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Soccer Ashes thread

grazorblade

grazorblade

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G&G Podcast
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Oct 17, 2024
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as reported in the other thread Australia will play New Zealand for the soccer ashes in a two match series on the 5th and 9th of September

This is for the ashes that was lost for about a century and recently found

Happy they brought it back. Nz have a decent team and will be a worthy test

Our ELO is at a flattering 1775 compared to theirs at 1603

First game in Canberra 2nd in Nz

 
This will be a thread over many years as it's supposed to keep happening. I can really appreciate the history and discovery of the urn that was considered lost. The opponent in our calendar a little less so.
 
Pardon my ignorance assuming we are doing ok and could get pot2. These games against NZ would almost be must wins to keep up the slim chance for top 24? I assuming losing to 86th place team would hurt that small chance? No disrespect to NZ at all of course I don't actually put much faith in the official ranking's numbers.

Of course, I think we are fraudulently in that current spot 26 and I don't rate us that high* yet* but that amazing run of results at the death taking 8pts from both KSA and JPN!

*with out full compliment back I want to be bullish about our chances!
 
ftbl-newb said:
Pardon my ignorance assuming we are doing ok and could get pot2. These games against NZ would almost be must wins to keep up the slim chance for top 24? I assuming losing to 86th place team would hurt that small chance? No disrespect to NZ at all of course I don't actually put much faith in the official ranking's numbers.

Of course, I think we are fraudulently in that current spot 26 and I don't rate us that high* yet* but that amazing run of results at the death taking 8pts from both KSA and JPN!

*with out full compliment back I want to be bullish about our chances!
Click to expand...
Ok so I can’t get the up to date points (using the last qualification round) because my browser is playing up. But based off what FIFA has currently made public:
Australia win = +10.48pts
Draw = -9.52pts
Loss = -29.52pts

Again, using the currently public rankings, and assuming all other nations keep the same points, that would mean:
Australia win = 25th (+1)
Draw = 27th (-1)
Loss = 30th (-4)
 
You would think this is all part of Popa's plan now that we have qualified. Face a team that will provide a decent test, but still allow him to look at fringe socceroos whilst bedding down the ultimate game plan he is after.
 
We've got to play home games to keep he connection. The benefit here is A League players will be reasonably fit and won't have to travel. I think we'll see Euro based players forgo the NZ away game like they did in 2022.

Being Friday and not Thursday, it'll help players in many leagues who may have a late Sunday match.
 
Hypocrite Bar said this upon the announcement of the Soccer Ashes match being held in Canberra:

"We've had a very clear policy around wanting to attract Australian national teams to Canberra and we have preferred that to paying over the odds for games that don't feature either local or Australian teams," Andrew Barr ACT Chief Minister said. "We're going to continue that approach."

So why are we paying over the odds for games that feature Western Sydney teams from the AFL?
 
Squad:

Gauci Izzo Beach

Italiano Geria Circati Souttar Burgess Matthews J. Bos Farrell

Triantis Balard McGree Metcalfe Irvine Thurgate Yazbek Nisbet

Velupillay Toure Boyle Segecic Tilio Milanovic Iredale

Definitely play Gauci and Izzo. We know enough about Ryan. Souttar and Goodwin may not be ready while Kasey Bos probably needs club consolidation. Iredale is close in Korea and a rotated side for the away game would be good.

Seems ridiculous Triantis would come for NZ games so far when resuming the season so this may be the final test or straw with Popovic.
 
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