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Socceroos vs USA 2026 World Cup match thread 🇦🇺 🇺🇸

Souttar put his foot there and it's a shame he didn't block it.

Once the dust settles it's interesting how scrappy both goals were. I just can't believe we allowed them some much space down the line and the more you see it the worse the Burgess movement looks. Old reliable left boot but just so risky in that spot.
Herrington should have started. We picked our defensive wingers poorly. It didn't work.
 
Robertson is a passing playmaking 6/8 not a tricky dribbler W/SS. Hes decent dribbler dont get me wrong but hes in the luongo/ older Bresciano mould of player. The players i listed were all inside wingers, Shadow strikers or AMs (other than Dukes).
My dream future line up based off so far then (as in.. probably next World Cup onwards):

Beach
???? Circati Souttar Herrington Bos
Robertson Okon-Engstler
Volpato
???? Toure Irankunda


I'm not sold so much on the RB and RW - Could also see Volpato in the attacking ???? spot I listed, with Metcalfe taking that AM role. RB - as usual - our problem child. I do like Italiano, but... the rest of our backline just seems a class above.​
 
Frustrating was also the frantic panicked pace we had to chase the game. We ended up having Italiano and others just on tired legs and crossed and movement were more difficult.
 
My dream future line up based off so far then (as in.. probably next World Cup onwards):

Beach
???? Circati Souttar Herrington Bos
Robertson Okon-Engstler
Volpato
???? Toure Irankunda


I'm not sold so much on the RB and RW - Could also see Volpato in the attacking ???? spot I listed, with Metcalfe taking that AM role. RB - as usual - our problem child. I do like Italiano, but... the rest of our backline just seems a class above.​
Get Bennie in there 🤙
 
My dream future line up based off so far then (as in.. probably next World Cup onwards):

Beach
???? Circati Souttar Herrington Bos
Robertson Okon-Engstler
Volpato
???? Toure Irankunda


I'm not sold so much on the RB and RW - Could also see Volpato in the attacking ???? spot I listed, with Metcalfe taking that AM role. RB - as usual - our problem child. I do like Italiano, but... the rest of our backline just seems a class above.​
I think we've seen enough of how mobile the RWB role can be that Metcalfe should be listed there on paper and then just roams around. This type of role can provide link ups and overlaps.
 
Frustrating was also the frantic panicked pace we had to chase the game. We ended up having Italiano and others just on tired legs and crossed and movement were more difficult.
Once we went down we had to pull two players just to pivot our approach.

We were done because that decision to play Leckie and Velupillay didn't keep it 0-0 by half time.
 
Robertson is a passing playmaking 6/8 not a tricky dribbler W/SS. Hes decent dribbler dont get me wrong but hes in the luongo/ older Bresciano mould of player. The players i listed were all inside wingers, Shadow strikers or AMs (other than Dukes).
I've watched nearly every Robertson game he has played over the past couple years and his dribbling and ability on the ball is probably his best ability. He's a 8/10 type of player and regularly plays higher up the pitch for Cardiff, he's a scorer. Did the same for England youth teams, for Man City Youth and for Portsmouth. Don't get me wrong, Robertson's playmaking and passing is very strong too, particularly his passing. But his ability to absorb pressure on the ball is outstanding and much more similar to Volpato in that regard than McGree's ability on the ball.
 
Oh what could've been. We start Irankunda, Metcalfe and Herrington and look much better.

What I hate is the poor excuses from the coaching staff. Okon going on about the heat...
 
The problem with playing Leckie in this system is that his tendency is goto the outside given both his athleticism and technical ability (lackthereof). Also hes right footed. Meanwhile in the 343 system this occupies the space that the RWB (Italiano) should otherwise be overlapping into. Makes it easy for the oppisition to play against too as they can just squeeze the player out to the touchline. In this 343 system the 2 wingers need to function inside to fill the huge void between striker and the DMs and to open space for the RWB to overlap into. Leckie and Vellupulay are not these players, they are outside wingers, not proficient inside. Perhaps one of our wingers in this system being this type is ok but def not both.

With metcalfe and Irankunda they both were inverting onto their natural foot (left and right footed respectively). This gave a nice balance with the wingbacks coming on the outside.

Even leckie and Vellupilays levels and sqyad selection validity aside (not great the last 12 mths) they were the wrong tactical fit, leading to a completely disjointed performance.

Can see he brought them in to nullify USAs excellent fullbacks but FFS we already have 5 at the back and 2 dms, didnt need to go further defensive. Paid them WAY too much respect. They are good but not a powerhouse.

And we lost the excellent outlet of Irankunda's freakish pace on the counter. Psychologically also, as a socceroo id be deflated seeing my 2 goalscoring teammates from the game before not in the team.

Really poor decisions by popa on many fronts. Needs to be braver
 
Oh what could've been. We start Irankunda, Metcalfe and Herrington and look much better.

What I hate is the poor excuses from the coaching staff. Okon going on about the heat...
Yep even Poppa in his presser blamed everything but his tactics and lineup
 
Once we went down we had to pull two players just to pivot our approach.

We were done because that decision to play Leckie and Velupillay didn't keep it 0-0 by half time.
Had the plan worked for a level score on the hour it'd would've been a masterstroke. Neither inside forwards provided enough hold up or defensive coverage.

We really allowed the USA to have too much space to play the ball.
 
Unnecessary yellows also showed how poorly disciplined we were.
 
I'd go Robertson AM, Volpato RF, Bennie RWB, find another CM.
I'm sickened to be reminded how much more appropriate Bennie would've been starting yesterday. Workhorse and composure on the ball.
 
Had the plan worked for a level score on the hour it'd would've been a masterstroke. Neither inside forwards provided enough hold up or defensive coverage.

We really allowed the USA to have too much space to play the ball.
Wrong selection.
 
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