World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[grazorblade]

a winnable team
mcgree and hrustic are more half space specialists than genuine cams so it used our attacking assets well

yengi, while he has improved for portsmouth, is still not at his best imo

 

[JS96]

So Japan game O'Neill for Brattan. Got to remember Hrustic got in Tuesday night so he's probably rough. Maybe subbed at half time after he's hopefully put in an assist for Souttar.

 

[JS96]

a winnable team
mcgree and hrustic are more half space specialists than genuine cams so it used our attacking assets well

yengi, while he has improved for portsmouth, is still not at his best imo

They'll have more than against Japan. I'll say this, Duke tends to pop up when we're berating him most. Had he put that header away against South Korea he'd be held in much higher regard.

 

[grazorblade]

They'll have more than against Japan. I'll say this, Duke tends to pop up when we're berating him most. Had he put that header away against South Korea he'd be held in much higher regard.

fine margins between legend and scape goat!

The glass half full take is he has exceeded any reasonable expectations anyone could have on him based on his club career and we have much better players coming through

 

[Quicky]

 

[JS96]

Goodwin, Boyle and Matthews not in squad.

I get training injuries can happen but with 26 named, Boyle, Hrustic and Goodwin could've waited in Bahrain while local players could replace any injury in camp. We've got the depth. Reducing travel is handy given everyone else has so much less due to dual home games.

 

[JS96]

I just assumed that with the 4 games so far including tonight outside of NSW the next 2 home WCQ would be likely to both be in Sydney, I assume the announcement for both is likely be sometime after tonight's game, either during the window or later in November.

Not the biggest if time differences but Perth for Indonesia then to China. Indonesia could potentially bring a massive turnout so maybe Sydney is the go. I still anticipate Japan to play in Sydney.

They'll announce it before the March games are done you'd think.

 

[grazorblade]

Goodwin, Boyle and Matthews not in squad.

I get training injuries can happen but with 26 named, Boyle, Hrustic and Goodwin could've waited in Bahrain while local players could replace any injury in camp. We've got the depth. Reducing travel is handy given everyone else has so much less due to dual home games.

this is a very important point
really needed to leave goodwin in particular in saudi

 

[Quicky]

Goodwin, Boyle and Matthews not in squad.

I get training injuries can happen but with 26 named, Boyle, Hrustic and Goodwin could've waited in Bahrain while local players could replace any injury in camp. We've got the depth. Reducing travel is handy given everyone else has so much less due to dual home games.

Perhaps Popovic is prioritising time together/training sessions. You don't get much of it at international level.

 

[JS96]

A Hrustic curler on 5. Souttar header on 29 and a McGree far post tap in on 53 and I'll be fine.

 

[Quicky]

We've gone with a very experienced XI. I'm not surprised but I am disappointed Balard isn't playing.

 

[JS96]

Perhaps Popovic is prioritising time together/training sessions. You don't get much of it at international level.

Definitely and that shouldn't be understated either. Our fitness team knows how to prepare our players like no other.

England players are at a higher level and play a lot of football but these withdrawals for Greece away have a bad taste. The Nations League post Euros is diluting it and it needs certain reforms but the tournament qualifying safety net is something every team would take in a heartbeat should they stuff up.

I do think UEFA should've started their WC qualifying already and spread it out a bit.

 

[Volrath2002]

Not an unexpected line-up

 

[JS96]

We've gone with a very experienced XI. I'm not surprised but I am disappointed Balard isn't playing.

Yeah that is a bit of a disappointment. Hopefully a start and dominant display Bahrain away which feels that bit tougher.

We'll know a lot in some hours after Bahrain play China. Bloody Indonesia Japan agreeing to put their game back by 24 hours to avoid travel fatigue borders on cheating.

Surprised Bahrain are playing China in late afternoon heat while we get the night match which is a tad cooler but humidity may rise again.

 

[JS96]

Not going to OFC tab just now but a mental 3:3 between PNG and Fiji has had my phone lighting up all morning

 

[Volrath2002]

I just hope we can play with speed and tempo and score goals. Oh wait.... hahaha nah that's being too negative. I gotta be more positive about the NT.

 

[JS96]

being a bit slow today

Tad annoyed how English clubs have started to announce at any random time instead if the so called 2pm online tradition. Always felt fun waiting for the drop and the many clicks to check all sides. Scotland do it around 90min pre game which actually helps to get their news before our England based players.

 

[JS96]

I just hope we can play with speed and tempo and score goals. Oh wait.... hahaha nah that's being too negative. I gotta be more positive about the NT.

I've been having visions all week about either swift breaks and good square balls to being bogged down with Miller not knowing where to go and Saudi slowing the game immensely.

 

[JS96]

AFC Asian Cup Youtube will stream game free with UK or Canada vpn amongst many other countries where it works. Czech and Slovakia work too I recall.

Germany has it on Sportdigital but I don't want German commentary droning on. Might just got Paramount to have Hill and they've got the rewind function now.

 

[grazorblade]

Tad annoyed how English clubs have started to announce at any random time instead if the so called 2pm online tradition. Always felt fun waiting for the drop and the many clicks to check all sides. Scotland do it around 90min pre game which actually helps to get their news before our England based players.

yes I miss 50 notifications on the phone every saturday at 2pm all coming at the same time