World Cup 2026 Australia thread

[melbcityguy]

Duke said he was a late in to the squad because leckie got injured. Question if he doesn't play these two games does anyone play as well as he did?

 

[JS96]

Duke said he was a late in to the squad because leckie got injured. Question if he doesn't play these two games does anyone play as well as he did?

Probably not but again it highlights the idiosyncratic ideas behind Popovic.

What was his plan had Leckie been fit? I never get how an emergency call up suddenly becomes the first choice. It's obvious there's a pecking order. Why wasn't Duke in before others?

Injury for China away and then this window saw Taggart not able to kick on from his good Indonesia performance. I don't like how Popovic benches those performing to then go on another string of new selections.

I'm grateful we got he results but the pitfall is still having questions about combinations.

 

[LFC]

4 years ago Australia had to do it the hard way after a huge penalty shootout against the 5th placed south American team. They would show they belong on the big stage after exceeding all expectations and making the round of 16, only to be knocked out by the eventual winners. On the back of such a good performance, Australia went into the Asian cup expecting big things, only to be humbled by a quarter final exit at the hands of Graham Arnold as head coach. We had a new, pragmatic coach take the reigns who put defense as their number one priority and we managed to qualify automatically with a result away from home in the middle east. One of our most promising upcoming players is a player in an attacking position whose main asset is their off the ball work, so their qualities don't always get noticed by fans who scape goat him despite him making it at a high level in his club career. Still fans had something to cheer about. Despite Japan playing a lot of pretty football in front of the lines but Australia managed to get the win in front of home fans.

Am I reporting from 2009 or 2025?

Is this a trick switch Verbeek re visited
Like ok as for Arnie to Poppa there isn’t much new in playing to me re offensive.
It’s hold stations defense defense but for a change in time personnel.
Arnie was burnt out after all the good he had achieved results wise - was it luck through many games, was it opponents had bad scoring boots on the day, he like Poppa snagged goals against run of play and kudos to the players individual or transition play came off and we took That chance.
That’s our football be it 09 to 25 the way I see it.
Wish I could say we dominated and deserved the results.
We grind them.
How does this stack up Grazer.

 

[Wolfman]

Anyone got any preferences on which group we get drawn into?

Looking at the dates and locations for each group, I'm convinced Group B is the spot to be:

1) It's got one of the hosts (Canada) who are going to be one of the weaker teams in Pot 1.

2) With the exception of Canada's opener in Toronto, all the games are on the west coast which means a very favourable time zone. The opening matches for this group will occur on a Sunday in Australia, almost certainly between 8am to 2pm AEST based on local kick-off times from previous WCs. There's a strong possibility that one or more of our games will be around midday AEST, a dream timeslot compared to the 2am to 6am slots we've experienced a lot of the time.

3) Being in position B3 or B4 would mean our matches are all guaranteed to be in California/Seattle/Vancouver, easy cities to fly direct to from Australia.

4) The winner of Group B plays one of the third place teams, while the runner up from Group B plays the runner up from Group A (not a group winner) which is comparatively "easier" first knockout round matchups than some other groups. And as a bonus, both games remain the favourable west coast cities.

Based on projected pots (and assuming we sneak into Pot 2): a Group B with Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand would be absolute heaven.

 

[grazorblade]

Is this a trick switch Verbeek re visited
Like ok as for Arnie to Poppa there isn’t much new in playing to me re offensive.
It’s hold stations defense defense but for a change in time personnel.
Arnie was burnt out after all the good he had achieved results wise - was it luck through many games, was it opponents had bad scoring boots on the day, he like Poppa snagged goals against run of play and kudos to the players individual or transition play came off and we took That chance.
That’s our football be it 09 to 25 the way I see it.
Wish I could say we dominated and deserved the results.
We grind them.
How does this stack up Grazer.

haha it definitely feels like history has repeated in this cycle and that cycle

Pim definitely didn't dominate games either, especially away from home, but like poppa he dominated results with a pragmatic stile. Pim bristled at the media when people called it "counter attacking football" and said that the media was a bunch of bogans

Hopefully we don't get flogged by Germany like last time

 

[LFC]

haha it definitely feels like history has repeated in this cycle and that cycle

Pim definitely didn't dominate games either, especially away from home, but like poppa he dominated results with a pragmatic stile. Pim bristled at the media when people called it "counter attacking football" and said that the media was a bunch of bogans

Hopefully we don't get flogged by Germany like last time

Yes agree hence your feelings and mine.
Haha yer Pim had that blunt attitude in the pressers, he got sick of it being called out but thats what you cop in his position no diff to Ange Arnie and now Poppa.
It’s no diff to every single 3Lion coach might I add and many more.
Look at Italy just flicked Spalletti over dour play and bad result.

 

[Barca4life]

Im hoping for a better playing style going into the World Cup, being better on the ball will be important especially when teams will vary their approach against us.

Having options in the build up from a high press and having the ability to create from mid to low block defences will be important, the team already is strong in defence, good in counter attacks and already have a killer instinct in front of goal which is great foundation to build upon but as we know the quality will ramp going into the World Cup so its important they continue to improve especially with the ball.

Im also hoping we see more of the younger talent get a chance given there is so much young talent ready to be utilised, we got 12 months by the time the World Cup comes along so I hope overall they to continue to rejuvenate the team.

 

[Quicky]

Im hoping for a better playing style going into the World Cup, being better on the ball will be important especially when teams will vary their approach against us.

Having options in the build up from a high press and having the ability to create from mid to low block defences will be important, the team already is strong in defence, good in counter attacks and already have a killer instinct in front of goal which is great foundation to build upon but as we know the quality will ramp going into the World Cup so its important they continue to improve especially with the ball.

