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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

huddo said:
No team will ever cut a Popa team to pieces to be honest, there's just too much defence.

With the players he's selecting, it's the only way he can play and compete.
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Concerning sadly. 2018 style in hindsight annoyed me.

Got to say our defence were great. Snippets were shown of Circati legally taking opponents to the floor. Degenek was a rock and Burgess just shadowed them. Really glad.

That pass by Geria for the goal was stunning when you see all the angles.
 
JS96 said:
Just reiterating it for those scrolling through, by no means undermining or countering others.

It's more AFC comment trolling that we played teenagers last night. 19/29 caps except Kamada in total? Still their clubs and levels are incredibly high and we saw that.
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Probably gamblers that lost.

You can only play whats in front of you. Japan wants to play with young players that's not on Australia and the record won't care what their ages are.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Yeah physicality has crept into their game over the last 4-5 years.... I reckon it has a lot to do with more of their players playing in Europe.. Like Muz said, they arent bigger than our boys, just know how to dish it our more effectively maybe?
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At all levels our fouling is remedial

Most fouls in u23, u20 or u17 are fouls that disadvantage us whereas the opposition will foul in ways that advantage them or arent even called (e.g. pulling a shirt of a player off the ball to get front position and turn a 3 v 4 into a 4 v 3. Since it is a dangerous moment and the ball carrier is left alone the worst that happens is the ref calls is advantage but the attack is blunted).
Im not sure how much we care about this facet of the game but it has really declined for us
 
huddo said:
Probably gamblers that lost.

You can only play whats in front of you. Japan wants to play with young players that's not on Australia and the record won't care what their ages are.
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Arguably our b team as well and missing more consequential players given we have less depth

- souttar
- bos
- irvine
- goodwin
- vellupilay

Then all the self inflicted non selections haha
 
jas88 said:
The Saudi game would of been a really good game to test Bennie at RWB against decent opponent - we need options for next year. The kid is getting minutes in the rough and tumble of the CHP he should be fine at this level. I'm pissed he's not there.
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Injured may 15 sadly
 
grazorblade said:
Haha on that, we just got an email from our university that you cannot go to the usa if you have ever posted something anti trump, pro lgbt, palestine or edi.

I guess lupi will be the only travelling support then
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HAHAAHAH Looks like the World Cup is going to look and feel like a Western united home game then... hahahahaha
 
grazorblade said:
Arguably our b team as well and missing more consequential players given we have less depth

- souttar
- bos
- irvine
- goodwin
- vellupilay

Then all the self inflicted non selections haha
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Leckie.

McGree being unfit as well. Popa said in the post match press conference they were worried him with about 15 minutes to go. Doesn't seem like he will start in KSA. Still not quite what Japan did.

I think we particularly lacked strong options for the inverted wingers who need to operate under a lot of pressure in this setup. I'm not sure Boyle fits the role well despite how well he had been playing for Hibs (similar to Irankunda). McGree and Goodwin play it well. Irvine in midfield was a big out. Souttar probably wasn't missed. A fit Bos is an upgrade, hopefully a big one but he needs a run without injury.

If you played that match over with the same sides I feels quite as bad, people played poorly especially the first half. But if we had those inclusions we would have probably got closer to 45% of the ball, put them under more pressure defensively and force more chances. There is a long list of guys who are our second tier of quality who could come in (and hopefully step up), but there aren't equivalent replacements for our best guys (Irvine, McGree, Goodwin, Bos, Ciccati, Ryan).
 
Driving from Northern Territory to northern Western Australia, what a beautiful country we have.
Watched it on my mobile last night and agree with most, we can't hold ball but defended well.
Did loops around campsite after we scored.

Poor Lupi that's 6 world cups in a row under the A-League.
 
Robbos said:
Driving from Northern Territory to northern Western Australia, what a beautiful country we have.
Watched it on my mobile last night and agree with most, we can't hold ball but defended well.
Did loops around campsite after we scored.

Poor Lupi that's 6 world cups in a row under the A-League.
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Yeah Japan is now getting rid of promotion and relegation and scrapping their clubs and replacing them with franchises after their loss....

Goooo Aleague....go.....
 
Cunningstunt said:
Leckie.

McGree being unfit as well. Popa said in the post match press conference they were worried him with about 15 minutes to go. Doesn't seem like he will start in KSA. Still not quite what Japan did.

I think we particularly lacked strong options for the inverted wingers who need to operate under a lot of pressure in this setup. I'm not sure Boyle fits the role well despite how well he had been playing for Hibs (similar to Irankunda). McGree and Goodwin play it well. Irvine in midfield was a big out. Souttar probably wasn't missed. A fit Bos is an upgrade, hopefully a big one but he needs a run without injury.

If you played that match over with the same sides I feels quite as bad, people played poorly especially the first half. But if we had those inclusions we would have probably got closer to 45% of the ball, put them under more pressure defensively and force more chances. There is a long list of guys who are our second tier of quality who could come in (and hopefully step up), but there aren't equivalent replacements for our best guys (Irvine, McGree, Goodwin, Bos, Ciccati, Ryan).
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Boyle mostly now plays as part of a front 2 for Hibs. His form picked up considerably when he was shifted from winger in a front 3 to one of a front 2 following a change in formation.
 
RIMB said:
I may be using the wrong terms. I am talking about defending deep but still having a credible threat of attack that stops opposition teams from building at their leisure and forces them to keep players back to defend against that threat.

Edit: Duke stays high but he is not a credible attack from halfway with his lack of pace and guile.

When we stop attacking to put everyone deep and invite the best our opponents can bring down on us.
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This, sure give forwards defensive responsibility but combine forwards with defensive qualities and a defensive minded low block coach and it's suicide.

Unfortunately Boyle hasn't really worked in Popa's system as of yet for whatever reason.

Metcalfe?

As for centre forwards we won't progress against better sides with the old guard, pick for hold up ability and or pace on the counter.
 
Man there is a lot of comments. Just a few points:

1. Having selected Tilio & Arzani who both can provide drive into the attacking zone, Popa chose to go with a single striker - Borello who had to fight for scraps. No idea what the intention was.
2. The Japan A team beat Germany 4 - 0 last year. I work with a couple of German dudes who are always chill but not that day.
3. Japan has depth as was shown last night. People can argue about it being the B team but they played well. Australia does not have the same depth, nor are we likely to develop it with Popa at the helm.
4. Japan were physical so if Popa's idea was to intimidate them, it did not work. Borello could hardly lay a glove. Unfortunately Botic was not selected.
5. Watching Sumo does pay off. Sumo wrestling is all about mastering the centre of gravity and there are techniques that can be used to ensure that you don't topple over when pushed.
6. It was hard for defenders to kick forward, specially in the first half, when all your attackers are right next to you facing the wrong way.
7. The Japanese were super fit.
 
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