World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[Decentric]

Oh no, you're not using the argument of why Ryan was always picked over Langerak, are you? Some can't accept that on here

Indeed Behich had an excellent run and it's interesting to note he replaced the wavering Smith. He was excellent against Honduras and Peru, high stakes stuff and had two decent world cups. My issue only really started post Qatar with Bos coming in and Elder had been in the frame for a good while. I feel the past 2 years has been full of greedy complacency and a bit of negligence in his play given his leadership group status.

Out of curiosity I see he's had 3 assists in 70 caps. The following players have had more but I had to think of some somewhat comparable examples (left back mainstays)

Alaba: 20
Robertson:10
Nagatomo: 28

It's just seeing that and there was a time when Elder had the most dangerous balls into the box in his league, Davidson rediscovering his form and Bos coming through that he's just been blocking the alternatives and it's not always warranted.

Assists is interesting - except it is really assist chances on goal.

The player providing the assist chance, isn't culpable for the shooters' goal conversions.

Sometimes the interplay amongst Irvine, Behich and Goodwin on the left flank has exceeded the individual talent of the players. They've have worked so well as a cohesive unit.

The assists total for Behich of 3 over 70 games seems low though.

 

[Decentric]

Roos performances always look better to me on rematch
The emotion at the time and the tendency to underestimate how hard it is to break down Asian blocks

Agree with every word, Grazor!

The refs seem more impartial on replay too! Ha ha!

 

[JS96]

Indonesia have sacked their coach. Baffling but they're disappointed at the ASEAN Championship performance. This was with a heavily rotated squad. Manager bounce or zero cohesion when they play Australia next.

 

[JS96]

Some reports that Patrick Kluivert will take up Indonesian coaching role. Hasn't done much as a manager. Hope they fall flat like Jordan with Redknapp.

Van Gaal touted as candidate for technical director.

 

[DandyCasey]

Some reports that Patrick Kluivert will take up Indonesian coaching role. Hasn't done much as a manager. Hope they fall flat like Jordan with Redknapp.

Van Gaal touted as candidate for technical director.

I am in Indonesia at the moment, despite results many locals unhappy with the influx of Dutch players. Makes sense to go full Dutch though.

 

[mkxx]

I am in Indonesia at the moment, despite results many locals unhappy with the influx of Dutch players. Makes sense to go full Dutch though.

At least he is Dutch and can communicate with Dutch players in the Indonesia national team. 80% of Indonesian players cant speak a word in Indonesian language or Bahasa.

 

[MelvinsonofAlvin]

During the Brisbane Mariners game they said something about Mikael Doka pledging his allegiance to the socceroos, do they mean he canactually qualify or did they just mean he supports them?

 

[booney52]

During the Brisbane Mariners game they said something about Mikael Doka pledging his allegiance to the socceroos, do they mean he canactually qualify or did they just mean he supports them?

He has said that when he has spent the appropriate time here and gets Australian citizenship he would like to be considered for the Socceroos.A very long shot in my opinion though he is a very good player.

 

[Quicky]

He has said that when he has spent the appropriate time here and gets Australian citizenship he would like to be considered for the Socceroos.A very long shot in my opinion though he is a very good player.

How many more years for that? He's been here a season and a half?

I seem to remember it was 4 or 5 years in the Country before you are eligible. So much can happen in that time.

Is he NT quality? We do need RBs.

 

[DandyCasey]

How many more years for that? He's been here a season and a half?

I seem to remember it was 4 or 5 years in the Country before you are eligible. So much can happen in that time.

Is he NT quality? We do need RBs

We are okayish at rightback with the likes of Strain and Miller..... A Popa-ball RWB however raises further questions.

 

[JS96]

Really wish we'd stack our midfield with Triantis, Balard, Luongo, Nisbet as the 4 who play regularly. Add Irvine, Devlin and O'Neill and we'll have a lot in the tank for these tussles ahead.

Crazy to think Yazbek has gotten a shot and looked really good too. Someone like Baccus near forgotten. It's then mental that Brattan and Caceres have played.

 

[onedaywinners...]

Really wish we'd stack our midfield with Triantis, Balard, Luongo, Nisbet as the 4 who play regularly. Add Irvine, Devlin and O'Neill and we'll have a lot in the tank for these tussles ahead.

Crazy to think Yazbek has gotten a shot and looked really good too. Someone like Baccus near forgotten. It's then mental that Brattan and Caceres have played.

Preach JS!!

Imagine throwing Robertson in that mix and there's no one who can say there's nothing to get excited about!

I just don't have any confidence Popa will ever pick them. For me he has to be too driven by his own agenda, I mean who the fuck would pick Bratten for that Japan game?!?! Just ridiculously idiotic, and subbed at half time not to play again proves it.

 

[Decentric]

Really wish we'd stack our midfield with Triantis, Balard, Luongo, Nisbet as the 4 who play regularly. Add Irvine, Devlin and O'Neill and we'll have a lot in the tank for these tussles ahead.

Crazy to think Yazbek has gotten a shot and looked really good too. Someone like Baccus near forgotten. It's then mental that Brattan and Caceres have played.

