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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Quicky said:
It would have been nice to have Irankunda, Toure, Iredale or Stama in the squad. What was Popovic thinking leaving them in Europe.
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Hang on a minute you got Balard playing week in week out in Holland who's playing at that level and getting applauded
 
switters said:
Pretty much just looked like the same coaching style as Graham Arnold tonight. Extremely dull display. we lacked intensity and imagination going forward.
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It was different to Arnold. With him, we had no idea how to break teams down and everything was sluggish and slow, but we seemed more secure in possession and in defence. With Popa, we're all over the place and can barely string two passes together, but at least created a few genuine chances tonight.

I guess it's all the same in the end though. The outcome doesn't change. We can't score under either and we're always good to concede a silly One.
 
Well that was a fun second half. Lots of action. With the Saudi press lessening, it opened up more space and Australia looked better because of it. However, still a lack of real breakthrough play and finish. I was surprised it took so long to get Yengi on. It was odd seeing Caceres deployed as a winger, but he played really well when he got on the ball.

I was full yelling at the TV when Borrello had his break, god I wish it went into the net. How great was McGree's aerobatics too. He's still got it. I am devastated about the injury to Velupillay. He was once again a bright spark while he was on the park.

Saudi did not offer as much in attack in those late stages. But when they did get chances, they were good ones. There was def Bahrain gold coast vibes happening there near the end and when it went it I was devastated that it was happening all over again. Still unsure of the no goal decision but hey got to get the luck sometimes.

In the end 0-0 is a fair result and both teams have something to build on next week.
 
Saudi, australia, bahrain, indonesia and china have collectively played 25 games this round for just 18 goals

Goals are precious....
 
derider said:
It was different to Arnold. With him, we had no idea how to break teams down and everything was sluggish and slow, but we seemed more secure in possession and in defence. With Popa, we're all over the place and can barely string two passes together, but at least created a few genuine chances tonight.

I guess it's all the same in the end though. The outcome doesn't change. We can't score under either and we're always good to concede a silly One.
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It actually reminds me more of an ALM game than Arnold-ball
 
I think it's clear what Popa is doing, contrary to what was mentioned before. He is playing a very safe, trying to keep calm mentality. I don't mind the approach however it needs to complemented with the right players.

We can't have Duke doing it by himself. He needs someone feeding off him rather than two 10s behind him and we need a different body in the middle or allow McGree a bit more liberty with Luongo or Robertson alongside only one of Irvine or O'Neill. It's why the lack of an Irankunda, Toure, even Arzani is pretty damaging.

Backline could do with some tweaks but it's fine for now. May also have something to do with Irvine and O'Neill just not being proactive in carrying the ball or finding their man.

Going to be tricky to qualify directly now. Going to take avoiding a loss in Saudi and/or against Japan.
 
JM47 said:
I think it's clear what Popa is doing, contrary to what was mentioned before. He is playing a very safe, trying to keep calm mentality. I don't mind the approach however it needs to complemented with the right players.

We can't have Duke doing it by himself. He needs someone feeding off him rather than two 10s behind him and we need a different body in the middle or allow McGree a bit more liberty with Luongo or Robertson alongside only one of Irvine or O'Neill. It's why the lack of an Irankunda, Toure, even Arzani is pretty damaging.

Backline could do with some tweaks but it's fine for now. May also have something to do with Irvine and O'Neill just not being proactive in carrying the ball or finding their man.

Going to be tricky to qualify directly now. Going to take avoiding a loss in Saudi and/or against Japan.
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agreed, Duke by himself is not working. A number 10 or a second striker playing off him would be ideal.
 
Burgess got into arguments a few times with the Saudi's, he must of taken issue with something at some point in the game.
 
Volrath2002 said:
agreed, Duke by himself is not working. A number 10 or a second striker playing off him would be ideal.
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And just further to this I think you need an xfactor player in this system as your chances will be off scraps, quick breaks, shots from outside etc. I think it's why it worked with Velupillay a bit better as he could stretch Saudi a bit more than Hrustic and McGree could together. I think we missed Goodwin big time in that regard. He could have done it.
 
JM47 said:
I think it's clear what Popa is doing, contrary to what was mentioned before. He is playing a very safe, trying to keep calm mentality. I don't mind the approach however it needs to complemented with the right players.

We can't have Duke doing it by himself. He needs someone feeding off him rather than two 10s behind him and we need a different body in the middle or allow McGree a bit more liberty with Luongo or Robertson alongside only one of Irvine or O'Neill. It's why the lack of an Irankunda, Toure, even Arzani is pretty damaging.

Backline could do with some tweaks but it's fine for now. May also have something to do with Irvine and O'Neill just not being proactive in carrying the ball or finding their man.

Going to be tricky to qualify directly now. Going to take avoiding a loss in Saudi and/or against Japan.
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This.

I'd like to see this team:

-----------------------Gauci------------------------
----Geria---Souttar---Burgess---Bos---
---------------Luongo---Balard----------------
----------------------McGree---------------------
-------Irankunda------------Goodwin-------
-----------------------Toure------------------------
 
Put McGree, Borello and Irankunda as the front three and you would see a totally different game. Add Caceres as a starter for midfield creation (which he is very good at) since Popa put him in the squad and we will get some actual constructed attacks that have a dangerous conclusion.

