Socceroos vs Egypt - 2026 World Cup R32 - Sat 4th of July 4am AEST

[SocceroosFan84]

Toure is not up to the level.

He is but the coach played him out of position.

This result is all on Popa.

 

[SocceroosFan84]

 

[SocceroosFan84]

 

[SocceroosFan84]

 

[Hounddog]

“We had 3 of our better attacking players out and ultimately 3 others couldn't last 90 mins.”
Irankunda would last 90 if not expected to chase shadows all game.
Volpato could easily have lasted 90 but Popa didn’t want him and Hrustic on the field together.

Perhaps, but I didn't see a good option to start at striker instead of Irankunda. If we had that player, things would have been better, the guys that came off the bench didn't look like that player.

IMO a different coach would get similar results, except for Ange.

With Ange, results could have been a lot better, or a lot worse.

With enough talent all coaches look good, and without the talent all coaches look bad.

Sometimes a coach who is prepared to take more risks gets more rewards, and sometimes the high risk strategy blows up badly.

 

[jimshady]

I can sum the interview up for anyone who can’t be bothered watching

Journalist: “Insert question about a certain decision in the game”

Popa: “sure, maybe it didn’t work but if it did you’d be saying it was great”

 

[Hounddog]

He is but the coach played him out of position.

This result is all on Popa.

When he came off the bench, he looked ordinary.

What position should he have been playing?

 

[Villa Dan]

If only we took a little of Cabo Verde attitude in games and take the game on

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

If only we took a little of Cabo Verde attitude in games and take the game on

The Socceroos have definitely been lacking in fighting spirit and the never say die attitude we've had over the years is practically non-existent.

 

[derider]

Perhaps, but I didn't see a good option to start at striker instead of Irankunda. If we had that player, things would have been better, the guys that came off the bench didn't look like that player.

IMO a different coach would get similar results, except for Ange.

With Ange, results could have been a lot better, or a lot worse.

With enough talent all coaches look good, and without the talent all coaches look bad.

Sometimes a coach who is prepared to take more risks gets more rewards, and sometimes the high risk strategy blows up badly.

Start either Toure or Yengi at striker, Irankunda on the wing. It’s really not that hard. It worked against Turkey yet was immediately abandoned for some odd reason. Irankunda as the target man is absurd.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Irankunda as the target man is absurd.

Nestory Irankunda should not be playing as a target man given his lack of height and we'd be better suited having either Mo Toure or Tete Yengi as a striker instead.

 

[SocceroosFan84]

When he came off the bench, he looked ordinary.

What position should he have been playing?

Striker. Irankunda should've been kept on and moved to the right flank with Toure up front.

 

[Hounddog]

Start either Toure or Yengi at striker, Irankunda on the wing. It’s really not that hard. It worked against Turkey yet was immediately abandoned for some odd reason. Irankunda as the target man is absurd.

Ok fair enough, but I assume the coach had his reasons, I definately would prefer to play that way, if the striker was good enough.

Do you think we had more talent that Egypt or the US? I think both of those squads were way better than our squad.

 

[Hounddog]

All I am saying is, don't expect a change of coach to be a miracle cure for all of our problems, we need more talent.

I don't have an opinion on the coach, there might be better options.

 

[derider]

Ok fair enough, but I assume the coach had his reasons, I definately would prefer to play that way, if the striker was good enough.

Do you think we had more talent that Egypt or the US? I think both of those squads were way better than our squad.

I don’t think Egypt is more talented at all. Most of their players play in their domestic league and Salah is past it.

I also don’t think USA have a particularly great squad. They’re just playing at home and have a good coach. I certainly don’t think they are miles ahead of us as a team.

 

[NoMates]

Harrington cost us the game!

 

[DandyCasey]

So glad I decided to work today and not stew over Popa's tactics and decisions.

 

[SocceroosFan84]

Harrington cost us the game!

Nah, Popa's tactics cost us. Playing Irankunda up front instead of the right flank and Toure on the bench was a total nonsense.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Nah, Popa's tactics cost us. Playing Irankunda up front instead of the right flank and Toure on the bench was a total nonsense.

Mathew Ryan starting between the sticks for the penalty shootout after not getting game time for the Socceroos altogether throughout our World Cup campaign also failed miserably.

 

[Hounddog]

I don’t think Egypt is more talented at all. Most of their players play in their domestic league and Salah is past it.

I also don’t think USA have a particularly great squad. They’re just playing at home and have a good coach. I certainly don’t think they are miles ahead of us as a team.

The players Egypt brought on off the bench looked way better and far more skillful than our subs.

With a different coach, and a few different team selections, we might have done a bit better. But I saw nothing that inspired any great confidence in that outcome.

The good young players that we have are all good, we just don't currently have enough of them.