Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Sign Up Now!

The Australian National Football Team General Discussion*OFFICIAL*

Decentric said:
Sad to read this.

I'd love the Socceroos to play Scotland in Africa, West Asia, South Asia or South America. Scotland would be right out of their comfort zone, climatically and culturally.

Aus is a battle hardened global team, with vast experience in tough conditions. Also, used to being underestimated. Aus may have even had more tough games against international powerhouses.

Scotland isn't. They've rarely ventured out of UEFA for decades.
Click to expand...
That's a very good point. Australia have played nearly everywhere. UEFA will say, yeah but we went to Moldova or Kazakhstan. Cute.
 
JS96 said:
That's a very good point. Australia have played nearly everywhere. UEFA will say, yeah but we went to Moldova or Kazakhstan. Cute.
Click to expand...
It is often good to read foreign media and the teams' perceptions of us.

There is also a lot more about the game played, as we have virtually no football media in Aus!

There was Danish Tech Dir of one of their big clubs, FC Copenhagen I think, a Mr Christensen, who was terrified about playing Aus in Qatar. He said the Danish media and fans though it would be a walk over.

Mr Christensen said Denmark had played 10 games involving short distance travel in UEFA, in very familiar conditions with an easy draw for UEFA. He said Aus had played twice as many qualifiers, 20 odd, all over Asia, and played many home WCQ games in Qatar. Plus the sudden death game against Peru, a tough opponent, in Qatar.

Also, he alluded to the Aussies who had played in Denmark being renowned as having a never say die attitude, immense mental strength and who were prepared to give everything to the team cause. Mr Christensen expected the Aus team to be a more battle hardened team unit than Denmark, with the team unit being much greater than the individuals who made up the team, devoid of stars, and with greater motivation to win. He was right.
 
grazorblade said:
scotland got flogged 3-0 in kazakstan too
Click to expand...
True.

Aus would be far more comfortable playing in Kazachstan than Scotland. Part and parcel of Asian WCQ - like when Aus plays Uzbek and Krygystan in Central Asia.

Socceroos are much more experienced coping with jetlag and playing in different time zones than Scotland too.

Remember how Aus, under Arnie, were overconfident playing in the 2007 Asian Cup. And performed accordingly.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Officially 11th at the last World Cup.
Click to expand...
True.

I've quoted this 11th placing repeatedly to the plethora of Socceroo detractors in this country! It seems to antagonise many Aussie Eurosnobs that Aus finished 11th!

There was virtually no recognition or celebration of the 11th WC Qatar placing in Aus either.

It finally shut up a few of the GG to stop talking about how good they were though!

To the credit of the 2022 Qataroos there has been an absence of any blowing their trumpets. They are a modest, humble lot. Guus couldn't get over how quiet and modest they were compared to his era of Socceroos, when he visited Arnie's Socceroo camp.
 
Last edited:
Decentric said:
True.

Aus would be far more comfortable playing in Kazachstan than Scotland. Part and parcel of Asian WCQ - like when Aus plays Uzbek and Krygystan in Central Asia.

Socceroos are much more experienced coping with jetlag and playing in different time zones than Scotland too.

Remember how Aus, under Arnie, were overconfident playing in the 2007 Asian Cup. And performed accordingly.
Click to expand...
wish we moved to asia earlier so that golden generation could have been battle hardened. Could've won away from home

got close against south korea mind you
 
grazorblade said:
wish we moved to asia earlier so that golden generation could have been battle hardened. Could've won away from home

got close against south korea mind you
Click to expand...
Out to Japan on pens. Reasonably close I guess. Progress there and maybe they do turn it on. 2011 highlights really show our golden chances.

Alternative reality we win those 2 AC then we won in 2015. 2019 a stupid back pass killed us but we'd been lame all tournament.
 
JS96 said:
Out to Japan on pens. Reasonably close I guess. Progress there and maybe they do turn it on. 2011 highlights really show our golden chances.

Alternative reality we win those 2 AC then we won in 2015. 2019 a stupid back pass killed us but we'd been lame all tournament.
Click to expand...
by the time we got to 2011 we started getting holes in the team particularly at left back. Did pretty well to get to the final mind you
 
JS96 said:
Out to Japan on pens. Reasonably close I guess. Progress there and maybe they do turn it on. 2011 highlights really show our golden chances.

Alternative reality we win those 2 AC then we won in 2015. 2019 a stupid back pass killed us but we'd been lame all tournament.
Click to expand...
A stupid backpass largely caused by an obvious foul on the heel. I was quite relaxed as VAR checked it, thinking they can't possibly not see that.

They didn't.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
So do I, but we are slightly better than their B team.
Click to expand...
I think their B team is the second best ever in Asia.

Japan has dropped to 17th in FIFA rankings, but they are knocking on the door of being a world powerhouse.

I really admire Japanese football.
 
grazorblade said:
by the time we got to 2011 we started getting holes in the team particularly at left back. Did pretty well to get to the final mind you
Click to expand...
Holger’s greatest achievement!

I think Holger has been our worst Socceroo coach since 2005.

However, he did some good things with Matt MCKay, Ogger and Alex Brosque in selections or different roles.
 
Decentric said:
True.

I've quoted this 11th placing repeatedly to the plethora of Socceroo detractors in this country! It seems to antagonise many Aussie Eurosnobs that Aus finished 11th!

There was virtually no recognition or celebration of the 11th WC Qatar placing in Aus either.

It finally shut up a few of the GG to stop talking about how good they were though!

To the credit of the 2022 Qataroos there has been an absence of any blowing their trumpets. They are a modest, humble lot. Guus couldn't get over how quiet and modest they were compared to his era of Socceroos, when he visited Arnie's Socceroo camp.
Click to expand...
You really pick strange hills to die on sometimes....
 
Decentric said:
Holger’s greatest achievement!

I think Holger has been our worst Socceroo coach since 2005.

However, he did some good things with Matt MCKay, Ogger and Alex Brosque in selections or different roles.
Click to expand...
started well bringing in fresh players, tactics aside

someone must have had incriminating photos on him when he kept selecting underperforming players 36 years old
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
A stupid backpass largely caused by an obvious foul on the heel. I was quite relaxed as VAR checked it, thinking they can't possibly not see that.

They didn't.
Click to expand...
I'll have to look again. I felt it was maybe a weak claim but reverse it and ME teams would've milked it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top