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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Anyone got any tricks for posting their Best XI's and getting the formatting right?
 
My guess at home will go for a lot of a league players and duke who is in the same timezone

---------------------------gauci---------------------------
----------------geria-souttar-matthews----------
-grant-------------Caceres--Irvine--------Behich-

Not sure about the front line other than Duke being there?

Away from home more euro players

---------------------gauci-------------------------------
-----------geria-souttar-burgess---------------
miller---------O'Niell-Irvine---------Bos-------
-----------Mcgree--Yengi---Hrustic-----------
 
I suspect Goodwin is playing for sure in the Bahrain match.

Really hope Balard starts both matches. It's a pretty uninspiring squad but he's the one diamond (with McGree) in a crock of rocks.
 
grazorblade said:
My guess at home will go for a lot of a league players and duke who is in the same timezone

---------------------------gauci---------------------------
----------------geria-souttar-matthews----------
-grant-------------Caceres--Irvine--------Behich-

Not sure about the front line other than Duke being there?

Away from home more euro players

---------------------gauci-------------------------------
-----------geria-souttar-burgess---------------
miller---------O'Niell-Irvine---------Bos-------
-----------Mcgree--Yengi---Hrustic-----------
Click to expand...
Really not sure why no-one is picking Izzo to start, as he's the only keeper in the squad actually playing club football, and doing a pretty good job of it from all accounts. I still find Gauci a little suspect under pressure
 
To set expectations a little, we've only won a combined 5 games out of 14 in this stage of qualifying across this campaign and the previous one. We took 1 point only against Saudi from our home and away matches last qualifying campaign and didn't score in either match. Whilst Saudi have some key players missing, we can probably expect a new coach bounce. Across the 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds this campaign, both Saudi and Bahrain have only lost 2 games out of 10. It was only 2 months ago that Bahrain defeated us in Queensland where we again failed to score a goal, and they're a whole lot better when playing at home. I'm taking my son to his first Socceroos match tomorrow so am desperate that we manage to win, but I feel like some of the confidence I am hearing may be somewhat misguided.
 
SocceroosFan said:
Really not sure why no-one is picking Izzo to start, as he's the only keeper in the squad actually playing club football, and doing a pretty good job of it from all accounts. I still find Gauci a little suspect under pressure
Click to expand...
Probably because Gauci performed in the last cycle. The keeper battle feels tight.
 
verrelli said:
To set expectations a little, we've only won a combined 5 games out of 14 in this stage of qualifying across this campaign and the previous one. We took 1 point only against Saudi from our home and away matches last qualifying campaign and didn't score in either match. Whilst Saudi have some key players missing, we can probably expect a new coach bounce. Across the 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds this campaign, both Saudi and Bahrain have only lost 2 games out of 10. It was only 2 months ago that Bahrain defeated us in Queensland where we again failed to score a goal, and they're a whole lot better when playing at home. I'm taking my son to his first Socceroos match tomorrow so am desperate that we manage to win, but I feel like some of the confidence I am hearing may be somewhat misguided.
Click to expand...
Enjoy the occasion with your son. It should be a ripper of a game. Whilst Poppa has dug deep for some older debutante's in Brattan (against Japan) and Caceres, I am happy with his refreshing approach to coaching the Socceroo's. I am optimistic that Caceres will put in a good performance if called on tomorrow :).
 
verrelli said:
To set expectations a little, we've only won a combined 5 games out of 14 in this stage of qualifying across this campaign and the previous one. We took 1 point only against Saudi from our home and away matches last qualifying campaign and didn't score in either match. Whilst Saudi have some key players missing, we can probably expect a new coach bounce. Across the 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds this campaign, both Saudi and Bahrain have only lost 2 games out of 10. It was only 2 months ago that Bahrain defeated us in Queensland where we again failed to score a goal, and they're a whole lot better when playing at home. I'm taking my son to his first Socceroos match tomorrow so am desperate that we manage to win, but I feel like some of the confidence I am hearing may be somewhat misguided.
Click to expand...
Some sobering stats

To be fair to fans i havent seen a lot of expectations to win as opposed to the usual pumping up before games
 
Mitchell Duke joined Big Sports Breakfast program yesterday morning with hosts Gerard Middleton, Michael Clarke, Laurie Daley to preview upcoming Socceroos crunch FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park this evening and away against Bahrain held at Bahrain National Stadium early Wednesday Morning our time.

 
Saudis are a decent side (they beat Argentina at wCup under Renard!)
I’m more than happy to be proven wrong but without Goodwin, Irankunda, Arzani, Silvera, Nisbet, Piscopo up front, i don’t see Roos scoring 1 goal let alone 2 or more.
Unless Velupillay/Boyle/Borello have a blinder it looks pretty bland attacking lineup.
Maybe Souttar can score header from corner/set piece.

Go ahead and prove me wrong guys
 
we shall see if its in Poppa we trust fellas.
They have key players out as well/won't be that unsettled with the Mancini back to Reynard due to his previous tenure incl WC.
We haven't beaten them since '19 if I recall right so its going to be a close game period no matter who we start up with.
Looking forward to it hope we get this over the line.
 
People forgetting this is not the same Saudi from 4 years ago. Both Al-Malki and Al-Dawsari who are two of their better players not available. Also many of the squad is not playing regularly compared to previous campaigns there will be a lift with the new coach and old captain coming back but we should be aiming to win this game.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Don't remind me ... Ive gotta go to a bloody ballet recital instead of the match tonight.... aaaaarrrrgggghhhh nobody told me parenthood could suck so hard....
Click to expand...
It's unrequited love Mono, Kids always first, then they grow up & years later they say Thanks Dad & it's all worth it.
 
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