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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

I was just disappointed but not surprised to see Robertson in the headline and it was given one sentence. 'hasn't changed'.

Annoyingly the gap between games has been ample to put some things together. It's useless until Robertson actually commits.

Typical rollercoaster of late with players in and out of form and little injuries. Fact that Popovic and Juric were at the Big Blue suggests am eye has to be on Langerak.
 
JS96 said:
ABC news. I believe it was something of a collective chat with Popovic this week, unless Vince Rugari sat with him one on one for the Arzani spray. Popa comments have been distributed across media channels this week.

Sodding Fox only have something to report when it's negative or inflammatory.
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Do u know the vibe of it beyond him being unavailable?
 
grazorblade said:
Do u know the vibe of it beyond him being unavailable?
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I've copied this directly from Joey Lynch's ESPN article. The full article is on the ESPN Australia site.

Across an extended conversation with media ahead of another trip to Europe, Popovic spoke on several issues confronting the national side, confirming, amongst other developments, that Cardiff City midfielder Alex Robertson's international status remains unchanged: "If he was available to play for Australia he'd certainly be on the list of a potential player to come in March. But nothing's changed."
 
Bruce Ramsay said:
I've copied this directly from Joey Lynch's ESPN article. The full article is on the ESPN Australia site.

Across an extended conversation with media ahead of another trip to Europe, Popovic spoke on several issues confronting the national side, confirming, amongst other developments, that Cardiff City midfielder Alex Robertson's international status remains unchanged: "If he was available to play for Australia he'd certainly be on the list of a potential player to come in March. But nothing's changed."
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I wonder what's meant by status? Probably he hasn't committed rather than documents being generated. I wonder if they have been more direct conversations.

It's not like Robertson has anything to prove now. He's proven at Cardiff he's good so he needed worry about international duty tarnishing his club situation overall. I get he wants to look after himself yet he came along in March for Ecuador friendlies.

All in all Australia still need to work on just going for a killer blow and peppering the box, especially in Asia. This cautious approach won't win games.

Our players should feel free to overwhelm inferior opponents where the reward of a lead should only benefit them more by then having the opponent attack, whereby unlocking the more comfortable mode and therefore hopefully doubling a lead.
 
Bruce Ramsay said:
I've copied this directly from Joey Lynch's ESPN article. The full article is on the ESPN Australia site.

Across an extended conversation with media ahead of another trip to Europe, Popovic spoke on several issues confronting the national side, confirming, amongst other developments, that Cardiff City midfielder Alex Robertson's international status remains unchanged: "If he was available to play for Australia he'd certainly be on the list of a potential player to come in March. But nothing's changed."
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Ah fair enough

Wonder if poppa would see him as a started
 
JS96 said:
I wonder what's meant by status? Probably he hasn't committed rather than documents being generated. I wonder if they have been more direct conversations.

It's not like Robertson has anything to prove now. He's proven at Cardiff he's good so he needed worry about international duty tarnishing his club situation overall. I get he wants to look after himself yet he came along in March for Ecuador friendlies.

All in all Australia still need to work on just going for a killer blow and peppering the box, especially in Asia. This cautious approach won't win games.

Our players should feel free to overwhelm inferior opponents where the reward of a lead should only benefit them more by then having the opponent attack, whereby unlocking the more comfortable mode and therefore hopefully doubling a lead.
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Maybe prove he can keep fit for a full season? I heard he mentioned his body as a worry
 
8 weeks out and that predictor will get a work out soon. If I recall correctly Japan could lose every game from here and still qualify on GD.

I'm not too sure the ME teams can score Japan away so I think Japan should win both as they'll score at least one. The annoyance will be if a ME gets a draw in Japan and heaven forbid, a win.

China away is going to be tricky but I hope Australia keep shooting and attacking as China tend to crumble under the pressure and lose shape.
 
grazorblade said:
Maybe prove he can keep fit for a full season? I heard he mentioned his body as a worry
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Yeah that's a point. That's an interesting question, how many Australian players haven't played in qualifying, let alone be in a squad, and made the WC squad?

