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Socceroos vs Cameroon/ Curaçao March 2026 🇦🇺🇨🇲🇨🇼

How should Australia do March?

  • European based camp

    Votes: 7 38.9%

  • North American based camp

    Votes: 6 33.3%

  • Australian based camp

    Votes: 4 22.2%

  • Middle Eastern based camp

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • Total voters
    18
patjennings said:
it's a no consequence game except for this trying to make the squad.
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yes agree - as much as we;d like our better/best players wrapped in cotton wool you still like regulars having real game time getting to know each other more and more.
In saying that who ever is on the pitch put in 110% and make a good game of it even though "friendlies" that what the games are for - preparation.
 
LFC said:
yes agree - as much as we;d like our better/best players wrapped in cotton wool you still like regulars having real game time getting to know each other more and more.
In saying that who ever is on the pitch put in 110% and make a good game of it even though "friendlies" that what the games are for - preparation.
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I think Popa has a difficult job selecting a squad.

Now Herrington has appeared from nowhere, there are so many choices in some areas of the pitch.

We also have a number of seasoned, experienced players, who have played Asian and WCs before and are aware of the big stage and very high pressure matches.

Then we have a plethora of young players aged 24/25 and even much younger, who have a much higher ceiling and are capable of improving very fast - even overtaking the senior pros in a short period of time - like 18yo Herrington.
 
Decentric said:
I think Popa has a difficult job selecting a squad.

Now Herrington has appeared from nowhere, there are so many choices in some areas of the pitch.

We also have a number of seasoned, experienced players, who have played Asian and WCs before and are aware of the big stage and very high pressure matches.

Then we have a plethora of young players aged 24/25 and even much younger, who have a much higher ceiling and are capable of improving very fast - even overtaking the senior pros in a short period of time - like 18yo Herrington.
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I'd say making selections for any NT is a challenge barring the obvious players who "own" their position barring injury.
Everything else you've expressed would be similar to all others as well.
 
The result of this next match is irrelevant.

The coaching team really need to be close to understanding who is in our optimal WC squad, and as such need to ensure all these guys get decent minutes in a game of heavy rotation

For me,
- What is the Herrington/Degenek/Geria/Rowles hierarchy assuming Souttar is available, leaving these guys fighting out 2-3 spots. Unfortunately seems too late for Karacic or Matthews
- Yazbek vs Balard. Only one of those guys is in camp, so need to see him. Can't see Trewin breaking in yet but worth a look in case
- Okon vs Robertson. Both need to see good minutes. Devlin would be a smokey now at best
- Suto/Juric/Mabil needs to be clearer, they will need to show they are at a level to provide more than Boyle/Hrustic
- To be fair, Nish probably should get minutes assuming he is in the squad to challenge for Duke's place

Limited or no minutes for Circati, Bos, McGree, Irankunda and Ryan.

Aside from the injured/rested players (Souttar, Irvine, Toure, Duke) I think only exceptional form or circumstances will see the likes of Kuol, Gauci/Glover or Bennie get a seat on the plane outside the players mentioned above.

Hopefully we see enough to answer some of these questions
 
I want to understand what Popovic has done to answer these questions.

1) How do you beat the 3 group D opponents?
2) What are the tactics you use against each opponent?
3) Who are the players you need for those tactics?
4) Who do you start for each opponent?
5) Who do you bring on to close a game down?
6) Who do you bring on if you are down and need points either a win or a draw.
7) Who are the chaos agents you use for a Hail Mary

Once he has answered these questions (because I can see he has a plan A - but plan B seems to be do plan A better) he can select the squad for the World Cup. This is not about squad selection - it is about tournament management.
 
patjennings said:
I want to understand what Popovic has done to answer these questions.

1) How do you beat the 3 group D opponents?
2) What are the tactics you use against each opponent?
3) Who are the players you need for those tactics?
4) Who do you start for each opponent?
5) Who do you bring on to close a game down?
6) Who do you bring on if you are down and need points either a win or a draw.
7) Who are the chaos agents you use for a Hail Mary
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Simple - PARK THE BUS's :) then bring on the smaller bus's...
Seriously patj 7 questions Popa would struggle to answer 1 x 1 :)
patjennings said:
Once he has answered these questions (because I can see he has a plan A - but plan B seems to be do plan A better) he can select the squad for the World Cup. This is not about squad selection - it is about tournament management.
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He will check Okon Snr/and Foxe's notes, nothing to see here Popa Plan A only.
Jedi is still trying to impose Ange's influence but shrugging his shoulders.
 
