Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Sign Up Now!

World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

ultra.zone

2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying Points Simulator AFC Third Round - ULTRAZONE

Enter the score to calculate Points and Standing of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying (AFC Third Round).
ultra.zone

Absolutely stuffed it this window. We'd almost be there because you'd think the ME teams lose in Japan and Bahrain doesn't win in Indonesia. Saudi should beat China next window.

What we have got going for us is a single point ahead, two reasonable games next window and GD is still positive. All of that can change depending on a lot of things.

Two wins next window are crucial. The dream window would be 2 wins. ME losses in Japan and draws in the other games. China might surprise Saudi away while we're in for a tough show in China.
 
JS96 said:
ultra.zone

2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying Points Simulator AFC Third Round - ULTRAZONE

Enter the score to calculate Points and Standing of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying (AFC Third Round).
ultra.zone

Absolutely stuffed it this window. We'd almost be there because you'd think the ME teams lose in Japan and Bahrain doesn't win in Indonesia. Saudi should beat China next window.

What we have got going for us is a single point ahead, two reasonable games next window and GD is still positive. All of that can change depending on a lot of things.

Two wins next window are crucial. The dream window would be 2 wins. ME losses in Japan and draws in the other games. China might surprise Saudi away while we're in for a tough show in China.
Click to expand...
Yep, that would be the dream scenario
Japan 22
Australia 13
Saudi 7
Indonesia 7
Bahrain 7
China 7

Would mean 6 points safe with only two games remaining... almost a guarantee of direct qualification in that case.
 
Butterfly effect. Second Bahrain goal comes from a Behich throw backwards when two midfielders were free in the centre. The passes go back and Souttar is pressed and gives it away. Lack of press by Geria and Hrustic allows the cross. Could have all been avoided with patience and throwing it forward to free players.

We rush it when we shouldn't and play risky while we go way too slow when the opportunity presents itself.
 
NicCarBel said:
Yep, that would be the dream scenario
Japan 22
Australia 13
Saudi 7
Indonesia 7
Bahrain 7
China 7

Would mean 6 points safe with only two games remaining... almost a guarantee of direct qualification in that case.
Click to expand...
Adding 4 points from this window makes me sick. Even 2 we'd be sitting much better. Often we calculate teams with 3 points but draws mean you can't be caught.

I've tried to be as realstic as possible and after the next window

Aus 11
Ind 9
Saudi 9
China 7
Bahrain 6

June would set up to be a horror show where we lose to Japan, Saudi win in Bahrain while Indonesia beat China. Indonesia in Japan last and Australia end in Saudi needing a win.

Was curious about the maths. Japan are not officially there but to end up third they'd need Australia and Saudi to win their remaining games and draw together (or Saudi beat Australia but Australia do a double figure GD jump) and over turn the GD.
 
RIMB said:
A few times, watching Souttar, he started at the point the ball should have been delivered to and ran away from there.

Instead of running to the spot where the ball will be arriving he vacated that space.

"It's just what they would expect us to do. Nya nya nya."
Click to expand...
Yes notice that too. Not sure what was the set piece tactic there or if there's any tactics?. Souttar (the target man) running away from the target point. Cahill should give him.some advice how to find the space.
 
mkxx said:
Yes notice that too. Not sure what was the set piece tactic there or if there's any tactics?. Souttar (the target man) running away from the target point. Cahill should give him.some advice how to find the space.
Click to expand...
Wish we had cahill around to advise set pieces...
 
Song said:
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).
Click to expand...
Most of Indonesian players never live or play in Indonesia. They are used to cold weather in Europe. Most of them don't even speak a word of local language only know Dutch & english.
 
LFC said:
Mate robbos said before, attitude incl application.
A couple of our corners when watching being they didn't clear it very well and the ball was in the air, I was watching some of our guys close to the ball keep having both their feet still planted on the ground whilst 2/3 of theirs were leaping to win the ball for a 2nd clearance.
Like WTF, what don't go for the second ball in their danger zone !
Click to expand...
they just took it easy and didnt put their lives on the line. Once they were behind you can see the desperation to attack and go for it thats how they scored the last goal. They should've done that when leading 1-0 and still in control of the game. This team got weak mentality that no one wanted to shoot.
 
Just watching Indo-Saudi. A fairly scrappy game. Neither team looks great. One thing that is noticeable is how willing Indo were to put through balls over the top over a fairly high Saudi line for their strikers to run on to.

The other obvious thing for me is that both sides, when they get into the attacking third, show a lot of energy and work really hard to get in a cross or a shot. Not many come off, but they are willing to give it a go. Contrasts completely with how we attack, where we slow it right down and are very reluctant to cross or shoot unless it is set up perfectly.

Individually the Indo's are nothing special, their players overall are probably not at the same level as the Socceroos are, but they've got shitloads of energy, commitment and desire. A lot like the Socceroos used to be ...sigh...
 
Last edited:
JS96 said:
Adding 4 points from this window makes me sick. Even 2 we'd be sitting much better. Often we calculate teams with 3 points but draws mean you can't be caught.

I've tried to be as realstic as possible and after the next window

Aus 11
Ind 9
Saudi 9
China 7
Bahrain 6

June would set up to be a horror show where we lose to Japan, Saudi win in Bahrain while Indonesia beat China. Indonesia in Japan last and Australia end in Saudi needing a win.

