This would be incredible if it comes to fruition. Sporting are a winger factory. Rui Borges is a great up and coming manager. Trincão has just left for Saudi and Quenda I believe is leaving for Chelsea so there’s a genuine opening in that squad for Nestor.

I think you’re talking about Cambiaso’s goal against Serbia/Montenegro (at that time). Pékerman was the manager that day. One of my fav’s.

Very good post this. From reading the papers in Argentina, I feel as though regardless of the result and the approach, there is a huge amount of love for the Selección because of Messi and what they did 4 years ago. I don't think Argentina are ready for a reckoning until Messi retires and...

Glad this shitfest of cronyism is over and we can now return to the bread & butter of football, being club football.

It helps to have a manager like Simeone to raise the valuation of the squad (including his son ;))

I'm not big on "IF" scenarios in football, but a world class front three would have put Argentina to bed in 90mins without needing a man down and extra time. The total domination from back to front was clear to see, Spain just don't have elite forwards. That's why they have a defensive...

Yeah everyone understands that re: possession is the best form of defence. Spain needed extra-time and a man down to beat a bunch of mid table dross built around a brilliant little guy pushing 40, after 68% possession and 20 shots. I think what that points too is Spain's front three are mid...

I’m sure many people would disagree with my opinion. I just think for all the resources they have, this reliance of false 9’s just makes hard work of it. They could be so much more ruthless. They beat 10 men. If Enzo stays on the field, that game goes to penalties, I have no doubt about it.

It’s a good thing Spain won but I personally do not like their football philosophy of essentially 11 highly technical midfielders across each position on the pitch. It’s also really boring to watch. WC finals are always cagey affairs for the most part, but Spain’s development system almost shot...

Oh did the donkey defender come striker miss another sitter?

Alcaraz is, I’m sorry.

This is what happens when you stop developing Raul, David Villa & Fernando Torres. Oyarzabal and heaven forbid Morino are nowhere near that class. Spain will still go on and win it now.

Is it just me or does is FIFA slowly releasing all the shit ideas they’re doing to the sport one by one:

Yeah so my argument isn't so much the result, rather the way we went about it. Approach/Style doesn't really have anything to do with the age of the player.

I'm unsure about this to be fair. We fielded the youngest starting XI in the tournament. Most of our players are nowhere near their peak. I think where their career takes them is still to be determined, but signs are we have a very good young crop of players, who some are finding their way to...

If money is the big issue which we know it is then there’s very limited choice. Lee Carsley would be one out of left field. Probably wouldn’t cost a bomb and has worked extensively at both youth and National Team level with the English FA. Kasper Hjulmand might be gettable at similar money to...

I don’t think it’s cultural appropriation or inheritance. I think Poppa and Tuchel sing from the same hymn sheet in coaching philosophy. There’s nothing wrong with different styles, just how you read game state matters. Tuchel was a genius at the Azteca and a dunce in Atlanta.

I don’t think there’s one without one from my count. Only serious football countries win knockout games.

What’s his asking price do you think? He’s currently working for the JFA

Yes agree his second season didn’t end well, but he did take Benfica to back-to-back quarter finals in the Champions League. Don’t think they’ve managed to replicate that since he left.

They are my own views you melt

Are you AI generated because you seem to be malfunctioning

Sorry mate didn’t realise you were the guardian of the forum. I’ve spoken of Roger Schmidt multiple times already in seperate posts. I’ve expanded on the reasons why I think he would be a great fit as well as the pitfalls of falling into traps of employing ideologues or pragmatists. You’ve...

You accused me of derailing a thread, yet here you are talking about AI instead of addressing anything I contributed to the chat. Off you pop.

In what way is this AI slop? Play the ball, not the man.

If Football Australia is serious about taking the next step after this World Cup cycle, Roger Schmidt should be at the top of the shortlist. Not because he's the biggest name. Not because he's German. But because he's exactly the type of coach Australia has rarely had. For years we've bounced...

He had attacking legs to bring on though to pin Argentina back. Martinez and Romero were both on yellows. Instead he went to a back 5 and England just sat deeper giving up so much territory. I think Tuchel will also regret not bringing TAA & Palmer into the squad for these types of games. You...

England replaced with cowardice of Southgate with the cowardice of Tuchel. What did they think was going to happen? You only win world cups with bravery. Tuchel thought England were down to 10 men and playing against Mexico.

Tuchel-ball really is something isn’t it. This is what elite level Poppa-ball looks like.

Pretty much summarized Spain to a tee. If England make the final, I think their route to Victory is restricting any space for Rodri/Pedri to operate comfortably and forcing Spain into receiving the ball in wide areas.

Yeah exactly what I am thinking. WC going to become over-commodified garbage / slop.

I hope so

We really are going this direction aren’t we?

Tielemans to United for £35m seems like very good business. Good player, quite reliable and available, very experienced and provides a perfect balance with Bruno and Santos in MF. Going to be interesting to see how ManU go this year.

Archie Thompson’s record against Oceania would be seriously under threat.

Very fare comments.

Security, get this man out of the building please.

Important stepping stone for sure.

