in both our games against Japan and Saudi Arabia, alongside Indonesia winning both of their games against Bahrain and Japan by a collective 13 goals (this is a tie on goal difference, but Indonesia would have more goals scored)
 
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NicCarBel said:
Yep, looks like it will pretty much boil down to that.
Assuming we finish ahead in Goal Difference:
  • Winning against Japan guarantees qualification.
  • Drawing against Japan and a win/draw against Saudi Arabia guarantees qualification.
  • Drawing against Japan, then losing to Saudi Arabia means Australia qualifies UNLESS Indonesia wins both of their games AND/OR Saudi Arabia defeat Bahrain
  • Losing against Japan means Australia must at least draw against Saudi Arabia - the scenario of us losing to both Japan and Saudi Arabia and still qualifying is possible, if Saudi Arabia have lost to Bahrain, and Indonesia does not win both matches against China and Japan.

I had a bit of downtime, so just wanted to look at outrageous scenarios that could see us fail to qualify on goal difference.
  • A draw with Saudi Arabia, alongside a Saudi Arabia victory over Bahrain, and an Australia loss to Japan by a collective 10 goals would see Saudi Arabia finish ahead on goal difference
  • Draws in both our games against Japan and Saudi Arabia, alongside Indonesia winning both of their games against Bahrain and Japan by a collective 13 goals (this is a tie on goal difference, but Indonesia would have more goals scored)
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Socceroo's will be heading to another intercontinental play off. With so many players out injured and Japan to play there full strength side there is no way we qualify directly. History always repeats it self and in the case we will cum 4th behind Indonesia. I can see the Socceroo's playing off against another Sth American side.
 
NoMates said:
Socceroo's will be heading to another intercontinental play off. With so many players out injured and Japan to play there full strength side there is no way we qualify directly. History always repeats it self and in the case we will cum 4th behind Indonesia. I can see the Socceroo's playing off against another Sth American side.
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There is another 2 rounds of Asian qualifying before IC playoffs. Round 4 is two groups of 3 with the winners qualifying for the WC and round 5 is a head to head playoff between the group runners up from round 4 to determine who goes to the playoffs.
 
Alex M said:
There is another 2 rounds of Asian qualifying before IC playoffs. Round 4 is two groups of 3 with the winners qualifying for the WC and round 5 is a head to head playoff between the group runners up from round 4 to determine who goes to the playoffs.
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If we have used the repechage probably don't deserve to be there
 
huddo said:
If we have used the repechage probably don't deserve to be there
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Just frustrating every cycle we seemingly select the poorer options when others are in form and there is poor coaching. Saudi's demise this cycle has been fortunate.

It's the same stuff every time. We underestimate opponents and conditions not to mention concede some really freak goal stuff.
 
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JS96 said:
Just frustrating every cycle we seemingly select the poorer options when others are in form and there is poor coaching. Saudi's demise this cycle has been fortunate.

It's the same stuff every time. We underestimate opponents and conditions not to mention concede some really freak goal stuff.
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Maybe we aren't as good as you think we are.
 
It does my head in the way we keep ignoring our best players.

Getting Robertson offside was down to Arnie and god knows what effort (if any) Popa's put in to get him back.

Even worse is how he's treated Irankunda. As for Nisbet, Triantis and Balard... FMD

On the plus side, Velupillay and Teague have looked the part.
 
JS96 said:
We don't know how good we can be because we've kept better players out and those chosen struggle to emulate their club form. It's almost like they forget how to play when for the national team.
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Therein lies the conundrum. Club football means a full preseason, getting to know the coach's strategy and gelling with your team mates.
It also means that you know how other teams play and their players.
National teams don't have a preseason per se, NT coach may have a totally different philosophy and if you have a lot of overseas players then you don't know your teammates, let alone you opponents.
ManU is the closest club to the conundrum. As they have changed coaches each bringing in a few players to fit with that coaches' philosophy. Today they have a hodgepodge of players that just don't gel.

I am still giving Popa the benefit of the doubt as he has had no friendlies where he could have tried different players. BUT like any other coach, he has his own philosophy, and some players, no matter how good, just don't fit into that philosophy.
 
An article yesterday mentioned that Australia will be based in the ME for a camp at Euro season end prior to flying to Perth.

Being 3 points and GD ahead the Socceroos are in a strong position and while the games are the hardest faced in the Group anything other than direct qualification form this point would be have to be considered a massive stuff up.
 
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