DDAVIES said:
The result of this next match is irrelevant.

The coaching team really need to be close to understanding who is in our optimal WC squad, and as such need to ensure all these guys get decent minutes in a game of heavy rotation

For me,
- What is the Herrington/Degenek/Geria/Rowles hierarchy assuming Souttar is available, leaving these guys fighting out 2-3 spots. Unfortunately seems too late for Karacic or Matthews
- Yazbek vs Balard. Only one of those guys is in camp, so need to see him. Can't see Trewin breaking in yet but worth a look in case
- Okon vs Robertson. Both need to see good minutes. Devlin would be a smokey now at best
- Suto/Juric/Mabil needs to be clearer, they will need to show they are at a level to provide more than Boyle/Hrustic
- To be fair, Nish probably should get minutes assuming he is in the squad to challenge for Duke's place

Limited or no minutes for Circati, Bos, McGree, Irankunda and Ryan.

Aside from the injured/rested players (Souttar, Irvine, Toure, Duke) I think only exceptional form or circumstances will see the likes of Kuol, Gauci/Glover or Bennie get a seat on the plane outside the players mentioned above.

Hopefully we see enough to answer some of these questions
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Agreed on Circati, Bos, McGree, Irankunda and Ryan - they are already "on the plane"

Two things I think I am at odds with everyone else's opinion are Herrington and Okon .. I didnt see anything there that warrants a spot at a World Cup.
 
erogenouszone said:
I'm not a fan of McGree to be honest, thought we were much better when he came off.
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Apart from the players under 25, I'm pretty sure he has been one of the most improved players in the team over 26 in a diverse skill set.

RMc has done a lot of good things against Cameroon, that are a bit harder to identify.

* Tracking runners off the ball, and negating them, as they received balls in dangerous areas.

* A lot of good second defender defending.

* Played the ball well under pressure, when receiving in tight spaces.

* Some brilliant use of space, when closing down in team Squeezing on the Aus left flank in the attacking third in Aus Ball Possession Opposition, along with Deni Juric. At times the 2 of them were stopping 4 Cameroon players from playing out. Amazing defending and utilisation of the perfect positions as a duo and part of a team game plan.

* Haven't done the Cameroon 1v1 stats yet, but McG has been a consistently good ball winner in other recent games for a forward against the opposition's best ball winners.

* Shows well off the ball in opening viable passing lanes.

* Good game sense.
 
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Monoethnic Social Club said:
Hes a cool head and can spot a pass... A little slow in transition but one of the few players willing to pass forward....
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I keep repeating this.

Players pass forward depending on the efficacy of their teammates opening viable passing lanes in more advanced positions.

There is a lot of probing involved to draw the opposition to move into space the team in possession wants them to occupy - hence leaving more desired space the opposing team player in BPO has just left.

Agree with you, Mono, that McG is a cool head and has good vision to see potential passes, or passes into space that he hopes teammates will read and anticipate.
 
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Decentric said:
Apart from the players under 25, I'm pretty sure he has been one of the most improved players in the team over 26 in a diverse skill set.

RMc has done a lot of good things against Cameroon, that are a bit harder to identify.

* Tracking runners off the ball, and negating them, as they received balls in dangerous areas.

* A lot of good second defender defending.

* Played the ball well under pressure, when receiving in tight spaces.

* Some brilliant use of space, when closing down in team Squeezing on the Aus left flank in the attacking third in Aus Ball Possession Opposition, along with Deni Juric. At times the 2 of them were stopping 4 Cameroon players from playing out. Amazing defending and utilisation of the perfect positions as a duo and part of a team game plan.

* Haven't done the Cameroon 1v1 stats yet, but McG has been a consistently good ball winner in other recent games for a forward against the opposition's best ball winners.

* Shows well off the ball in opening viable passing lanes.

* Good game sense.
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I''ve watched one or two football games in my life and I was at the game.

He's better off defending than in attack however I'm sure he'll be on the plane to yankee land.
 
I thought McGree was our most dangerous attacking player in the first half, and was let down by not having enough attacking options close to him. Juric was often too far away, as was Boyle who was also very poor after the first 5-10 minutes. And Metcalfe and especially O’Neill were often quite deep.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Two things I think I am at odds with everyone else's opinion are Herrington and Okon .. I didnt see anything there that warrants a spot at a World Cup.
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Most people you disagree with probably visit optometrists more regularly than you, Mono.

You are the only fan watching who didn’t see positives in Herrington’s performance.

Are you sure you’ve been watching the correct Herrington sibling?
 
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