I’m looking at Milligan when I read this, but we wouldn’t dare would we? Post Asia Cup, results dependent.

I don't think England has had a player like Bellingham for a very long time, if ever. Then you've got Kane as well. Take those two out the team and I think you have a beatable Prem side. Kane & Bellingham take England to the elite level. If England do win the WC, those two would be my...

Can’t remember the last time all top 4 ranked teams were in the Semis.

I personally believe the World Cup needs England to win it. We’re in an era where club football is increasingly taking precedence over international football. England, as the biggest football market and home to the world’s most lucrative domestic league, is uniquely placed to give the...

I’ve seen a lot of pens given for less. Norway very fortunate.

The 48 team version has really hampered the momentum of the World Cup in my opinion. Something needs to be done at these governing bodies because there are just too many matches now in a regular season and the football is suffering for it.

Got to feel for Courtois

Putting Okon's assistant role aside for a moment, the fact is if his son was shit and being picked, you'd have an argument. However, statistically Okon-Engstler was one of our best players at the World Cup. Period. He got tracked by European clubs because of his age, his performances against...

Australia needs to rebuild its reputation first and its relationships with European clubs before it can really demand multi-million Euro transfer fees. I think with this crop it’s a good start, but need to do more.

Somewhere in Europe?

Good move this. Genuine opportunity for him to play this seasons. Not a lot of midfielders in that team who are similar to Okon stylistically. Rumours are Edson Alvarez is heading there but he’s more of an experienced destroyer.

If the rumours are true that a whole bevy of clubs are in for Herrington then of those mentioned I’d love to see him work under Maurizio Sarri at Atalanta just for the experience. I don’t think Herrington would ever get the chance to work with a manager like that ever again in his career...

Alternatively go the Villa route and throw all your eggs in the managerial basket and build the football department around that. I think it's time for Toon to move on from Eddie Howe. They have the money for an absolute elite level manager.

Strikers only performing marginally better than Central Midfielders is an interesting one.

Yeah PSR is hitting them hard. I reckon they'll have to revert to a Brighton model for a few years until they get the required revenue through the door. Not sure what they can do up in Newcastle for additional revenue streams.

Got to feel for Toon. In 2 seasons they are on track to lose Isak, Tonali & Guimarães. Something's not right there.

I think we need to unearth a combination of progressive passers and ball carriers in the number 6 & 8 positions. Okon seems to fit the mould pretty well as a progressive passer and O’Neil did well too in that role judging by the Opta Stats in the WC, but I’m yet to see an 8 who can pick up the...

Yeah I agree that there are far fewer dual nationals in those countries, I was more referring to the narrative of travel. Players from those countries seem to be (can't say I know first hand) less scruitised than Aussies when it comes to international travel.

I think that's true to a degree but there are plenty of federations with similar levels of revenue that are able to organise themselves better. The question is really how efficient is the FA with its money.

Not only that but Croatia A had a Croatia B agent planted in goal.

I'm very conflicted of reports Herrington is being pursued by Barca, as he will be going straight to Barca B in the fourth tier of Spanish football. Is that really progression from playing against adults in the MLS? I'd rather see Herrington develop at an Alkmaar, Freiburg or Genk before...

Good points Alex, I forgot about a lot of that. Football Australia also needs to stop treating dual-national recruitment as something that starts when a player is 18. Croatia, Italy and England are often tracking eligibility from U14–U16. Do we have a dedicated diaspora recruitment unit with...

Got to say I was conflicted when two Oceania countries faced each other in 2006, Graham Poll had a howler that evening.

I think it's a bit more nuanced than simply capping players earlier or clubs pressuring them not to play for Australia. Clubs can certainly influence players, particularly younger ones who are still establishing themselves, but I don't think that fully explains what's happening. If it did, then...

Have to say I really admire the Swiss. They're one of those European nations that consistently churn out solid players, despite the constraints they have compared to the superpower nations. Another country Australia should be drawing inspiration from. Lot's of lessons to be learnt from that...

Swiss are through, this really is Europe's cup.

Just when you thought the favours stop there for Argentina ;)

I think Guus taught us how to keep the ball, which till this day is still the best form of defense in the modern game and of course to be more cohesive on the pitch but that was all designed around possession.

Legend

Hearing they're going to spend big on Rafael Leao & Kroupi as well.

Beautifully put.

The difference to me is Blatter wasn't prepared to do irreversible damage to the actual game, the way Infantino gives two shits about.

The best thing Portugal could learn from Belgium is to get Martinez as far away from the NT as possible.

Onya Craig!

He's worse than Blatter in all honesty.

Europe really on top this WC, especially if Switzerland get past Colombia.

Infantino can shove that one up his bum

I swear De Ketelaere is the most Belgium thing going around.

Fuckin hell even Lukaku getting on the scoresheet. We sat down for this mob, embarrassing.

Where's Mike Grella?

Doku time!

I know, i was just referring to the hubris from the yank commentators who think the USMNT is tier 1

Better than Qatar at least.

Second tier? I've been told all WC the US have an easy path to the Semi finals.

Justice.

Game needs Doku

Has there ever been a manager that has fumbled seriously good squads like Martinez has? Is he going to fail upwards again?