I was surprised when Brattan and Caceres were selected too.

Brattan struggled with the tempo of Japanese play and struggled to break up their play. A few times when he was on the ball he was involved in some nice rapidfire passing and moving sequences with McGree and Hrustic- but they didn't occur often enough.

When Caceres played against Bahrain he was a revelation. He dominated in 1v1s against his Bahraini opponents. He reads when and where to attempt tackling actions well. Caceres was involved in plenty of quality passing sequences in build ups to progress the ball forwards. In this facet of play he displayed pretty quick handling speed. Caceres had an assured first touch - both stopping the ball dead and playing the ball away from his marker, depending on the proximity of the opposition. I was quite surprised? Few other Socceroo DMs have played better in other games than Caceres did against Bahrain.

With both Brattan and Caceres, Popa would have coached against them a lot. He would have had to devise plans to counteract their strengths. He obviously found them a thorn in his AL teams' sides.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

Although I don't rate Popa, in his defence Arnie's Socceroos were the same faces over and over again. Brattan was a mistake, Geria has been a success so far, and Caceres could go either way. Why go 5 at the back? because Popa didn't want to lose. Will Popa change? Maybe, and with Souttar out he will have to change anyway. IIRC neither C Goodwin nor Metcalf were available because of injury. Metcalfe still not available due to injury. Would I include Metcalf? He will need to get back playing first team football and be completely tearing it up before I would consider Metcalf.

 

[Quicky]

Although I don't rate Popa, in his defence Arnie's Socceroos were the same faces over and over again. Brattan was a mistake, Geria has been a success so far, and Caceres could go either way. Why go 5 at the back? because Popa didn't want to lose. Will Popa change? Maybe, and with Souttar out he will have to change anyway. IIRC neither C Goodwin nor Metcalf were available because of injury. Metcalfe still not available due to injury. Would I include Metcalf? He will need to get back playing first team football and be completely tearing it up before I would consider Metcalf.

Metcalfe has been unavailable. Goodwin was available for some of the qualifiers at least. Missed one game I remember. Has been played out of position on the right some of those games and it didn't get the best out of him.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

Metcalfe has been unavailable. Goodwin was available for some of the qualifiers at least. Missed one game I remember. Has been played out of position on the right some of those games and it didn't get the best out of him.

As has been noted, the Socceroos don't have much on the right side. At least with Geria, we have a solid right back but further upfield, the options are fluid. Trying Goodwin on the right was worth experimenting on. Arzani could come in because his form warrants it.
Also I noticed that JBos has been playing on the right for KVC Westerlo in the last few matches. Which I don't think it suits him although he has scored.

 

[Decentric]

I had to find a full game and by no means might this be the best or worst example. Palestine away was our toughest of the of previous round.

Opening 3 mins. 2 Behich backpasses when there is decent space ahead.

Thanks for posting this link, JS.

I've had a look at all actions up until 13 mins. Will post separately for each one.

*At the 2 min mark, Behich received quite centrally in the attacking third about 5- 10 metres outside the pen box and played an aerial ball /cross to towards Metcalfe. It had poor direction, but good shape and was a good decision, but was poorly executed.

* 3 mins. Behich received diagonally, opening a decent diagonal passing lane. Nobody was showing that effectively further forwards, hence no viable passing lanes were open, so he passed back . It was the right decision.

This occurred again shortly after. Again there was poor support for Behich off the ball from teammates. 2 Bahrainis closed him down under time and space pressure. I doubt any other Socceroo would have done anything differently.



Some other points. Souttar has improved a lot from this away game against Palestine. He lost a key 1v1 body on body contact duel, which possibly split the defence open. hHe has improved since playing regular football.

Moreover, Strain has been slow to make decisions, coughing up a ball which led to a potentially dangerous Bahraini cross into our pen box.

 

[Decentric]

I had to find a full game and by no means might this be the best or worst example. Palestine away was our toughest of the of previous round.



8:04. Why does he pass back there? We've got 2 players available and lots of space for running.

* 8 mins

Could he have passed to Goodwin? Not sure, from my angle? He was being closed down by a Bahraini player though. I strongly disagree we had 2 players showing to and opening 2 passing lanes.

Behich chose to play safe.

 

[Decentric]

I had to find a full game and by no means might this be the best or worst example. Palestine away was our toughest of the of previous round.



9:56. Reasonable back pass there. Goals come from trying to beat the man or crossing it in. Asian goals often come from defensive mix ups.

*9 mins

Received in an advanced position on the left flank in little time and space. He had no viable passing lanes open to teammates in front or sideways, with Goodwin closed down. Probably a good decision to pass backwards.

 

[Decentric]

I had to find a full game and by no means might this be the best or worst example. Palestine away was our toughest of the of previous round.



11:02. Appropriate forward pass and wins foul. Under pressure but that's where counters can start.

* 11 mins

Behich read play well, getting to ball first and with limited time and space on the ball, with less than ideal body position when receiving, released Goodwin in a diagonally advanced position on the left. Behich was then fouled.

Quality play from Behich.