Was curious about the maths. Japan are not officially there but to end up third they'd need Australia and Saudi to win their remaining games and draw together (or Saudi beat Australia but Australia do a double figure GD jump) and over turn the GD.
Click to expand...
Yep, Japan is pretty much there. Someone must have done the maths on Wiki as they're marked as guaranteed to be in the next stage regardless.

My maths is, if all 3 games end in a draw in the next matchday, or if just Japan beat Bahrain, they are qualified.

If Japan beats Bahrain, they go to 19 points, which will be at least 10 points ahead of anyone that could be in 3rd, which means any game after that is dead rubber for them.

For them to qualify directly with a draw against Bahrain, they'd need both Aus v Indonesia, and Saudi v China to end in a draw. Any result in either of these games (coupled with their draw/loss) means that there'll be more than 2 teams within that 9 point buffer.
Actually on an extra look before I hit "reply" - we could do them a favour by defeating Indonesia, as a draw in the JPN v BAH and KSA v CHN games would also see Japan qualify directly at the next matchday.
 
NicCarBel said:
Yep, Japan is pretty much there. Someone must have done the maths on Wiki as they're marked as guaranteed to be in the next stage regardless.

My maths is, if all 3 games end in a draw in the next matchday, or if just Japan beat Bahrain, they are qualified.

If Japan beats Bahrain, they go to 19 points, which will be at least 10 points ahead of anyone that could be in 3rd, which means any game after that is dead rubber for them.

For them to qualify directly with a draw against Bahrain, they'd need both Aus v Indonesia, and Saudi v China to end in a draw. Any result in either of these games (coupled with their draw/loss) means that there'll be more than 2 teams within that 9 point buffer.
Actually on an extra look before I hit "reply" - we could do them a favour by defeating Indonesia, as a draw in the JPN v BAH and KSA v CHN games would also see Japan qualify directly at the next matchday.
Click to expand...
It's something of a significant or historical thing to be the first team to qualify for a respective tournament. A trivia question more so. I think the only way they could end up 3rd is Australia and Saudi winning all their games and turning the GD around and either drawing against each other or Saudi beat Australia and Japan losing everything from now on.

I don't think it's 100% official as FIFA socials would have posted to get some traffic going.
 
Was odd seeing Saudi so confused at the back and toothless in attack. That's also with Kanno back. They'll be a new side in March with Renard overhauling and Gulf Cup in December.

The headaches today about dropping 4 points. Don't want to think how I'd feel had we lost both.
 
Last edited:
JS96 said:
It's something of a significant or historical thing to be the first team to qualify for a respective tournament. A trivia question more so. I think the only way they could end up 3rd is Australia and Saudi winning all their games and turning the GD around and either drawing against each other or Saudi beat Australia and Japan losing everything from now on.

I don't think it's 100% official as FIFA socials would have posted to get some traffic going.
Click to expand...
Probably will do so in the lead up to March. There'll be a few teams booking spots in that window if I have my eye on things correctly:
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Argentina
  • Possibly Uruguay
Interestingly at that point, CONCACAF won't have even begun their third/direct round, and UEFA will just be starting..
 
Uzbekistan look to be in a bit of a tricky spot. They host Kyrgyzstan then go to Iran, who should be qualified by then. Away to UAE in a crunch match then host Qatar at the end. My predictions have UAE, Uzbekistan and Qatar all on 17. Won't happen of course but Iran may step of the gas a bit once qualified and Qatar isn't going to give up.

Iraq should be fine and will qualify with South Korea leaving Jordan and Oman to go on. Pot 2 plays 6 next so it's Iraq vs Kuwait while Australia host Indonesia who were ranked for pot 6 but are definitely better than that.

Indonesia play in Japan last so they'll have to beat Bahrain in March. Bahrain will scratch and bite so hopefully it's a draw while we win in China (very unlikely)

I have Australia beating Indonesia. Goalless draw in China, loss to Japan. It's near impossible the Saudi game won't count. Ideally, we go into it needing a heavy loss to not qualify directly.
 
It didn't need to be this outrageous had we just sorted victory earlier but the two unusual Bahrain goals aside, Yengi scored the earliest and latest normal time goals since Opta started recording. The two later goals were ET goals by Cahill against Syria and Troisi in the Asian Cup final.
 
mkxx said:
Yes why do I feel Japan are better at cornor and set piece than us? Height isnt everything, its the delivery and positioning.
Click to expand...
Agree totally, we need someone to deliver them, dead ball specialist who can deliver the ball perfectly.
 
You wonder about the phasing out of some of Arnold's favourites. It's not over but Baccus and Rowles are way down. Grant being called in made no sense. Degenek didn't really either but good for head for a camp.

Then you wonder why better players haven't been selected or didn't get minutes. The Caceres and Brattan experiments border on offensive how raw and risky it is when their selections are hardly justified.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Click to expand...
Nice write up. Yengi had to do better with the Behich but back but when toy pause, I guess right in front of him are 3 blokes and Goodwin. Split second hit it and it may go into left corner. He chose to veer right then hit it. First touch was bad.

We've got to just start shooting. A defection off a defender can roll into our path. McGree had the ball on edge of box. Just hit it. We've got to get greedy and aggressive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top