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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

I mean Metcalfe was kept on by Popovic so he was satisfied enough to let it roll. Popovic wanted certain parts of the game to persist. I'm just annoyed that O'Neill and Metcalfe didn't take it upon themselves to get some possession going.
 
Now I’ve seen the entire game, some of it for a second time, Popa deserves more credit than he is getting on this forum. Thankfully, there are new posters on this forum who recognise Popa's value.

He has accrued 15 points from 7 games in this round of WCQs and is undefeated.

In his 3-4-3, 5-4-1, 5-2-3 formation, depending on the part of the pitch, he selected a team (like Arnie usually did) where all players' major strength is their off the ball work. In any given game players average on the ball is 3 minutes for the whole 90 mins. More if you are a DM or CB, less if you are a striker.

If Popa had played more proficient ball players earlier in the game, Arzani, Tilio, a fitter McGree, or the now non-selected Hrustic, or some of the younger players not selected, they just would not have seen much ball and been worn out.

In turn the Japanese would have even put even more pressure on our defence, but Boyle, Borrello, and Metcalfe ran hard to keep the team shape compact most of the time. Impressively, most Japanese players are superb on the ball and very good off it too.

In the second half the Japanese Squeezing intensity dropped, hence McGree and Yazbek, had more time and space on the ball then their predecessors, Teague and Boyle did. The entire Socceroo team had more time on the ball as the second half progressed.

Popa's 3 part formation has worked well. The team has improved as a unit and has defensively withstood a lot of pressure. It is axiomatic in coaching, the cornerstone of a team is a strong defence.

Also, one has to pay tribute to Japan's long term football plan, based on Brazil. It has had money invested and is working.
 
dr. bellows said:
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.
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Boyle has scored 20 goals in 44 Hibs games.

However, it is a low standard, second ball league and Aussies go slightly backwards technically and tactically playing there - unless playing for Celtic or Rangers. No doubt they become better ball winners, but that is about it.

It is a huge step up playing against Japan, Saudi or the new Eredivisie based players playing for Indonesia.
 
Wow - I find it kind of funny that the only two positions in all 3 groups really with anything left to play for, both have what is essentially a direct playoff for them:

Australia v Saudi Arabia (although, more of a dead rubber than I implied above)
But in Group B, the only spot left up for grabs is 4th - Where Oman currently sits on 10 points, with Palestine on 9pts in 5th - and outrageously, they are playing each other in the final fixture.
 
Lupi said:
I'm not saying he will and you're manufacturing an argument that has nothing to do with my point.

You know very well he did what was required to qualify that group (assuming they don't chuck it against the Saudis)... whereas Ange barely scraped through by the width of a goal post with a much stronger squad than this one, however its unlikely he'd have the flexibility to qualify with these donkeys.
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Ange’s squad was pretty terrible as well.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
You don't call scoring in junk time, on the counter, against a b squad that outplayed us (Im assuming you support Australia - at least for this section of your online battle?) all match NOT scraping through? What do you call our earlier matches against Asia's elite?

Fact is all we really neede was a draw an Popa, rightly, gave them the ball and played narrow enough not to be troubled by inexperienced strikers.... tactical masterclass it wasn't... pretty football (from us) it definitely wasn't .... as to the players... well I put last nights squad up against Ange's "donkeys" pretty evenly actually.
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look where the Socceroos were when Popovic took charge, and look where they are now. There's still a game to go and two more rounds of chances after this. The Socceroos where almost eliminated by Syria under Postecoglou.
 
derider said:
Ange’s squad was pretty terrible as well.
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2014 FIFA World Cup squads - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

I think 2014 had

Regulars in the big 5: 0 (kruse injured)
Regulars for top 2nd tier euro teams: 3 (Ryan, Leckie, Jedi)
Regulars for 2nd tier euro teams: 7 (Vidosic, Holland, Bozanic,oar, halloran, wright, Davidson,)
Regulars for superior asian leagues: 3 (Mcgowan, Wilkinson, Bresciano)
Regulars in the MLS: 1 (Cahill)
A league regulars: 7 (Galekovic, Mckay, Troisi, Taggart, Milligan, Spiranovic, Franjic)

That does seem a pretty big step down from what we have now to be honest
 
derider said:
Ange’s squad was pretty terrible as well.
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I think Ange lost the squad with the back 3 change. They clearly weren't comfortable and he persisted. Remember the stupid ideas where Wright would run on the ball to the sideline and kick it inward to be intercepted and you'd have Sainsbury all alone in the middle?

