World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[JS96]

Anyone hear where the Indonesia and Japan home matches may be? I am presuming that the Japan game will be Sydney.

You'd think Sydney due to a sense of rotation and the occasion. Would be unusual not to have a Sydney game this cycle.

 

[JS96]

Whether the Japan game is in Sydney depends on other codes use of the grounds. Brenton can shed light on the AFC prerequisites.

 

[JS96]

Can't see Goodwin in the early training photos so that must mean he's going straight to Bahrain. Honestly, with his itinerary, Hrustic should go straight there too.

 

[JS96]

Anyone hear where the Indonesia and Japan home matches may be? I am presuming that the Japan game will be Sydney.

Oh shoot and I just realised Indonesia hasn't been set yet. You'd think Brisbane should they bid.

 

[Hillbilly55]

Oh shoot and I just realised Indonesia hasn't been set yet. You'd think Brisbane should they bid.

Yet the first game of the series was at the Gold Coast. Wouldn't think Queensland would get 2 of the 6 games, but one never knows until it's done.

 

[JS96]

Yet the first game of the series was at the Gold Coast. Wouldn't think Queensland would get 2 of the 6 games, but one never knows until it's done.

Fair point. Wouldn't mind Brenton's posts about the rules. Once NRL and AFL draw comes out we'll know more.

 

[Brenton1986]

Fair point. Wouldn't mind Brenton's posts about the rules. Once NRL and AFL draw comes out we'll know more.

its Sunday before (for a Thursday game) til 24 hours after fulltime hence watch this space for home games against Indonesia and Japan.

PS: that's why Victory game at the weekend was forced to be played at 5pm Saturday just gone as FIFA/AFC were in straight away at AAMI Park once our game ended in preparation for Socceroos v Saudi Arabia fixture re clean stadia purposes.

 

[Decentric]

Thats a great news. To me Al Dawsari is 1 of the best player in Asian football. Big loss for Saudi Arabia.

Welcome to the forum, Mkxx.

Al Dawasari is a big loss for SA.

 

[Decentric]

I have a question for everyone regarding selection.

Mostly out of the dislike of certain players we see that is pretty unanimous, the Duke, Behich, even Irvine dislike. It seems this occurs more in areas we don't have stand out performers.

I feel like I am more of a runs on the board (maybe conservative) in what I would like to see regarding selections, compared to the impression I have of others here. I would like to see someone banging down the door with performances which cannot be ignored over a consistent time period. Otherwise I think the experience is more valuable. Some examples:

We seem to cycle through strikers, I think that is because our best goalscorers are about Aleague level and this is a step below international football. At various recent points in time, Jmac, Taggart, Duke and Fornaroli have either demanded selection and rotated through, while being in or out of favour with fans depending on how long it has been since their last opportunity. Mostly because they aren't quite good enough to do it on the international stage.

Mo Toure - Probably the one I like the most but he hasn't really put together a full starting season. Hopefully it will come this year, but does 412 minutes in the Danish league really demand to be picked? Not much else in his career demands to be picked. His last month has been good, let him continue that for the rest of the season, become a starting 11 player and play more than the 18 times he did for Adelaide in 21/22.

John Iredale - A good last two weeks. More minutes than Toure, less goal involvements. Still not a guaranteed starting 11 player at club level in Denmark.

Yengi - Some promise last season, 9 goals, but only managed a total of 856 minutes (less than 10 games). More injuries this year has been unfortunate but no goals at the higher standard.

Are any of these guys (or any other strikers) better selections than Duke? Maybe they are, but my point would be none are stand outs. None of them are even being picked to start every game, let alone scoring 20 goals in a season at this point in their career. So in the case Duke is picked, you know he will provide an aerial threat, defends strongly from the front and gets to contests other players cannot. Short of anyone demanding to be picked, I don't mind going back to the qualities Duke brings to a squad rather than experimenting in a qualifier.

Fair comments, CS.

Welcome to the forum too. Irvine, Behich and Duke all have qualities. Despite advancing years, they aren't declining much either.

Duke and Irvine are both very good when the other team has the ball.

Behich and Irvine being further back towards the Socceroo defensive goal, are in good positions to organise team shape too. Only experienced players can do this. One has to know one's own game pretty well to organise other players.

Duke and Irvine's technique on the ball is greatly exceeded by the younger cohort aged 23 and under though.

 

[Decentric]

I think Mabil has been quite poor playing for Australia for quite a while now. I'm happy that he isn't there.

Mabil has been okay for the Socceroos when playing a lot of club football.

From what other posters have said, he is playing quite a lot now. The Swiss league is pretty good too.

