World Cup 2026 Australia thread

[JS96]

Imagine a better coach and a midfield with Yazbek, Balard and Robertson. We've got to get the better ball players in.

It's also time to expose Archie Goodwin.

 

[socceroosmad]

This doesn't seem to hurt as much as others. I feel we didn't leave it all out there. Some stupid lazy play. We had those very late chances with poor passes and movement.

It hurts because we could have been the Cabo Verde of the World Cup but the manager castrated our finest attackers

 

[patjennings]

The one everyone forgets so quick is Luongo. I know he's older but he'd be perfect in the double pivot because he is so well rounded defensively and with his passing.

Let him prove himself as recovered from his ACL first. I really expect him to be in the ALM this season

 

[socceroosmad]

Popovic in post-game presser talking about the lack of respect for Australia as a football nation. Schwarzer comes back and basically says you'll never gain the football world's respect if you come out to limit the opponent's chances rather than create your own.

 

[JS96]

Luongo has been a great footballer but just consider his age and condition. He won't be coming back sadly.

 

[Quicky]

Luongo has been a great footballer but just consider his age and condition. He won't be coming back sadly.

Luongo is a big what if for me this tournament. If he'd not been injured and was playing for Millwall the whole season, he could have changed our team. But I suspect he would've suffered from a case of the 'Robertsons' under Popovic.

 

[JS96]

Popovic sought something the enable a win and it worked against Turkey. While the USA was a different opponent why not revert to the most successful version against Egypt?

They left so much space behind. The game was a lot more conventional and out best combinations would've created chances.

 

[JS96]

While not scoring in open play since Turkey is bothersome. A bit of perspective. The USA game was a write off, we didn't need to score against Paraguay and had some chances while knockout football is also cautious. The Egypt game is the most frustrating as it was the most open.

 

[JS96]

Seeigg the Egypt flag ahead of ours on the grid will be forever haunting. That's what most pre tournament predictions looked like and the result of many Sims.

 

[melbcityguy]

Well life moves on we have friendlies with Brazil then the road to the Asian cup

It'll be good to see some of the lads getting moves from the world cup

 

[JS96]

I felt 20 years of penalties fortune was just going to come to an end. How I'd like to try it again with different takers and Beach.

 

[JS96]

I know it's about sportsmanship and goodwill but Toure and Yengi posing with Salah for photos soon after the game looking gleefully just shits me.

No doubt they're passionate about winning but just so soon after isn't the winning and focus mentality the best have.

 

[JS96]

Final Football diaries. What a time these two had. Remember we had a camp in Florida?

 

[HappyGuus]

 

[jas88]

I know we got the Asian Cup soon but I would argue the u23 one more important as we really need to make the Olympics we could have an unbelievable team and do some serious damage.

 

[grazorblade]

I know we got the Asian Cup soon but I would argue the u23 one more important as we really need to make the Olympics we could have an unbelievable team and do some serious damage.

Yeah olympic qualification is higher priority than asian cup win for me

 

[JS96]

I know we got the Asian Cup soon but I would argue the u23 one more important as we really need to make the Olympics we could have an unbelievable team and do some serious damage.

The Olympics aren't that valuable. I'd like to qualify but the problem is it's a side, less serious competition with a novelty amongst a much bigger event. The U20 world cup is bigger given the crucial age at getting scouted. The varied set o nations that qualify for this show the importance. There are some mainstays like France, Argentina and Japan but otherwise it's very mixed.

 

[JS96]

Yeah olympic qualification is higher priority than asian cup win for me

The Asian Cup is our confederation full international tournament. It's utmost priority we win this. At the same time the Olympic are a totally separate aged based thing where a mostly different set of players will feature.

 

[JS96]

The players have been in the spotlight for weeks so I get it's time for a rest and family but it all ends so abruptly and the fallout fades into the club season. Next we'll hear about it is in September.

 

[grazorblade]

The Asian Cup is our confederation full international tournament. It's utmost priority we win this. At the same time the Olympic are a totally separate aged based thing where a mostly different set of players will feature.

I get thats how i should feel but I am more eager to make the olympics to be honest