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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Mr Cleansheets said:
I said December and am quoting someone from on here (or maybe the Mariners forum).

Very solidly averaging over seven in 2025 for one of the lesser resourced teams.
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curious what the stat was. Probably just a weekly stat or something

he has definitely been solid and i expect him to end up slightly better than oniell in a year or two
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
I said December and am quoting someone from on here (or maybe the Mariners forum).

Very solidly averaging over seven in 2025 for one of the lesser resourced teams.
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Let's not forget either his last AL season in which he formed (with Nisbet) the most effective midfield duo in the league.

Treble winners last year - unlikely to be finalists this year - Balard and Nisbet's absence is teh main reason for this.
 
Socceroos season reminds me of the intro that never was (the attached zip file contains an mp3)

that intro still gets me pumped up
 

Attachments

TheSelectFew said:
I agree. Anything can happen and when we are on, we are on. Plus I can see the Japs using the game to blood some players.
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Crazy if the they didn’t rest key players and send on the bench and future prospects.
They’ll still give us a good run even here at home - ill still be surprised we beat them.
 
Lupi said:
no, that's called freedom of speech and I'm not going to waste my time arguing over hyperbole. You must live a sheltered life if such language offends you.
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It isn't a question of being offensive to me, it is an issue of bigotry and homophobia by your right wing 'mates'.

I don't live a sheltered life.
 
As I'm up to the 75 min mark slowly compiling stats and analysing the game Aus v Indonesia, it is quite different to previous Socceroo qualifying games.

Indonesia play like a European team. 10 out of the 11 were born in Netherlands. They've probably all been brought up being coached in the KNVB methodology - like younger Aussies.

Initially, Indo dominated the 1v1s in the first 15 mins of the game, but Aus is easily in the ascendancy by the 75 min mark.

Gee, Boyle was knocked off the ball easily by Indo defenders. How does he cope in the rugged Scottish league?

Popa has adopted a Half Press in Ball Possession Opposition - which is where Aus only really tries to win the ball back in the Aus opposition half. Indo have adopted a more attacking Full Press, trying to win the ball back much deeper in the Aus defensive half .

Hence, more of the game is played in the Aus defensive half.

By Aus adopting the occasional Full Press, which Grazor thinks is when the left CB from Indo is on the ball, or about to receive, the normal Aus Half Press means Indo has a lot of easier possession in the defensive half. Arsene Wenger calls this sterile domination.

Apart from Japan, Aus has tried to win the ball higher up the pitch against Saudi, China, both games against Bahrain, and the first game against Indo.

From 45 mins to 65 mins, Aus's 2 central midfielders, O'Neill and Irvine, barely touch the ball when Aus has possession. Aus has had to work hard to play through the Indo Full Press and at times intensive Squeezing. When they have though, some very good opportunities to score have presented themselves. The Full Press has forced Indo to play a high defensive line.

The lower number of balls played into the pen box by Aus, have led to better chances to score. Indo's last line defending has been poor compared to many other positive facets of their game.

Also, Indo have played a lot more balls into the pen box, but most have been repelled. Despite Aus being 4-0 up at 75 mins, Indo has had a lot more possession and dominated territory.

Both use the 3-4-3 flat midfield in possession. The 5-2-3, is simply pushing the two wingers/wing backs into the defensive line of the back three in Ball Possession Opposition.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Let's not forget either his last AL season in which he formed (with Nisbet) the most effective midfield duo in the league.

Treble winners last year - unlikely to be finalists this year - Balard and Nisbet's absence is teh main reason for this.
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And the loss of Hall and Farell, and Vukuvic’s retirement……
 
jas88 said:
Pretty poor 1v1 ability, cant get himself out of bad situations like top 6s can, in tight areas he coughs it up alot but that's not his job in this system he does partner well with Irvine though they seem to be able to clean up for one another.

Triantis much better in this aspect in my opinion.

Would like to see us go 3-4-1-2 against China we will need a 10 for the low block. Boyle/Yengi up top.
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Having the insight of looking at a replay, O'Neill had a very good first half.

He won a lot of hard balls - tackles, body on body duels, strength duels, and heading duels, against Dutch trained Indo players. H e was also very neat on the ball - being able to two touch and pass and move in tight spaces with quick handling speed.

O'Neill performs a role similar to Mooy, but is a bit more nimble, quicker over the turf. However, he doesn't quite have Mooy's long range passing skill - yet.

In the second half, from 45 mins - 65 mins, both O'Neill and Irvine, barely touched the ball in team possession. Indo Full Pressed and Squeezed well when we had the ball in our back third, often forcing the Aus defensive line to play out by going wide, or long.

Also, in the 1v1s O'Neill, Miller, Geria, Burgess, have won a lot of tough contests, against Indo, the best ball winning team we've encountered in Asia for some time.
 
Cunningstunt said:
I don't think this will be sustainable for Indonesia. They changed coach and went for a massive stylistic switch. Half the dressing room, the half who understand how to implement the style of play, speaking Dutch. Can this be done if half the squad can't communicate effectively? I worry it will be bad for their development long term.

First time trying to implement a new, more advanced system of play. Probably unsurprisingly they got cut open a number of times. There is a reason most ofAsia play us on the counter in Aus.

They probably did us a favour playing the style we are most adept at killing. We struggle with high quality possession teams, Japan, top euros, because we can't get any ball. They didn't have the quality to do that. We also struggle to break down the low block. They had good spells in possession, but not quite good enough to break us down regularly. They pressed us high, again weren't quite good enough to stop us playing, and came out enough for us to get in behind.