 

[Decentric]

I wouldn't touch Toure just yet. He's been struggling to find consistent minutes his whole professional career due to injuries, inconsistencies and more injuries. This is the best run of form he has had and I would just let him continue and not touch him. Next window, if he is still going strong then for sure, but in the end he probably wouldn't get many minutes in the window anyways so there's less point to disrupt his form and bring half way across the world.

There is some merit in this course of action.

Welcome to the forum, BB.

 

[grazorblade]

Just noticed bahrain gets back to back home matches? Then their next two are in the same time zone

Thats a remarkable advantage!

 

[JS96]

Just noticed bahrain gets back to back home matches? Then their next two are in the same time zone

Thats a remarkable advantage!

I'm still trying to do the math. It appears the lower 4 pots in every group have a match day of two home games but in turn two away games. Given Australia's travel it's a bit ridiculous. Saudi stuffed theirs last time and only have 2 home game left against China and Australia.

Hang on, my heart just sank. Pot 1 has it too. Japan with 2 away games this window but 2 home in March. Why is Pot 2 shafted like this particularly with our distance? I can't work out and math where not flipping back would suffice.

 

[JS96]

Got to get 6 points this window because it sets up well for March with Japan hosting both ME teams to then secure qualification. Should Saudi and Bahrain not win their other game this window, it sets up very nicely that a draw China away wouldn't be a disaster.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

 

[Robbos]

Fair comments, CS.

Welcome to the forum too. Irvine, Behich and Duke all have qualities. Despite advancing years, they aren't declining much either.

Duke and Irvine are both very good when the other team has the ball.

Behich and Irvine being further back towards the Socceroo defensive goal, are in good positions to organise team shape too. Only experienced players can do this. One has to know one's own game pretty well to organise other players.

Duke and Irvine's technique on the ball is greatly exceeded by the younger cohort aged 23 and under though.

Yes Duke & Irvine is great when other team has the ball, so great against France & Spain, but why play them against Indonesia & Bahrain, where we have 75% of the ball? That is the question we have to ask Arnie.

 

[NicCarBel]

I'm still trying to do the math. It appears the lower 4 pots in every group have a match day of two home games but in turn two away games. Given Australia's travel it's a bit ridiculous. Saudi stuffed theirs last time and only have 2 home game left against China and Australia.

Hang on, my heart just sank. Pot 1 has it too. Japan with 2 away games this window but 2 home in March. Why is Pot 2 shafted like this particularly with our distance? I can't work out and math where not flipping back would suffice.

Probably because they knew Australia would fall in Pot 2.

 

[Hillbilly55]

We have bemoaned the lack of draws by our opponents in prior WC qualifying. This time, both Saudi and Bahrain have had 2 already, which has meant that our slip ups haven't proved as disastrous as they could have been. I'm hoping China and/or Indonesia do us a favour this window and peg them back. Would ease the pressure on us in the later rounds.

 

[Volrath2002]

I don't know if others think similar, but what do people make of Irvine's tempo on the ball for the NT?

I feel the NT team can be super slow with the ball and a large part of that comes down to Irvine slowing down the speed/tempo of the play. Mooy used to also do this a lot with the NT too.

I'm finding I am getting quite frustrated during games seeing this and its effect on the NT not being able to get out of first gear when they need to up the tempo.

 

[LFC]

Yes Duke & Irvine is great when other team has the ball, so great against France & Spain, but why play them against Indonesia & Bahrain, where we have 75% of the ball? That is the question we have to ask Arnie.

spot on and ahead imo.
No matter Arnie why keep using the same players for every game.

I don't know if others think similar, but what do people make of Irvine's tempo on the ball for the NT?

I feel the NT team can be super slow with the ball and a large part of that comes down to Irvine slowing down the speed/tempo of the play. Mooy used to also do this a lot with the NT too.

I'm finding I am getting quite frustrated during games seeing this and its effect on the NT not being able to get out of first gear when they need to up the tempo.

I shake my head at people here justifying Irvine/Duke and I'll throw in Mabil.
2 lack the ability of U23's one said, well go figure and neither (incl U23's) will win us games let alone control game and fluent attack.
Control control time on the ball, what lacks is the creativity from mid pitch, Irvine is a work horse no more no less.
Duke is just not good enough period anymore - used to be a good running front rower up front using his muscle but lacks so much that is needed.
What is his assists anyone for we know its blanks more than anything on the score sheet.
Mabil has been hot and cold for yonks in the NT, maybe good in his club form but not good enough when needed at NT but for the odd occasion and people go oh yer Mabil done good.
Whats his assists might I add whilst at it.
I'd say he's lost the ball in good position to cross more than successful cross's over the years.