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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

grazorblade said:
Weird watching the game again. Saudi werent nearly as dominant as i remember in the first half hour. Stopped at half an hour for now tho
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They hung around here and there but pretty rudimentary things happened. I forgot how Bos got down the left a few times in the second half and O'Neill had two good crosses into the box. There was intent but the final hit wasn't there. We've got to shoot more first time. Yengi did more with the ball than Duke all game but Duke's press was effective to unsettle Saudi. Maybe Bahrain away is a case for 2 strikers to smother them. I hope for a 3:1 style victory like against Oman last cycle.
 
JS96 said:
They hung around here and there but pretty rudimentary things happened. I forgot how Bos got down the left a few times in the second half and O'Neill had two good crosses into the box. There was intent but the final hit wasn't there. We've got to shoot more first time. Yengi did more with the ball than Duke all game but Duke's press was effective to unsettle Saudi. Maybe Bahrain away is a case for 2 strikers to smother them. I hope for a 3:1 style victory like against Oman last cycle.
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If yengi strings a bunch of games together in england maybe his press gets a but better and he can replace duke

Alternatively, toure and iredale could overtake them (honestly i think they already have)
 
Just one game until Metcalfe should be available again. The more I watch the replay the more I think he'd have been the perfect fit for the RWB spot. He can move into spaces and pass in all directions. In turn he'd be less of a wingback but more of an extra midfield and winger with Geria covering with ease.

If Popovic is to persist with this formation then I really hope he's just waiting for Metcalfe to return. I'd prefer a back 4 but I doubt he'll change now.
 
grazorblade said:
If yengi strings a bunch of games together in england maybe his press gets a but better and he can replace duke

Alternatively, toure and iredale could overtake them (honestly i think they already have)
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It's social media so why should one care too much but it's mental how many people don't know Iredale and Toure exist. People saying they don't score for the national team. That's because they've hardly been on the pitch as Duke starts every time. I saw one analysis that Duke is, in the end, a striker. He's not scoring. I appreciate the press and he won the ball in some handy spots but we need the ones who run and open defences, can shoot and create chances.
 
JS96 said:
Just one game until Metcalfe should be available again. The more I watch the replay the more I think he'd have been the perfect fit for the RWB spot. He can move into spaces and pass in all directions. In turn he'd be less of a wingback but more of an extra midfield and winger with Geria covering with ease.

If Popovic is to persist with this formation then I really hope he's just waiting for Metcalfe to return. I'd prefer a back 4 but I doubt he'll change now.
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Metcalf will hopefully have a good 20 or so games before the march window. Hopefully he gets a few wide games. Italiano and strain other possibilities but both similiar level to miller imo
 
JS96 said:
It's social media so why should one care too much but it's mental how many people don't know Iredale and Toure exist. People saying they don't score for the national team. That's because they've hardly been on the pitch as Duke starts every time. I saw one analysis that Duke is, in the end, a striker. He's not scoring. I appreciate the press and he won the ball in some handy spots but we need the ones who run and open defences, can shoot and create chances.
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Gonna pay attention to their press and hold up play since i guess we emphasize that at the moment

To be fair duke is probably underrated by fans. Not a world beater, but one of the better post gg strikers (which, also to be fair, isnt a high level)
 
Creativity and balls in the net.

Irankunda
Nisbet
Teague
Quintal cap him Ange!
Milanovic
Toure
Iredale
Brimmer when his tank builds.

Any others to look at?
 
mkxx said:
you mean the same Toure guy in U23 team that missed the Paris Olympics.

He's NOT the answer. Dont expect him to score the winner. In that campaign australia couldnt score a single goal for a whole tournament.
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Toure was bad that tournament but is our best performing striker right now in clubland. The guy is on the right development projectory. He's scoring/assisting consistently as a starter in a good Euro league. He would improve our scoring chances.
 


Best accidental backheel I've ever seen for that China goal.

We have to go all out on Bahrain. Decent ME pitch by the looks.
 
I watched the Bahrain game again yesterday to get in the mood. I was surprised how positively we played, and how much better we looked in retrospect. We should have won. And that with a coach on his last legs. Not scoring, not even shooting is our problem. I am sure that Duke didn't have one shot last night. He is down on confidence, and time for him to say bye bye.
 
Quicky said:
Toure was bad that tournament but is our best performing striker right now in clubland. The guy is on the right development projectory. He's scoring/assisting consistently as a starter in a good Euro league. He would improve our scoring chances.
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Yes, his confidence is up, time to get him on board.

The other thing is that Poppa has only had 6 weeks in charge. I would wait until his selections for the March qualifiers as he's had a fairly difficult introduction. He now has the time to scout the players and bring his own plans into action. Yes he has tinkered with some new players, tested ones that he knew, but he hasn't delved into the unknown yet. Give him a chance.
 
A separate thing - how come we were not wearing white socks last night, Saudi were wearing white. We were the home team, so surely we get to wear our first choice kit?
 
Hrustic is ao annoying to watch. Looks like he 's always only give 70%, is slow, and always looking to complain.

He reminds me of the sort of player that would always look the part, but always had som little injury or some issue require him to get attention. never really ever worked for the team.

Also, I have supported Duke in years past but my god he is a lug now. We could just hire a MMA fighter if we just need someone to chase people down and use their body.
 
patjennings said:
He played awfully (our worst) for the first 25-30 minutes then seemed ok after the couple of large breaks in play. Replaced at half time and Popovic made the point that he was not injured.
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100%!

No chasing down, when that ball was turned over in the midfield, instantly I knew it wasn't hurstic doing that with intensity.
 
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This is a group of Japan - followed by who is going to take the mantle of the least terrible in Asia.
 
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