I always prefer teams trying to play. So credit to them. But even with our best ball playing defenders out, it's a big ask to press us that high, away from home.
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Have to say I'm really impressed by Indo.

I think they will be an Asian powerhouse in the imminent future. Many of their players have played in the Eredivisie, the 6th ranked UEFA league in Europe.

If they keep getting Dutch educated coaches like Kluivert, and they get some good training camps under their belt, with their Dutch developed players, they will be formidable. They will all be on the same page with the same high quality coach education in their development.

Indo will be like a Netherlands B or C team in Asia.

Another impressive Indo phenomenon, was their ability to play pinpoint diagonal switch balls from left side of defence to the right wing, and, the right side of defence to the left wing.
 
JS96 said:
@mods Lupi needs another 30 days in the slammer. It's bloody annoying.
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Just put him on Ignore function. You won't see any of his posts.

He is better than Flying Bat and Vo2Max, who I have on Ignore.

Not sure Lupi is trolling, but he has different views.
 
Decentric said:
As I'm up to the 75 min mark slowly compiling stats and analysing the game Aus v Indonesia, it is quite different to previous Socceroo qualifying games.

Indonesia play like a European team. 10 out of the 11 were born in Netherlands. They've probably all been brought up being coached in the KNVB methodology - like younger Aussies.

Initially, Indo dominated the 1v1s in the first 15 mins of the game, but Aus is easily in the ascendancy by the 75 min mark.

Gee, Boyle was knocked off the ball easily by Indo defenders. How does he cope in the rugged Scottish league?

Popa has adopted a Half Press in Ball Possession Opposition - which is where Aus only really tries to win the ball back in the Aus opposition half. Indo have adopted a more attacking Full Press, trying to win the ball back much deeper in the Aus defensive half .

Hence, more of the game is played in the Aus defensive half.

By Aus adopting the occasional Full Press, which Grazor thinks is when the left CB from Indo is on the ball, or about to receive, the normal Aus Half Press means Indo has a lot of easier possession in the defensive half. Arsene Wenger calls this sterile domination.

Apart from Japan, Aus has tried to win the ball higher up the pitch against Saudi, China, both games against Bahrain, and the first game against Indo.

From 45 mins to 65 mins, Aus's 2 central midfielders, O'Neill and Irvine, barely touch the ball when Aus has possession. Aus has had to work hard to play through the Indo Full Press and at times intensive Squeezing. When they have though, some very good opportunities to score have presented themselves. The Full Press has forced Indo to play a high defensive line.

The lower number of balls played into the pen box by Aus, have led to better chances to score. Indo's last line defending has been poor compared to many other positive facets of their game.

Also, Indo have played a lot more balls into the pen box, but most have been repelled. Despite Aus being 4-0 up at 75 mins, Indo has had a lot more possession and dominated territory.

Both use the 3-4-3 flat midfield in possession. The 5-2-3, is simply pushing the two wingers/wing backs into the defensive line of the back three in Ball Possession Opposition.
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Nice summary
 
Pasquali said:
People will say Indonesia is the best performance by Popa. However, we did extremely well to get a point away to Japan, and should have won the Bahrain game really if you compare xg. He’s an upgrade from Arnie IMO
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I'm starting to think this too.

Arnie himself admitted he lost a lot when Aus was bundled out of the Asian Cup by South K. Players say Popa's attention to detail in planning in game plans is incredible.
 
Decentric said:
Both use the 3-4-3 flat midfield in possession. The 5-2-3, is simply pushing the two wingers/wing backs into the defensive line of the back three in Ball Possession Opposition.
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I would like more effective wing backs in this system. In general play Behich and Miller are problematic. They're our wingers in possession.

Credit to Miller whose bullocking play seems to unsettle Asian teams in the forward half and creates a threat at set pieces - but I'm not sure that cuts it for him.

It's interesting Irvine and O'Neill barely touch it for periods of the game. We by-passed the press instead. How do you see their role? It seems to favour what they provide out of possession.

I don't mind by-passing the press, we have some decent long passes and dangerous wide forwards. It does seem a negative place to be where we don't expect to play through our midfielders more. Perhaps can't.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Arnie did extremely well at the last world cup but his time was definitely up.



If Popa would just pick (and play) the best players I'd be less on his back.
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Arnie's zenith was the Qatar WC. Brilliant!

It is the case in England where nearly every football fan thinks they have a better idea of who to select than the national team coach. LOL!

I have not see some European based Aussie players in some leagues, but apart from Nisbet not being selected, I'm pretty happy with who Popa has selected since being coach.

I never expected Villupillay and Geria to have been as successful as they have to date. Or Caceres. I think Popa has made some astute selections.

I take your point Aus had extraordinary luck against Indo with the pen though.

I think from 5 games with Popa, Aus has won 2 and drawn 3. Based on match stats, Aus should have beaten Bahrain too, but Japan should have won against Aus.

We shaded Saudi too, but got a lucky decision with the disallowed goal at the end of the game.
 
Decentric said:
It is the case in England where nearly every football fan thinks they have a better idea of who to select than the national team coach. LOL!
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I guess it's pointless having an opinion on selection and tactics then. We should all bow down to our intellectual superiors and accept the gospel from our venerated father the grand poobah Popovic.

I'm being facetious here but I do wonder what's the point of a discussion board if that sort thing is beyond critical analysis and discussion.
 
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