World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[Keeper66]

unorthodox system not suited to Goodwin at all- better as winger in 442.
Like i said Popa all over the place with his formations/players and it’s giving shaky results

I agree

 

[Villa Dan]

Another disappointing result this time we were expected to win but we needed an stoppage equaliser to get a draw and this is simply not good enough, right now there is 1 point between 2nd and 6th place in the group any other slip up we could be in an vulnerable spot to not even qualify for the World Cup let along get into the playoffs!

People need to wake up to the fact we are punching well above our weight and given the investment in Asian football its a matter of time we will get caught by the rest and look where we are now, meanwhile Japan is coasting and will probably qualify around the March matches.

Popa is trying to do hes best with mostly a-league to mid tier level players, the truth is we lack the quality of players to put teams like Bahrain to bed, heck even the China and Saudi Arabia games weren't easy this is probably expected when facing Asian opposition and unless the production of our players get better then I dont expect it to get better going into the future in terms of getting results.

He had a player playing week in week out in Holland didn't get a minute in both games no excuses for Poppa

 

[Villa Dan]

Poppa hasn't been convincing for me besides the players playing for him. Didn't read the game well and to reactive.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

. As a few posters have said, four months until the next two matches, hopefully some of the forum favourites: Toure, Iredale, Nisbet, Irankunda et al kick on and make themselves un-unselectable.

and what do we do if they dont? Whats the plan B?

 

[MelvinsonofAlvin]

I would say to TP, It's ok to have 3 or even 4 Mariners alumni on the pitch at the same time. There's no rule against it. Alot of successful NT's have based their national team on dominant club sides in the past for cohesion purposes.

 

[Barca4life]

this is the Ancestry.com era of the Socceroos mate... we dont need to harvest our own crop, we just jump the fence on other country's fields and harvest theirs..... hahahahahahahaahah

Given the country loves to export it would make sense lol.

 

[Barca4life]

Maybe not KNVB but a HUUUUGE national curriculum advocate for sure. And what I was replying to was his criticism of the FA for all our ills now.

And I'm not saying the NC is bad. 90% of people criticising it have never read it.

I’m a fan of a curriculum , nothing wrong with having a guide if anything it’s good.

My argument is the whole approach, a document won’t solve the whole the problem.

 

[jas88]

watched the indonesia/saudi game. I'd say that's it for us. Cant see us getting result against them and china will be up for their game at home. Even if we make the play offs we wont get past jordan/uae

Was a decent campaign but I guess we will have to wait for 2030.

 

[Pasquali]

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

View attachment 308

I see 2 points, 4 at max from that lot

 

[NicCarBel]

View attachment 308

All big games.

6 points almost necessary in the next window (and could almost guarantee us qualification).
Japan should be guaranteed by the time they travel here, so hopefully can snag an extra point or 3 than we'd be expected to.
Saudi game almost poised to be 'do or die' for both of us.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

I think we need Kristian Popovic.

A rat just crawled across my soul...

 

[Hillbilly55]

We came third last time with 19 points. It looks likely that 14 points could get second in the group. The bottom pots have exceeded expectations. Two wins next window would just about do it for us.

 

[Kitwally]

and what do we do if they dont? Whats the plan B?

Well, if not them then Stama, Waddingham, Bennie, Circati, Luongo, Robertson (if he chooses us and Poppa chooses to welcome him back), peupion, Kuol, Farrell, Silvera, Bourges-Rodríguez, Genreau, Younis, Youlley, Kalik, Karacic, Piscopo, Ivanovic, Milanovic, Yazbek and others. If not, prayers?

 

[Robbos]

You all have to admit what a ride we all went this morning, cruising at 1 nil, missed some very easy chances, then they hit a freak goal & followed up moments later going in front, from being in semi total control to being 2-1 down & then in the last 5 minutes of extra time we get equaliser. Not for the fainthearted.

 

[LFC]

You all have to admit what a ride we all went this morning, cruising at 1 nil, missed some very easy chances, then they hit a freak goal & followed up moments later going in front, from being in semi total control to being 2-1 down & then in the last 5 minutes of extra time we get equaliser. Not for the fainthearted.

roller coaster ride at its finest eh, who needs theme parks when from your own couch your having the ride of your life as a Roo supporter haha

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

You all have to admit what a ride we all went this morning, cruising at 1 nil, missed some very easy chances, then they hit a freak goal & followed up moments later going in front, from being in semi total control to being 2-1 down & then in the last 5 minutes of extra time we get equaliser. Not for the fainthearted.

I think I was aware of my heart for a while.

Fucking adrenalin...

 

[Song]

I would be very wary of assuming a win over Indonesia. They are definitely the dark horse in this group.

No game is an assumed result, except that Saudi's will beat us in the last match day.

I suspect, but do not know, that it will be Brisbane's turn to host the Indonesia game. I would have thought those conditions are reasonably suitable for Indonesia (as compared to more southern / colder locations).

 

[tsf]

You all have to admit what a ride we all went this morning, cruising at 1 nil, missed some very easy chances, then they hit a freak goal & followed up moments later going in front, from being in semi total control to being 2-1 down & then in the last 5 minutes of extra time we get equaliser. Not for the fainthearted.

Popovic.

Loves a draw. Loves going up, doing nothing and then conceding when you're the better team and could've buried it

 

[Quicky]

I didn’t stay up to watch the game live (it was 2:15am in my time zone) but I woke up at 7:15 and immediately watched a full replay. It was interesting reading the hysterical comments after the game after the quickfire brace from the Bahraini player. Lots of posters blaming Ryan, Matthews etc which is ridiculous. And the starting team selected from the squad - perhaps with the inclusion of Bos instead of Behich and Balard for Irvine - was basically what people on this forum have been braying for, in particular Yengi starting over Duke. There was nothing Ryan or any keeper could have done about those two goals. And though Yengi scored two goals and is a big improvement over Duke, he also missed an absolute sitter, and could perhaps be forgiven for hitting the post with his chest instead of scoring. People on this forum love hating on Miller. I thought he had a reasonably good game and as LFC mentioned above he got a rating of 6.9. As a few posters have said, four months until the next two matches, hopefully some of the forum favourites: Toure, Iredale, Nisbet, Irankunda et al kick on and make themselves un-unselectable.

I reckon any post made during and immediately after a game should be a free pass. It's like listening to people in a stadium. People are posting with their emotions. Calm analysis is for later.