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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

JS96 said:
In hindsight we needed the wingers and Borrello to move a lot more. Very static last night. Yazbek and McGree certainly shifted Japanese lines a bit more. Not exactly successful ht there was change. I felt the final 25 was managed well.
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From my view they looked incredibly narrow I think that was instruction from poppa which should of made it easier to win 2nd balls and play little 1 and 2s to get in behind but the japanese always had the numbers. They needed to be wider, but the defensive shape was clearly more important to Poppa.
 
The Saudi game would of been a really good game to test Bennie at RWB against decent opponent - we need options for next year. The kid is getting minutes in the rough and tumble of the CHP he should be fine at this level. I'm pissed he's not there.
 
JS96 said:
Still way too convenient for Popovic if someone grills him. He'll talk about getting a result and his system building. Personally I'd like to see congratulations given but then a really straight question of 'how are you going to address the diabolical display on the ball?'
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Its not his job to teach international players how to play football.

Do you think this group would've qualified under Ange?
 
Lupi said:
Its not his job to teach international players how to play football.

Do you think this group would've qualified under Ange?
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Most teams in AFC atm are pretty weak, fielding weak teams in qualifying would not of been heard of 10 or so years ago.
Ange -yes. GA - yes. The starting 11 last night, except for key positions defensively was pretty green.
I think TP did a thorough amount of research on the Japan opponent going in. It was 0-0 or pull a win somehow.
 
Lupi said:
Its not his job to teach international players how to play football.

Do you think this group would've qualified under Ange?
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I guess we'll never really be able to compare the two... Popavic may one day manage a team in Africa or North America but there is no way he is getting a gig in Europe or Asia... lets not even begin to laugh at EPL ..... Set one of your "bookmarks" if you like....
 
JS96 said:
Ha felt like Hill had an undertone of 'God this has been exhausting' when we scored. Glad he got one more big moment. One more game against Saudi for him. Contractually probably impossible but it'd be great to invite him for national team games.
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I wonder if he can just sit and enjoy a game.

Anyone done any commentary to tell if it affects the simple joy of watching?
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
I guess we'll never really be able to compare the two... Popavic may one day manage a team in Africa or North America but there is no way he is getting a gig in Europe or Asia... lets not even begin to laugh at EPL ..... Set one of your "bookmarks" if you like....
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I'm not saying he will and you're manufacturing an argument that has nothing to do with my point.

You know very well he did what was required to qualify that group (assuming they don't chuck it against the Saudis)... whereas Ange barely scraped through by the width of a goal post with a much stronger squad than this one, however its unlikely he'd have the flexibility to qualify with these donkeys.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Yeah physicality has crept into their game over the last 4-5 years.... I reckon it has a lot to do with more of their players playing in Europe.. Like Muz said, they arent bigger than our boys, just know how to dish it our more effectively maybe?
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I've gotta say though what a nice change it is to play against a side that shows some honour and respect, and don't simulate injuries like the Middle East teams do constantly.
 
JS96 said:
Still way too convenient for Popovic if someone grills him. He'll talk about getting a result and his system building. Personally I'd like to see congratulations given but then a really straight question of 'how are you going to address the diabolical display on the ball?'
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To be fair he addressed it in his post game press conference saying wasn't working out first half and made the changes
 
verrelli said:
I've gotta say though what a nice change it is to play against a side that shows some honour and respect, and don't simulate injuries like the Middle East teams do constantly.
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Just enjoyable there was no shit. Guess what? Saudi can't afford to do and shit house stuff this game so it should be good for us to play.
 
Midfielder said:
If we qualify next Wednesday it allows Popa to experiment with fringe players not selected for these two matches
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don't you think some playing last night were fringe players already :)

Some great valid points made by many the past number of pages since I was on last night.
D makes me giggle the most of his summaries got to say.
Despite the many other players who missed out as mentioned it one of the worst Roo games I have watched in a couple and more decades being owned by a JapB team lacking caps that didn't really need to win let alone lacked scoring boots but man they pressured 90% of our players who can't shield recieving a ball well let alone control it when under pressure barring moments now and then we strung a few pass's together.
The stand out exception is Circati - what a future And he's showing up in the Roo shirt unlike some other next big things the last couple of years and to date, Burgess/Degenak bravo you did your utter best and Thankyou.
Great lesson for Teague got hope for the kid.
Our improvements since the AL, 37% possession @ HOME vs JapB as mentioned not many caps, thats progress D omg, more like a good lesson which is fine when you win that late in the game unexpectedly.
Nothing like being the 90min bulgular, pleasant change for us thats for sure and takes away a heap of pressure next game.

Yes verrelli Japan have class on and off the pitch wish we had what their system provides.
 
JS96 said:
It's so ingrained. The back passing and resetting. If unnecessary it's so frustrating. We didn't have too many options forward but I felt we had such an obvious way. Unfortunately many teams do this in training so it's an automatic thing.

The same with the short goal kicks which are very dangerous. I was glad to see more long ones and the Boyle downward header came from a nudge from a long goal kick. We need to do that as we're decent in bouncy transition areas.

Big issue is we can currently only think one pass ahead. We need to get educated where we know someone is always going to be on the left flank or our striker will turn and go the moment a bit of ball is free in midfield. God, these are pros, we mastered such thinking as juniors. These guys are really dumb in a smarts sense.
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Especially to with Paul Okon there who was a beautiful passer and always one step ahead that hasn't been imprinted.
 
JS96 said:
Gauci turned it over against China too. Japan last night. I simply wish teams would stop this when they can't. You pay too dearly otherwise.

I feel every team get so wound up in training with the quick restarts that they forget it's game day and do the same negligent shit again and again. Dumb stuff. You see too it goes to a centre back a metre away, back to keeper, to wing and gets turned over. Just go long and then it over in a safe area then.
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I don't get it to sometimes when it's not on simple go the safe option.
 
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