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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Mr Cleansheets said:
I dislike the way The Roar keep changing my neat titles but here are my latest ruminations...

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Nice article. Agree with assessment of Popa as a coach and the Ange v Popa stylistic differences. Much prefer Ange, but he is pretty unique. I definitely want to see progression of his mentality, now he has secured qualification and has built out a strong defensive base. He will never be Ange, but in the past he has moved to controlling possession and the flow of matches more.

I disagree about pretty much all of you selection gripes haha. All those guys are in the mix, if they have big seasons they will get selected.
 
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Mr Cleansheets said:
I dislike the way The Roar keep changing my neat titles but here are my latest ruminations...

Click to expand...
Interesting article that makes a lot of good points. My biggest concern is we make full use of the next 3 windows to organise 6 friendly matches and give a lot of fringe/up and comers a chance in them. I suspect Popa may have a core of around 15 players who barring injuries will form the basis of his WC squad. I think he should give each of these guys a window off, picking around half of them for the September and October windows. He should be looking at casting a reasonably wide net to fill up the rest of the squad, and give anyone who turns up fit, well and eager at least 30 minutes game time in one of the two matches in a window. A few of these younger guys, even if they don't make the world cup squad, will likely be ready to force their way into the Asian Cup squad which is the only major trophy we have a chance of winning. Experience playing under Popa's style will be invaluable. The November window can be used to play what is his top choice squad as we will only have one more friendly window (March next year) before the World Cup squad is assembled. I would be very disappointed if all we come up with is an extended camp.
 
huddo said:
I guess we are going to see just how strong the yanks are. Just saw the Saudis were invited to play in the gold cup and are pooled with the yanks.
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Saudis lost to USA 1-0, it was anything but convincing noting the US were on home soil.
 
Alex M said:
Interesting article that makes a lot of good points. My biggest concern is we make full use of the next 3 windows to organise 6 friendly matches and give a lot of fringe/up and comers a chance in them. I suspect Popa may have a core of around 15 players who barring injuries will form the basis of his WC squad. I think he should give each of these guys a window off, picking around half of them for the September and October windows. He should be looking at casting a reasonably wide net to fill up the rest of the squad, and give anyone who turns up fit, well and eager at least 30 minutes game time in one of the two matches in a window. A few of these younger guys, even if they don't make the world cup squad, will likely be ready to force their way into the Asian Cup squad which is the only major trophy we have a chance of winning. Experience playing under Popa's style will be invaluable. The November window can be used to play what is his top choice squad as we will only have one more friendly window (March next year) before the World Cup squad is assembled. I would be very disappointed if all we come up with is an extended camp.
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The September window friendlies should have been sorted a long time ago and Plan A set for October and November based on the assumption of direct qualification.

A mix of opposition teams and styles from the top 50 in the upcoming 3 windows, and an approach to rotating players such as proposed here would be ideal preparation with the March window used for the 50/50 calls on the fringe 6-8 players and at least one Pot A (top 10) type opponent to measure where we are at.

My concern is FA being skint and rumours of NZ home and away but nothing confirmed as yet.
 
GoAussies said:
The September window friendlies should have been sorted a long time ago and Plan A set for October and November based on the assumption of direct qualification.

A mix of opposition teams and styles from the top 50 in the upcoming 3 windows, and an approach to rotating players such as proposed here would be ideal preparation with the March window used for the 50/50 calls on the fringe 6-8 players and at least one Pot A (top 10) type opponent to measure where we are at.

My concern is FA being skint and rumours of NZ home and away but nothing confirmed as yet.
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I've no problem with a home and away against New Zealand in one of the windows later this year. It's better than a training camp with no game. Obviously you would like to have some other world cup qualified teams amongst the matches, but I don't think its essential that they all be. I would also like some at home for selfish reasons ie I want to go to a game.
 
Look I get where you guys are coming from And I'd far prefer seeing games here but lets face it, where we are, distance and costly logistics as always.
Importantly just get games games set in the windows provided - hopefully 1 or 2 here but most probably will be around ME/Asia just make the most of it Poppa !
 
LFC said:
Look I get where you guys are coming from And I'd far prefer seeing games here but lets face it, where we are, distance and costly logistics as always.
Importantly just get games games set in the windows provided - hopefully 1 or 2 here but most probably will be around ME/Asia just make the most of it Poppa !
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jas88 said:
We should try get a couple of games against a euro or south american team in the US in one of the windows.

Then the send off game at home against asian nation or NZ team.

Play a euro team a week before the world cup starts.
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My desire for home games is purely selfish. Having games is more important than those games being at home. It would be nice if we can organise a window in North America similar to what Japan and Korea have done in September. With WCQ going on in a lot of places there are limited opportunities in September. There are limited opportunities in Europe this year, only teams with byes in 5 team groups are possible and not all them may be looking for a game. South America finishes in Sept so there are teams available from October. Most African teams become available in November. A number of Asian teams are available. Asian Cup qualifiers only take up one game per window leaving the other day free. The 4th round of qualifying for AFC doesn't take place until October so some of these teams may want a friendly in September to prepare.
 
LFC said:
Look I get where you guys are coming from And I'd far prefer seeing games here but lets face it, where we are, distance and costly logistics as always.
Importantly just get games games set in the windows provided - hopefully 1 or 2 here but most probably will be around ME/Asia just make the most of it Poppa !
Click to expand...
Why do the Matilda's play heaps of friendlies though
 
Alex M said:
My desire for home games is purely selfish. Having games is more important than those games being at home. It would be nice if we can organise a window in North America similar to what Japan and Korea have done in September. With WCQ going on in a lot of places there are limited opportunities in September. There are limited opportunities in Europe this year, only teams with byes in 5 team groups are possible and not all them may be looking for a game. South America finishes in Sept so there are teams available from October. Most African teams become available in November. A number of Asian teams are available. Asian Cup qualifiers only take up one game per window leaving the other day free. The 4th round of qualifying for AFC doesn't take place until October so some of these teams may want a friendly in September to prepare.
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The way the middle east is going, there may be teams asking to setup here in Aus for their WC prep - which would create another opportunity for friendlies even if it was only including localroos.

Just dreaming...
 
melbcityguy said:
Why do the Matilda's play heaps of friendlies though
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The Matildas draw good crowds in Australia so its a chance for many nations to get some cash from their women's team playing a friendly here rather than just being a cost elsewhere. We are probably one of around 10 or so nations in the world where this is a possibility. It's a lot harder to attract men's teams because they have a lot more money making options around the world.
 
Alex M said:
The Matildas draw good crowds in Australia so its a chance for many nations to get some cash from their women's team playing a friendly here rather than just being a cost elsewhere. We are probably one of around 10 or so nations in the world where this is a possibility. It's a lot harder to attract men's teams because they have a lot more money making options around the world.
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Would the visiting teams get some gate takings?

I have never considered that.
 
September picks. Albania are free in September window 1 and Czech Rep free September window 2. Tirana and Prague.

Opportunity missed for Tallinn away as Andorra have a friendly there.

Norway, Wales, Finland, Romania have sorted friendlies in their gaps. San Marino might be free. Too many wikis to click through.

Indonesia Wiki suggests 2 September home friendlies but their squad being European, it wouldn't be the worst to play on Europe but by no means the best. I rue a NZ friendly and the football ashes isn't a fun concept.
 
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