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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Saudi need a lucky goal and an extra man to win. They missed so many golden chances too.

Crazy in group B that Iraq came back to make it 2:2 in Kuwait. Very late goals.
 
huddo said:
So a few things:

It's great to use a low defensive block if we can stop chances being created. We didn't. In the first 18 minutes, they had 2 high probability chances, we had none. You think more clinical teams won't take advantage of those situations?

To say it would be 5-2 takes away the knock on effects of a goal. They score, they park the bus, and were essentially trying to play 11 defenders. With only Caceres providing a playmakers option off the bench, so we wouldn't see him until atleast the second half

At the end of the day, I'm glad we got the win, but you'd be foolish to not look at the first 15 and not come to the conclusion we may have an issue if we go behind.
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Pretty much my view. The game could easily have been very different.

Pissed off Triantis didn't get on - hopefully against China. Gotta lock him in for starters.
 
Ryan was outstanding last night, 3 outstanding saves. Geez those first 10 mins got me really scared, but good to see us scoring goals.
Irvine lost the ball a few times, but he does a lot of work.
 
grazorblade said:
not necessarily, we conceded early against china. I also get the impression that their new coach is a tikki takka idealogue so probably they keep playing the same way if they take the lead

after a couple of defensive lapses early it was one way traffic in terms of genuine danger

I'd be curious to see how others feel after watching the replay. Definitely looked different on replay
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We didn't break down China's low block though. We had to rely on a deadball and millers head, and a thunder-cunt from St. Craig of Hindmarsh.
 
grazorblade said:
Half an hour into the replay and I think we are completely dominant to be honest

don't look at possession stats. Without the ball we rarely press high and we seem content to sit back unless there is a pressing trigger. I think the pressing trigger is if the goal keeper touches it - poppa must have identified that indonesia's goal keeper isn't safe with his feet or something. Then we will rush with a 5 man press and the other five denfending in our own half. We weren't even pressing up to the half way line, we were content to sit back in a deep block as they passed the ball round the back four

We also are very fast and positive with the ball. This means more mistakes and turnovers but also more chances

Despite Irvine's comments this is not a game plan where you get 70% possession, it is a game plan where you concede possession.

Miller and Geria very strong so far for different reasons. A lot of attacks start through geria and millers mobility and strength off the ball blunting indonesia is blunting them. Despite all indonesia's possession they are looking toothless whereas we look constantly dangerous.

Since they missed a penalty maybe a 5-2 score is fair, but it definitely looks like a flogging on the replay

I also missed on first viewing that taggart got the assist for vellupilay's goal with a very nice chip
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Very interesting obs, Grazor.

Live, the first 30 mins looked poor apart from the goals scored. Thought Geria won a lot of 1v1s - as usual. Interesting Miller comment.

Once I look at the replay, I'll record stats.
 
Robbos said:
Ryan was outstanding last night, 3 outstanding saves. Geez those first 10 mins got me really scared, but good to see us scoring goals.
Irvine lost the ball a few times, but he does a lot of work.
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Didn't realise how good those 3 saves were from Ryan until the replays of them.
 
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Mr Cleansheets said:
Pretty much my view. The game could easily have been very different.

Pissed off Triantis didn't get on - hopefully against China. Gotta lock him in for starters.
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I'm looking forward to seeing the new Triantis.

Gee, this forum has talked him up. ATM he sounds like the best player in Europe, just Popa doesn't know. LOL! Has he improved as much as the fans think? I've seen limited minutes.

This occurs from time to time.

Many years ago Rhys Williams was a fan favourite, who struggled to get a Socceroo game. When he did, he got about 4 caps.

ATM Robertson is another fan favourite, not to mention Volpato.

Then forums have Socceroo scapegoats. Jade North was one, and Brett Holman was until he started scoring goals.

Behich is another scapegoat for a few. Popa thought only he and Ryan had good all round games last night, apart from the scorers of goals. Ryan is another current scapegoat for a few too.
 
Thought Borrello was good last night.

He is like Duke, being so proficient at closing down space when they have the ball. He came close to scoring after some neat attacking interplay with Goodwin.

Also, Goodwin, who has played Left Back, is a better ball winner than Boyle, who gets knocked off his feet a lot. I was nervous when Boyle stepped up to take the pen, but it was perfect.

Thought our pen won in the Indo pen box was a ridiculous decision by the Dutch defender! Our conceded pen was a case of misjudgement by Burgess and Rowles tackling with the wrong foot. I feel like Rowles has stagnated for a few years, even regressing. He improved quickly at an early age, but has not stepped up since.

Can't wait to get Circati and Souttar back. Also, young CBs Trewin and Matthews are improving. Ditto Kikianis.
 
It might change when I watch the replay, but I wasn't convinced by Karacic at RB.

Bennie is looking really good from Aus u 20 performances as a future RB.
 
Forgive me for sounding all doom and gloom, but I'm still not optimistic about the Socceroos qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Sure, the 5-1 drubbing of Indonesia was a good result, which keeps us in second spot (for now), but the next three qualifiers are very hard games, China away, Saudi Arabia away, and Japan at home.

