Socceroos vs Mexico/Switzerland - Pre-World Cup Friendlies 2026 🇦🇺🇲🇽🇨🇭

[Keeper66]

Haven’t seen many comments on here lauding the quality of the Swiss in the first 45 mins.

They were very good off the ball -and - with the ball. However, the penalty for so much intensive Squeezing is running out of gas at about 50-65 mins. The Swiss seemed to be less energetic after 45 mins, enabling Aus to play with the ball more easily.

I know that many of our journos are well trained as wordsmiths, but lack genuine football knowledge.

That Swiss journo talked about 1v1s, modes of pressing, playing a high line, culminating in a goal. None of ours know anything about these aspects of football.

A South American journo also asked Popa his perceptions of South American football - and - how far they can go? Popa displayed poise, grace, tact and knowledge, in answering.

Unlike many of our G and G comrades, both Arnie bashers and Popa bashers, I hope Popa stays on after the WC and continues the development of all the youth coming through.

I think he started with 8 under 25 years old against Switzerland. He also alluded to their experience or lack of - and - the quality leagues they play in.

A very sweeping statement, which I strongly suspect is not correct.

 

[Decentric]

With Popa’s selections I’ve thought watching Melb City a lot, particularly in the ACL, Behich is playing no better than Atkinson - and - not as well as Arzani and Younis.

Yet Behich played a lot better against the Swiss than I expected. He often read the mistakes his teammates made and covered. His runs to open passing lanes to support the ball carrier were well- timed.

Also, Souttar is a real asset for Aus. His qualities are easier to see though. He is a phenomenal header of the ball. He is probably the only Aussie player not part of the Aus development system.

 

[Decentric]

A very sweeping statement, which I strongly suspect is not correct.

List when Daniel Garb, David Weiner, Jake Rosengarten, Marco M, Joey Lynch, etc, use these terms in formulating questions to Socceroo, Matilda or AL coaches, if they hold press conferences?

I’ve never heard them.

If one hears Simon Kuper, Ralph Honigsten, Michael Cox, they do.

 

[Keeper66]

List when Daniel Garb, David Weiner, Jake Rosengarten, Marco M, Joey Lynch, etc, use these terms in formulating questions to Socceroo, Matilda or AL coaches, if they hold press conferences?

I’ve never heard them.

If one hears Simon Kuper, Ralph Honigsten, Michael Cox, they do.

Whether or not they ask them at press conferences isn't the issue. Your words were None of ours know anything about these aspects of football. I strongly suspect they do know something, and some of them possibly quite a lot, regardless of whether they refer to the terms at press conferences.

If you have originally said something along the lines of "you very rarely hear any of our journalists ask questions about those aspects at press conferences" I may have agreed with you. But that isn't what you stated.

 

[Pub League Champion]

First 20 minutes was pretty ugly given we’re supposed to be an ultra defensive team. Back three was destroyed.

The only time we’ve looked good in either game has been when both opposition teams subbed off most of their starters and disrupted their flow.

I am not full of hope and enthusiasm.

 

[Pub League Champion]

Trewin>Okon
Burgess>Herrington (for now)

If we have to rely on Degenek or Leckie at any point, we’re in trouble.

 

[Decentric]

Whether or not they ask them at press conferences isn't the issue. Your words were None of ours know anything about these aspects of football. I strongly suspect they do know something, and some of them possibly quite a lot, regardless of whether they refer to the terms at press conferences.

If you have originally said something along the lines of "you very rarely hear any of our journalists ask questions about those aspects at press conferences" I may have agreed with you. But that isn't what you stated.

If they don’t ask them at press conferences, and use them in their written articles, then I am not sure when they would use them?

Yet the former footballers/ coaches who are media pundits do all the time. In the Matildas game last night the female expert pundit described a facet of play occurring in the Attacking Transition.

 

[Decentric]

First 20 minutes was pretty ugly given we’re supposed to be an ultra defensive team. Back three was destroyed.

The only time we’ve looked good in either game has been when both opposition teams subbed off most of their starters and disrupted their flow.

I am not full of hope and enthusiasm.

I’m much more optimistic about the current Roos under Popa’s tutelage than many who post on here - but - they have a point about our consistent slow starts and poor first halves though.

Starting slowly is a constant pattern - except against Colombia.

 

[NicCarBel]

The result means that both the Socceroos and Matildas have now played out 1-1 draws with Switzerland in their most recent meetings with them.

same with Mexico too yeah? both same result

 

[NicCarBel]

I mean wasn't hit with with any force so idk wat the issue was.
I thought they were a bit more open minded in those Scandinavian nations

generally if it's hit with force, it's a red.

 

[tsf]

Very concerning that if you asked 100 people who Australia’s starting line up was you’d probably get a 100 different answers

 

[JS96]

Swiss media reaction is pissed off at their performance. Our goal almost shouldn't count given the diabolical positioning of their defence. A glitch that was.