Im also hoping we see more of the younger talent get a chance given there is so much young talent ready to be utilised, we got 12 months by the time the World Cup comes along so I hope overall they to continue to rejuvenate the team.

100% Question is how? Do you change the formation or players or both?

 

[LFC]

100% Question is how? Do you change the formation or players or both?

All depends what suits X players you try and jig formations.
So could be both or players only where they shine.
We got to start working on being faster better quicker ball control release and supporting like the Japs all round game - imo that’s the bar far more than our current coaching philosophy.

 

[grazorblade]

All depends what suits X players you try and jig formations.
So could be both or players only where they shine.
We got to start working on being faster better quicker ball control release and supporting like the Japs all round game - imo that’s the bar far more than our current coaching philosophy.

well going by club career our best xi are

---------------------------Ryan------------------------
----------Circati---Souttar---Burgess---------
-Miller-------Irvine-??-----------------------bos-
------Metcalf------Toure-------??----------------

Lots of players their whose strengths are off the ball rather than on it

complete opposite for youngsters so not sure how the transition is handled, could be oil and water for a while

 

[Barca4life]

100% Question is how? Do you change the formation or players or both?

It's a good question and only Popa could answer this.

I think a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 would work better with this team, a 3-4-3 can easily be a 5-4-1 without the ball and I feel it hurts more if you try to keep the ball a bit better.

I would like us to play with two different formations so we can adjust to the opponent and state of game we are facing, flexibility is not a bad thing.

 

[ossi]

Going to difficult to improve our FIFA ranking over the next year as many other countries will play competitive qualifiers and we will play friendlies, which rank lower for points.

For the September, October & November matchdays, guessing that we might play one set of matchdays at home, Europe and North America. Maybe the October against a CONMEBOL opposition as their qualifiers finish in September.

 

[Quicky]

It's an absolute given that Miller and Behich will go. Important is that Bos is picked and played. Mo Toure is a must. Got a bit of deadwood to clear out like Borrello, Caceres and Taggart. Velupillay will return.

Teague less impressive this window. Matthews may develop well.

My squad should all be fit

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Miller, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Degenek, Rowles, Bos, Behich

Irvine, Metcalfe, Triantis, Balard, O'Neill, Yazbek, Teague

Goodwin, McGree, Boyle, Velupillay, Irankunda, Toure, Duke, Iredale

What would your squad look like if you weren't being as realistic and removed the Popovic picks. Behich, Miller etc.

 

[JS96]

What would your squad look like if you weren't being as realistic and removed the Popovic picks. Behich, Miller etc.

Bennie is packing on the muscle. I'd honestly pick him then have Baccus in there as a RWB and midfield coverage in order to drop O'Neill or Teague. Metcalfe would linger as an emergency RWB option.

Bos is a shoe in then Elder if fit. Elder can also play LCB so that would exclude Rowles.

I think trimming and exploiting versatility could see us pick more players further up with flair.

 

[Quicky]

Bennie is packing on the muscle. I'd honestly pick him then have Baccus in there as a RWB and midfield coverage in order to drop O'Neill or Teague. Metcalfe would linger as an emergency RWB option.

Bos is a shoe in then Elder if fit. Elder can also play LCB so that would exclude Rowles.

I think trimming and exploiting versatility could see us pick more players further up with flair.

I'd love to see Robertson in there.

I'm really keen on Bennie at RWB.

I still think Yengi has a lot to offer.

Then there are a bunch of young and not so young types who may surprise. Mathews, Waddingham, Stama, Sapsford, Botic, Farrell, Segecic ... i'm sure i'm missing some.

 

[JS96]

I'd love to see Robertson in there.

I'm really keen on Bennie at RWB.

I still think Yengi has a lot to offer.

Then there are a bunch of young and not so young types who may surprise. Mathews, Waddingham, Stama, Sapsford, Botic, Farrell, Segecic ... i'm sure i'm missing some.

I like Yengi lingering on the sides. Not a winher but getting the ball out wide and taking them on.

You'll never go into a tournament thin at centre back but playing a back 4 would allow better picks elsewhere. Triantis as absolute emergency cover.

We got the last Asian Cup wrong with so few midfielders.

 

[JS96]

I'd love to see Robertson in there.

I'm really keen on Bennie at RWB.

I still think Yengi has a lot to offer.

Then there are a bunch of young and not so young types who may surprise. Mathews, Waddingham, Stama, Sapsford, Botic, Farrell, Segecic ... i'm sure i'm missing some.

Segecic is another who can play in many areas so picking him allows for better choices elsewhere. I hated the windows with 3 right backs. Atkinson, Miller and Jones at the Asian Cup.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

Bennie is packing on the muscle. I'd honestly pick him then have Baccus in there as a RWB and midfield coverage in order to drop O'Neill or Teague. Metcalfe would linger as an emergency RWB option.

Bos is a shoe in then Elder if fit. Elder can also play LCB so that would exclude Rowles.

I think trimming and exploiting versatility could see us pick more players further up with flair.

I presume that you mean Jordan Bos. Lets not forget that there are two Bosses and both are natural LWB. Although JBos has been played in the front three.

 

[JS96]

I presume that you mean Jordan Bos. Lets not forget that there are two Bosses and both are natural LWB. Although JBos has been played in the front three.

Of course Jordan. Kasey Bos has a while to go Even though he was selected.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

Of course Jordan. Kasey Bos has a while to go Even though he was selected.

Its the selection that is the issue. If Popa selects both then we do need to differentiate. BTW I would not be surprised as I do think that KBos has to do more development.