Has Merrick won in court yet? I mean the whole thing was a balls up from the start. Is Heather Garriock still running the "technical department"?

Playing players in their correct positions and not taking off players who are in form/having a good game is a pretty decent start.

Sérgio Raimundo another option.

Tuchel man, well done!

There's truth to what you are saying, and poorer performances at the WC (ie under Ange) didn't end in a sacking. It's a shame that we could be wasting an Asia Cup with someone who may not be able to take us forward, but then again if it's until the end of the tournament then so be it. One of...

Well technically Bellingham won't be playing next game so there's that.

Tuchel bringing on Burn & Spence was a masterstroke. Completely nullified their right hand side and made it very difficult for Jiminez to get on the end of anything in the box.

Get In!

Got to say so far Tuchel has got all his subs absolutely spot on.

Brought to you by Sinaloa's finest.

I reckon the Mexico coach bottling it now. Too many subs.

Game of the cup for me so far. Unreal drama, A-league right at the centre of it.

Got to say, A-league ref having a worldy

Now the commentator saying this game is not done. Make up your mind you pommy twat 🤣

The commentators calling it game over in the 60th minute with 10 men is pretty out there.

Come on England, bury these cunts

Here comes a red

Wow Mexico really have had their chances to level it, will it come back to haunt them? Pickford playing out of his skin.

England have shown what kind of a paper tiger Mexico is. They will wilt under adversity. Even at the Azteca.

In a lot of ways, I wish this role was offered to Ange, but he's priced himself out of our league and there's probably too much bad blood between the FA and the big man. I think in a lot of ways, he is the right person to communicate the sort of footballing nation we want to be and how to piece...

Would have much preferred Ange being appointed National Technical Director than going to Al Nasr after reading that. Will have to watch the doco now.

On top of that managed by a Norwegian who pretty much honed his craft as a player and manager in the Northern European ecosystem.

To illustrate this point, this is how a combined 2002 & 2026 Brazil team should look like, bold for current players. Brazil have completely lost their attacking impetus and x-factor. 3-5-2 ------------------------------------------Alisson------------------------------------------------------...

When I think of modern football, two things come to mind: 1. Bodo Glimt's runs in Europe 2. Norway's player development and men's/women's National Teams They really are the zenith of where football is at right now. I think they lose out to Argentina, France & Spain purely on talent across the...

The battle of egos between Ange & Ronaldo is going to be fascinating.

He better make sure he’s out of the country when he does that. He’s going to have to play nicey-nicey with the media whilst he’s there though which will be new for him.

So does this thread now move to A.F.C.?

Never going to make it in a decent league if you can’t play 1 game a week.

If I’m being fair, we fielded one if not the youngest teams in the tournament and got to the knockouts again. Thats a feather in the cap, no doubt about it and the result against Turkey you’d take all day before we kicked off. But that’s where the positives stop for me. It’s been a downward...

A lot of talk will be on the penalties and it’s understandable. But everything after we scored up until the last kick of extra time is what needs to be put under the microscope.

One can only ascertain that there were a few competing forces at play. Ange wanted to get back onto the touchline, but the offers were thin on the ground as was the money. He’s taken another decent payday. My hunch is he makes a fist of it and becomes a NT coach somewhere in West Asia or he...

Can’t agree with that. Physically, yes we are powerful, but we don’t dominate Asia. The silverware at all levels speaks for itself.

In the lead up, listening to some of the interviews, it felt that way.

Every man and his dog knows Poppa set us up to hang on for dear life. It was fucking shit. I’d rather lose the way we did to Argentina than this backs-to-wall defending in the 6-yard box crap. We overhauled the national curriculum for this??

Yeah Ange would run this team into the ground. Both Ange & Poppa suffer from the same issue, very limited game-state awareness and preparedness.

This is probably the biggest one for me. We have a very talented young crop, including some who weren’t even at the WC. We can’t fuck this up. There needs to be an overhaul at NT level.

Trying not to lose is in essence Popavic’s style. I don’t know how people haven’t seen that in his coaching career.

Beach was really locked in wasn’t he.

It really was a mess wasn’t it. Felt like it was all improvised.

As hard as it would be to watch, he’d have all the players at his disposal to play his football.

There’s a part of it that all comes down to timing. Spurs were desperate. Two 17th finishes in a row with last season almost relegating them. They tried all different types of managers. De Zerbi would be in high demand because of how he’s got teams playing (not necessarily for winning...

Prepare yourself for more...

Fuck me dead Spurs really going for it in the transfer window so far. Van-Hecke Fernandes Tonali Senesi Robo They’re still toilet up front though with Richarlison and Solanke.

Didn’t know where to post this but it reads as a cautionary tale for our NT and development pathways to it. The intangibles should never be neglected. “determination, physical intensity, tactical flexibility, and the courage to develop complete fighters who can win the hard battles—while still...

fucked over by the new format

I'm sure there are rumours circulating about that but the truth is development isn't a straight line, many promising youngsters fail to make it and there are certain environments that are better suited to a profile of player than others. Would Volpato be the same player today IF one of WSW/SFC...