U20 WC 2025 Australia match thread

[Sharkman84]

Italy play like a middle eastern team sometimes

Ankles made of Western Star butter.

 

[Jetsfan]

I thought we did OK, build up play was good, Bennie's finishing was terrible, should have had 2 goals. The Italian guy was sailing through the air when contact was made for the penalty, but they know how to milk it

 

[Spectator]

Believe this game was an opportunity missed by the Young Socceroos who created enough chances to win the game but failed to capitalise. I presume that there is no VAR for this tournament. An Australian player was clearly infringed just inside the box, yet the referee missed it.

 

[Jetsfan]

I think it's a hybrid system of VAR, each team can can appeal a decision twice per game, don't know why the Aussies didn't use one on the foul that you mention

 

[NicCarBel]

Forgive me if I'm wrong - but how many 'competitive' matches have we had against Italy in all age groups and genders?

I have 4 off the top of my head:

• 2000 Olympics (U23 Men's)
• 2006 FIFA World Cup (Men's)
• 2019 FIFA World Cup (Women's)
• 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup (Men's)

All 4 of these have ended with a 1 goal win for Italy..

 

[Paul01]

Yep the lack of sharpness probably didn’t help, can’t replicate friendly games and the odd aus cup game into a World Cup level play.

Pre-tournament friendly results
V Argentina U20 1-2
V Argentina U20 0-2
V Nigeria U20 1-3

 

[NoMates]

shambolic! Cant even see us beating Cuba at this rate.

 

[jas88]

Can't believe Bennie missed that sitter. Thought Hall made some good saves. But we can clearly get results at this tourney time to turn it around.

 

[Kitwally]

Pre-tournament friendly results
V Argentina U20 1-2
V Argentina U20 0-2
V Nigeria U20 1-3

Odd that they would play friendlies against the Argies when they are in the same group?!

 

[booney52]

Our system fails to focus on skills. Pace and power only takes to you to Entry, skills will take you to finals.
F**k the Dutch curriculum

I might be wrong but I thought the Dutch curriculum was all about skills.Apart from some diabolical passing our boys showed plenty of skill in their approach play .Finishing was poor but the Italians weren't much better

 

[NoMates]

Well that's the U20 world cup over and done with. Lets hope we can win the Fair play award!.

 

[NicCarBel]

I might be wrong but I thought the Dutch curriculum was all about skills.Apart from some diabolical passing our boys showed plenty of skill in their approach play .Finishing was poor but the Italians weren't much better

Finishing has always generally been poor across our teams, ever since the curriculum came in to effect.

 

[booney52]

Well that's the U20 world cup over and done with. Lets hope we can win the Fair play award!.

You are talking about the Kiwis I presume

 

[grazorblade]

Believe this game was an opportunity missed by the Young Socceroos who created enough chances to win the game but failed to capitalise. I presume that there is no VAR for this tournament. An Australian player was clearly infringed just inside the box, yet the referee missed it.

Coaches have 2 var decisions. So in principle we couldve reviewed it. Im skeptical though, i suspect the var rules that the initial infringement is outside the box. Often when i see a player fouled continuously like that they give a free rather than a pen even if the foul finishes inside the box

Agree it was an opportunity missed. I wonder if lack of world cup experience affected us. When you miss so many chances I suspect thats a mental prep problem. We also looked fatigued in the last 30 minutes, so perhaps the training loads were wrong? We havent been to a w for ages and probably the staff will have a lot to learn

 

[grazorblade]

Finishing has always generally been poor across our teams, ever since the curriculum came in to effect.

Thought its gotten better lately

Interestingly, this weakness has been conceded as far as i know. Apparently we underemphasized finishing by just having a strategy of striking the ball which included shooting, passing and crossing. Apparently this meant finishing was underemphasized, for one thing scoring goals is a lot more than just striking technique

 

[Barca4life]

Pre-tournament friendly results
V Argentina U20 1-2
V Argentina U20 0-2
V Nigeria U20 1-3

The Argentina game is going to be interesting given we play them next.

 

[Paul01]

The Argentina game is going to be interesting given we play them next.

They had one of their CB sent off in the 10th minute for a professional last man foul

 

[grazorblade]

I'll be honest I'm a bit worried about this tournament

winning the 3rd game is probably enough to get a 3rd placed spot, but we looked really unfit in the last 20 compared to the asian cup. I guess a lot of a league clubs are still in preseason but wouldve thought the camp wouldve gotten them there

Anyway, we might be gassed by the third game. I'm surprised we played 2 friendlies in the last week which could make fatigue worse

 

[NoMates]

I'll be honest I'm a bit worried about this tournament

winning the 3rd game is probably enough to get a 3rd placed spot, but we looked really unfit in the last 20 compared to the asian cup. I guess a lot of a league clubs are still in preseason but wouldve thought the camp wouldve gotten them there

Anyway, we might be gassed by the third game. I'm surprised we played 2 friendlies in the last week which could make fatigue worse

Its a big ask, but Argentina can be beaten. Ill settle for a draw but if we get lucky anything is possible.

 

[grazorblade]

Its a big ask, but Argentina can be beaten. Ill settle for a draw but if we get lucky anything is possible.

Italy looks like the game that got away. That first half really should've been ours...