Anyone else feel the same way?
 
SR1968 said:
Forgive me for sounding all doom and gloom, but I'm still not optimistic about the Socceroos qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Sure, the 5-1 drubbing of Indonesia was a good result, which keeps us in second spot (for now), but the next three qualifiers are very hard games, China away, Saudi Arabia away, and Japan at home.

Anyone else feel the same way?
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Not really.

Should we get the win over China on Tuesday (or at least a point) and Japan beat Saudi we're in a very good position to either qualify directly or via the playoffs.

As is I'm not particularly concerned by the Japan game in Perth.as I wouldn't be particularly surprised if Japan send over a second string team as they'll have all but locked in qualification and the top spot if they beat Saudi on Tuesday.
 
SR1968 said:
Forgive me for sounding all doom and gloom, but I'm still not optimistic about the Socceroos qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Sure, the 5-1 drubbing of Indonesia was a good result, which keeps us in second spot (for now), but the next three qualifiers are very hard games, China away, Saudi Arabia away, and Japan at home.

Anyone else feel the same way?
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I do.

Three tough games to come. Grazor has seen much better things from watching the first 30 mins live, but from what Popa and Irvine said, they were frustrated with the lack of control of the game by Aus.

Even worse, last night I realised the Saudi game is on June 11th. I've lived in Kuwait, nearby. The heat is incredible. Riyadh, the Saudi capital averages about 41-43 degrees maxes then.

After watching a lot of Aus U20 and U23 games, plus the young guns in the AL, there are far better players emerging in Aus, but ATM they don't have enough experience. We are in a transitional stage, with the seniors at the right age 25-32, are barely good enough and we are short of quantity of quality. Asia has stepped up in standard, particularly tactically, but our players aged 26-32 are only just good enough.
 
Decentric said:
I'm looking forward to seeing the new Triantis.

Gee, this forum has talked him up. ATM he sounds like the best player in Europe, just Popa doesn't know. LOL! Has he improved as much as the fans think? I've seen limited minutes.

This occurs from time to time.

Many years ago Rhys Williams was a fan favourite, who struggled to get a Socceroo game. When he did, he got about 4 caps.

ATM Robertson is another fan favourite, not to mention Volpato.

Then forums have Socceroo scapegoats. Jade North was one, and Brett Holman was until he started scoring goals.

Behich is another scapegoat for a few. Popa thought only he and Ryan had good all round games last night, apart from the scorers of goals. Ryan is another current scapegoat for a few too.
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Behich isn't a 'scapegoat' - he has been a major stifling factor in our poor left sided attacking performances for sometime now. He regularly converted promising attacks into back passes, and he has a tendency to run into the space where our left forward player normally does their own best work but wouldn't pass to them when they looked to run into that space themselves.

I do not think a dislike of his influence on games over the last few years is an unfair criticism of him.

He has always been a bulldog in the defensive side of the ledger which is a positive.

Last night it looked to me like he had an unusual good all round game as has been noted by others. Good to see.

I would go so far as to say maybe his play up until now has been corrupted by the fear of losing that Arnie generated in the team and he has changed under Popa - but one good game does not a Summer make.

One thing though - it is necessary to mention the difference between Behich the poor game influencer and Behich the player who bleeds green and gold. Nothing questionable about his commitment or attitude to the shirt.
 
Decentric said:
I'm looking forward to seeing the new Triantis.

Gee, this forum has talked him up. ATM he sounds like the best player in Europe, just Popa doesn't know. LOL! Has he improved as much as the fans think? I've seen limited minutes.

This occurs from time to time.

Many years ago Rhys Williams was a fan favourite, who struggled to get a Socceroo game. When he did, he got about 4 caps.

ATM Robertson is another fan favourite, not to mention Volpato.

Then forums have Socceroo scapegoats. Jade North was one, and Brett Holman was until he started scoring goals.

Behich is another scapegoat for a few. Popa thought only he and Ryan had good all round games last night, apart from the scorers of goals. Ryan is another current scapegoat for a few too.
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In regards to Nectar, I think his promotion up the field at Hibs has unleashed a part of his game that was contained. He was always decent at running the ball up field with CCM, but his position in the backline meant he was restricted in when he could do it. Now he has less responsibilty to the back line

I see Robertson in the same vien as as Nisbet, and Caceres, actual ball distributing number 10's. Although I'm not on the hype train, I am interested to see if he can perform, noting his pedigree ( Man city trained, was instrumental in Portsmouth's promotion to Champ, helping carry Cardiff out of religation.

I don't see Behich as a scapegoat, but I do see him clogging up a position. Right now we have Bos and Farrell (when they are fit) coming through. Both are better than Behich, but Behich is kept around I take it for experience. I think the points valid. What isn't valid is Popa's substitutions 3 up, 4 up is the time to take of the old leg and try new blood, not Popa though. He'd rather put Degenek on, then trial Trewin.
 
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