Borello was one of the few attackers who could get in behind like he did. Start him and surround him with players who can pass and he would be creating chances as long as he was out there.

I don't want a Duke player to apply pressure and win the ball back - I want a goal scorer first and foremost. Pointless Duke doing something 'great' and getting the ball when nothing comes of it because we don't have an actual striker on the field.

Our chances were wasted all night. Miss hits, scuffed shots - I do not remember their keeper actually having to make a serious save.

Not the worst performance - and not an Arnie ball game. We tried to play attacking football but were not good enough at it for it to become real, sustained pressure. The Saudi defenders were extremely resilient, regardless of us getting a few opportunities to create a chance (most teams get opportunities and shots - we have opportunities to create chances and we usually stuff them up before we get to the shot part).

We do not appear to have a common intent when we play. Lots of players running into the same space and confusion in the tight moments.

A bit of a worry bringing the ball out when Gauci had the ball at this feet in open play and the camera shot showed 8 players, including Gauci, all standing flat footed. No movement by any of them. No drive, no purpose, no intent, no energy.

We could have done better even with the squad Popa picked - but he did not play his game winners all together. And bringing Behich on to kill the game off? Nooooooooooo!

Hope Mono enjoyed the ballet FFS.
 
RIMB said:
Put McGree, Borello and Irankunda as the front three and you would see a totally different game. Add Caceres as a starter for midfield creation (which he is very good at) since Popa put him in the squad and we will get some actual constructed attacks that have a dangerous conclusion.

Borello was one of the few attackers who could get in behind like he did. Start him and surround him with players who can pass and he would be creating chances as long as he was out there.

I don't want a Duke player to apply pressure and win the ball back - I want a goal scorer first and foremost. Pointless Duke doing something 'great' and getting the ball when nothing comes of it because we don't have an actual striker on the field.

Our chances were wasted all night. Miss hits, scuffed shots - I do not remember their keeper actually having to make a serious save.

Not the worst performance - and not an Arnie ball game. We tried to play attacking football but were not good enough at it for it to become real, sustained pressure. The Saudi defenders were extremely resilient, regardless of us getting a few opportunities to create a chance (most teams get opportunities and shots - we have opportunities to create chances and we usually stuff them up before we get to the shot part).

We do not appear to have a common intent when we play. Lots of players running into the same space and confusion in the tight moments.

A bit of a worry bringing the ball out when Gaucci had the ball at this feet in open play and the camera shot showed 8 players, including Gaucci, all standing flat footed. No movement by any of them. No drive, no purpose, no intent, no energy.

We could have done better even with the squad Popa picked - but he did not play his game winners all together. And bringing Behich on to kill the game off? Nooooooooooo!

Hope Mono enjoyed the ballet FFS.
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I'm betting @Monoethnic Social Club got more entertainment than we did tonight.
 
Quicky said:
This.

I'd like to see this team:

-----------------------Gauci------------------------
----Geria---Souttar---Burgess---Bos---
---------------Luongo---Balard----------------
----------------------McGree---------------------
-------Irankunda------------Goodwin-------
-----------------------Toure------------------------
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Do you think Popa will change formation? he seems pretty set on this formation which is a back 5 most of the time.
 
All these points dropped in our group changes things. I hope China beat Bahrain but that puts them on equal points with us. Buffers won't exist at this rate.
 
JS96 said:
All these points dropped in our group changes things. I hope China beat Bahrain but that puts them on equal points with us. Buffers won't exist at this rate.
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oh it's all going down to the wire in this group for that second place behind Japan hahaha.
 
Volrath2002 said:
Do you think Popa will change formation? he seems pretty set on this formation which is a back 5 most of the time.
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Both arnie and popa have been willing to sacrifice attack for extra security against the counter
 
Volrath2002 said:
Well that was a fun second half. Lots of action. With the Saudi press lessening, it opened up more space and Australia looked better because of it. However, still a lack of real breakthrough play and finish. I was surprised it took so long to get Yengi on. It was odd seeing Caceres deployed as a winger, but he played really well when he got on the ball.

I was full yelling at the TV when Borrello had his break, god I wish it went into the net. How great was McGree's aerobatics too. He's still got it. I am devastated about the injury to Velupillay. He was once again a bright spark while he was on the park.

Saudi did not offer as much in attack in those late stages. But when they did get chances, they were good ones. There was def Bahrain gold coast vibes happening there near the end and when it went it I was devastated that it was happening all over again. Still unsure of the no goal decision but hey got to get the luck sometimes.

In the end 0-0 is a fair result and both teams have something to build on next week.
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If you look for the heel of the Saudi player running back onside at the moment it is kicked you will see the offside. He is then blocking the vision of the Gauci in an offside position. The deflection off a Socceroo does not cancel the offside since the shot was directly goal bound regardless of other issues like not playing at it or it being a reflex action.
 
Volrath2002 said:
Do you think Popa will change formation? he seems pretty set on this formation which is a back 5 most of the time.
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I honestly don't think he will now. I was hoping it was a temporary thing to settle the team and get a point vs Japan. I reckon its here to stay and thats a depressing thought.
 
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