 

[JS96]

FIFA+ has moved to DAZN, bringing you a new way to enjoy our football content. With more devices than ever before, you can continue watching live matches, documentaries and highlights on DAZN for free, with no subscription required.

Oh ok that's fine then. They're just using the dazn platform. The game was on dazn but I wasn't sure whether I was part of my package or in the FIFA plus section.

 

[JS96]

My thoughts on these games

Matt Ryan is still No 1 keeper but if he gets hurt we have good replacements.

I think our best 3 central defenders are Burgess, Soutar and Circati. We have reasonable cover here with Geria, Hetherington and Degenic.

Bos is our best left wing back but Behich provides good cover. Not sure how some here could call his performance poor.

Right wing back is a problem. Shame Miller got hurt. We miss him. Maybe give Geria a chance but I've no idea if they've trained with him there. Maybe Italiano remains the best option. I think Trewin is better elsewhere as one of the two defensive midfielders.

Assuming we go with two defensive midfielders I'm OK with Metcalfe and Irvine in those roles. Trewin can also be used here. We do have a lot of options and can put on players with a more attacking mindset during the game if needed but I think Popovic starts defensive. Players like Devlin & Okon are more likely as subs later in the game. Not sure about O'Neil. I don't think he has been at his best in these friendlies.

Not sure what to call the next two spots. maybe attacking midfielders who can swing wide or sit behind the main striker. This is a spot where we can use subs as I expect them to be covering some ground and working very hard. Irankunda has shown some good periods of play and should start at least two of the games. Leckie hasn't shown a lot so far. I think his game time will be limited. Lets hope he makes a good contribution off the pitch. I would probably start with Irankunda and Mabil in those roles or maybe Metcalfe if he doesn't play in the central defensive midfield role. Volpato and Villupilay look more like substitutes to me coming on when the defense is a bit more tired.

I thought Yengi made a good fist of target man today but I would still start Toure ahead of him.

Behich did very little that shows how much experience he has. Devoid of ideas and just stuck in his area. Anyone fresh and willing would fight for the start instead of his complacent manner.

We don't miss Miller. He's not a footballer. He also gets rounded and generally fouls the opponent.

The sooner we get rid of the technically inept the better.

Toure tried really hard off the bench so that Yengi goal has given him some competition.

 

[JS96]

Thanks for posting!

Consummate media conference by Popa.

The Swiss journo knows a lot more about football than Aus journos! Insightful question from him.

I don’t mean specialist pundits who are former pros, like Brosque, McBreen, Wilko, Harper, Slater, Grace Gill, Kelland- Knight, Chloe Logarzo RR al, but the ones who write in print - Daniel Garb, David Weiner, Peacock, etc, devoid of a serious pro background in playing/ coaching.

The group think by our former players in broadcasting is insufferable. Everything was good with a few areas to improve on. It's all about the studio vibes. Check out Rudi Völler going nuts after an Iceland game 25 years ago.

 

[JS96]

Did notice in warm up O'Neill just didn't look his happy usual self I'm not saying he didn't want to play but I think he didn't want to start knowing he's not 100% I guess popa just going to keep trying him in hope.

He looks like he's got a bug and fitness issues. This post injury rebuild is taking time. I hope the start was to get him over that threshold but he's just not delivering to an acceptable level.

The moment Devlin came on the coverage increased and the communication was there. We're stuck with a very poor midfield at this tournament. Irvine complacent, Okon timid, Leckie finished, O'Neill sick.

If we had Balard and Robertson we'd be so much better. I'd even put Hrustic and Metcalfe in there over O'Neill.

 

[RIMB]

Very concerning that if you asked 100 people who Australia’s starting line up was you’d probably get a 100 different answers

The worrying thing is they may all be correct under Popa .

 

[JS96]

Very concerning that if you asked 100 people who Australia’s starting line up was you’d probably get a 100 different answers

If you check the Turkey thread line up selector tool, there's reasonable consensus. Of 14 submitted teams only 1 chose O'Neill so that's very telling.

 

[RIMB]

Trewin>Okon
Burgess>Herrington (for now)

If we have to rely on Degenek or Leckie at any point, we’re in trouble.

I am a very big Herrington fan, but I have noticed that he tends to drop back further than his teammates early when danger looms and exposes our wider defensive players to attackers getting behind them legally.

It suggests to me that he has played a lot as the one defender keeping his side safe, but that can damage an otherwise resilient defence against quality opposition at higher levels.

I have always thought you want your backline in a line together so everyone knows where offside is and they all trust one another to hold.

 

[JS96]

List when Daniel Garb, David Weiner, Jake Rosengarten, Marco M, Joey Lynch, etc, use these terms in formulating questions to Socceroo, Matilda or AL coaches, if they hold press conferences?

I’ve never heard them.

If one hears Simon Kuper, Ralph Honigsten, Michael Cox, they do.

There's certainly a difference in understanding of the game as you say but just because people have coaching badges and experience doesn't necessarily make them competent. There are a lot of poor coaches out there too.