That is a decent squad. Not anything to get excited about, but solid second tier international standard.

If football is ever to have significant status in this country, it will have to build from the grassroots up. State governments are highly parochial, and AFL and NRL, and to an extent, rugby, because of the old school connections, are embedded in the political structures in the states they...

To be frank, which is my remit, I thought that game was one of the worst performances by the Roos that I have seen for a long time. The team may have snatched the winning goal in a smash and grab, but they were completely dominated by a second string Japanese team to the point of embarrassment...

Well, given how Saudi A have to absolutely go for it in the next game, could be interesting watching.

Great post. SFA chance of happening. Way too logical. APL don't do logic. Nor do they do competence.

A very interesting observation.

McGree so far has been a story of unrealised potential. Hopefully this next is the season where the injuries leave him alone. Pace, technique... he has the capacity to be one of the most complete Australian players we have seen, but he turns 27 this year. It really is now or never.

My recollection was that he was on the bench quite a lot - that was what I meant. My perception at the time (allowing for the uncertaintly of memory) was that he had to leave WSW to find a coach who would back him. I could be wrong.

I will be glad when Popovic is gone. Popovic's teams at their best have offered dour, grinding, functional football. We are allowed to hope for more from our national team. We are allowed to hope for a coach who does not select players like Mitch Duke and the son of his assistant coach, who...

A half decent Brisbane Roar, please and a revived Perth Glory.

Is there any info about Irankunda's omission? Because from my POV only a falling out with Popavic rationally explains it.

Ha ha yeah, that old trope. The Kelly gang had mateship. That ended well.

I still reckon player for player they are a 3 zip better team, but yeah, there is always a levelling effect. Also, are they qualified already? If so, then the old foot off the pedal effect could come into play.

We must be close to the only nation on the planet where our national team coach could get away unscathed with this kind of squad selection. Mainly because the code has no presence in the mainstream press.

Personally, I'm tipping 3-0 to Japan. That's based on comparative squads.

It is amazing what he gets away with. Imagine the reaction in the UK if a coach selected the equivalent of Duke and Okon-Engstler?

I can't see Popovic as a step up from Arnold in any way. Frankly, his CV is well below what one would expect for our national team coach. He appears to have won the job on price and availability. Some of his squad selections defy rational belief. The presence of Paul Okon's son, given his...

They are, but greed has no limit.

Personally, I reckon we will see football leagues worldwide increasingly ditch traditional TV to make their own content for their own streaming services. The way ratings are obtained is laughable, and the racing figures versus actual performance demonstrate that. With streaming, you know...

Brisbane Roar, if its up for grabs, will be a tempting investment. One club for a largish city. History, pre Bakries, of success and reasonable support with potential to grow. I reckon many who walked away would be back under new ownership. And, please, bring back the black and orange.