Ange also persisting with Leckie and Kruse didn't help. I'd have to look who else we had then but often the 11 was ridiculed. Juric was massive that campaign.
 
I’ll be more than happy with a repeat performance on Tuesday. If any game was tailor made for Popa ball, this is the one. Get everyone behind the ball, keep the shape and let them keep possession. There’s no way we’ll lose by 5 like that.

There’s still a measure of doubt though. 5-0 isn’t exactly an outrageous score. It happens quite regularly around the world. I know it’s highly improbable, but nowhere near impossible. Freakier things have happened. I wish we had just one more goal margin. I’m absolutely certain they won’t win by 6.
 
derider said:
I’ll be more than happy with a repeat performance on Tuesday. If any game was tailor made for Popa ball, this is the one. Get everyone behind the ball, keep the shape and let them keep possession. There’s no way we’ll lose by 5 like that.

There’s still a measure of doubt though. 5-0 isn’t exactly an outrageous score. It happens quite regularly around the world. I know it’s highly improbable, but nowhere near impossible. Freakier things have happened. I wish we had just one more goal margin. I’m absolutely certain they won’t win by 6.
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Those alive in 1997 know that nothing is ever really yours until you have it in your hands
 
Muz said:
Nail on head.

What I noticed last night was a severe lack of 3rd man runs. Japan had 2 or 3 options every time, we had 1 IF we were lucky. Ball would get played into one of our players feet and he'd have literally no one to pass it to.



Also on long balls, they're fine to 'nod on' if there's someone nearby. Boyle and then Duke were isolated pretty much all night. I don't know exactly but surely Boyle didn't touch the ball more than 5 times last night in the first half.
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Thank god someone else noticed this.

Mind you, we were so busy just booting the ball upfield to no-one, why would anyone even make a second man run, let alone a third?

Yes the defensive shape was effective but we've got to pick players who can keep the ball under pressure.
 
Lupi said:
look where the Socceroos were when Popovic took charge, and look where they are now. There's still a game to go and two more rounds of chances after this. The Socceroos where almost eliminated by Syria under Postecoglou.
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You'd never use the 'almost' argument had it been in potential favour for Australia winning. Guess what, Australia won in the end by actually scoring.

I hate this. Opponent hits post= technically a goal.

We hit post= shite and hopeless bunch.

That campaign saw the constant winning for Saudi whereas This campaign has finally seen many games drawn by many teams.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
I've done commentary. Weird at first but you get used to it.
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Can you go back to just watching a game? Or does your brain keep thinking - 'and Bob passes the ball to Phil. Great intercept there by the number 4' and so on rather than just watching and saying "Noooooooooooo"?
 
tsf said:
I don't like Popa much, but he has done a great job. 9 points from his last three, basically at the world cup.

FFS, we have blokes like Miller running about, what's he supposed to do with that?
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Pick someone better? Geria, Bennie or Strain for example?
 
RIMB said:
Can you go back to just watching a game? Or does your brain keep thinking - 'and Bob passes the ball to Phil. Great intercept there by the number 4' and so on rather than just watching and saying "Noooooooooooo"?
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Don't think I've done it often enough for it to change my brain.

Think about the times you've watched a match with a couple of mates. Typically you'll all be commentating the entire game.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Pick someone better? Geria, Bennie or Strain for example?
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Previous world cup squads have seen qualifying players not included in the final squad. It's not about being nice etc.

Behich is doing what the coach wants but god it's anti football and he got rounded a few times. I'm so grateful Miller has improved but he's still a wrestler. Bennie is getting stronger and should be considered.

Even within qualifying and with a coach change Baccus is essentially done at this rate. Yazbek is the better player I find.
 
Quicky said:
View attachment 2062

So close to pot 2!
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Quicky said:
View attachment 2062

So close to pot 2!
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I just realised in this - and I'm basing this off the last World Cup - we'll have to remember that if they do the final draw before the interconfederation playoffs, if those two countries that qualify happen to be above us on the rankings, they will be in pot 4 regardless (as we were in 2022). These could also include the four UEFA playoff winners (as was also the case in 2022)
 
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