Maybe Milligan in 06? Beauchamp 2010?
 
JS96 said:
Yeah that's a point. That's an interesting question, how many Australian players haven't played in qualifying, let alone be in a squad, and made the WC squad?

Maybe Milligan in 06? Beauchamp 2010?
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Jesus in 2006 would be another one
Bailey Wright 2014

Beauchamp played quite a bit of the 2010 qualifying campaign, but could reasonably include his 2006 inclusion

For 2022, Cam Devlin, Keanu Baccus, Garang Kuol, Jason Cummings, all selected for friendlies in the lead up to the World Cup, but not Qualifiers (Thomas Deng was close, played one game as a sub at start of campaign before an injury, and Kye Rowles also in one game)
 
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grazorblade said:
Teague isn't far off. Call him up in an extended squad if he isn't ready so he at least doesn't play against us :D
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I'm really shocked at his potential Chinese allegiance.

He has been a product of our development system too. In China there are also sorts of issues with corruption - which has led to their massive underachievement.

Even though Teague has considerable potential, I believe Thurgate, still only age 24, is playing better than Teague ATM in the same position.

Also, his MV teammate, Valadon, is a different type of player. More skilful and a playmaker - a potential midfield general. Teague's goal was superb last week against SFC though.

The other good central midfielders standing out for mine in the AL are Brattan (poor against Japan), Caceres and Jake Hollman. These make up 6 central midfielders, who lean towards DMs, or in Thurgate's and Hollman's cases, they can be box to box.

Atkinson is progressing quickly as a central midfielder too.
 
mkxx said:
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Next window of qualification id rather have a guy who's scoring regularly in an A League than guys who barely score for their club like Duke or Yengi.

In short period 2 games I think confidence is more important. Good example is Duke who came back to national team and forgot how to score a goal.
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Thanks for putting this up.

It would be good if Borrello, as incumbent Socceroo striker, had scored more.

I think Taggart has had inadequate service.

ATM Milanovic has lost his earlier season scoring form.

The more I watch Drew, he is good around the pen box ATM, and has created assists, but it is better to look at players' potential assists - if strikers fluff good balls played to them.

Drew doesn't beat players 1v1 as much as wingers should, given it is part of the job description.
 
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Off topic, but worth posing the question… could the tariff wars between the USA, Canada and Mexico cause problems for the upcoming world cup? We are only 16 months away.

And will the animosity towards the Trump administration outside of the USA be a disincentive for fans not to travel, especially to games within the USA?

Personally, I’ve put a line though travelling to this.
 
FeedTheBrox said:
Off topic, but worth posing the question… could the tariff wars between the USA, Canada and Mexico cause problems for the upcoming world cup? We are only 16 months away.

And will the animosity towards the Trump administration outside of the USA be a disincentive for fans not to travel, especially to games within the USA?

Personally, I’ve put a line though travelling to this.
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sports.yahoo.com

The 2026 World Cup will attract millions of foreign fans. Will the U.S. grant them visas?

The 2026 World Cup faces challenges as stringent U.S. visa policies and long wait times threaten to hinder global fan attendance.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com

Posed this very same question ijn the WC thread.... its a worry.
 
FeedTheBrox said:
Off topic, but worth posing the question… could the tariff wars between the USA, Canada and Mexico cause problems for the upcoming world cup? We are only 16 months away.

And will the animosity towards the Trump administration outside of the USA be a disincentive for fans not to travel, especially to games within the USA?

Personally, I’ve put a line though travelling to this.
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Good question?
 
FeedTheBrox said:
Off topic, but worth posing the question… could the tariff wars between the USA, Canada and Mexico cause problems for the upcoming world cup? We are only 16 months away.

And will the animosity towards the Trump administration outside of the USA be a disincentive for fans not to travel, especially to games within the USA?

Personally, I’ve put a line though travelling to this.
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There may be a few people who would like to watch their nation play but won't be able to get a Visa in time. That doesn't apply to us at the moment but who knows.
 
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