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World Cup 2026 Australia thread

JS96 said:
Famous last words but are Paraguay perhaps something of a fairer and more honourable South American team?

Uruguay and Argentina are insufferable. Brazil are in their bubble. Chile and Peru have their dirty tricks. Venezuela and Bolivia are perennial victims. Ecuador come across as more noble.
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You got to be kidding...
 
melbcityguy said:
I think O'Neil has taken baccus's spot Irvine is probably the other cm which isn't a lot of creativity
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Jackson Irvine at full fitness definitely will start as one of the centre midfielders for the Socceroos in the World Cup and probably Max Balard could take the other spot, with Aiden O'Neill or Ajdin Hrustic as differential options.
 
For about 65 I watched the usual negative stuff from us and I was about to switch off then the subs gave us light and completely changed the game.

It’s almost like Popa put a handbrake on them until someone said screw this we are 6th gear and gone full speed to end the night in a positive way.

The talent is there but we need a coach who can believe in the talent like we do and unless we go onto the knockout rounds again it’s going to one of those teams where we get frustrated for most of it and some how win and forget how it happened.
 
Once again the midfield for me is a big problem, O’Neill and Metcalfe are too risk adverse, the likes of Okon jr look alot better as he plays with purpose given he’s a single pivot with a good education.
Disappointed we didn’t see more of Robertson I thought it was a good opportunity to have play both him and Okon together and see if our midfield functions better given their technical levels.

Irvine is technically limited as a midfielder, the current system needs a ball player next to him otherwise we will have similar problems with him in there.

I thought Hrustic played well, and of course looked how good Irankunda and Bos played, throw in Circati these 3 are our best players going into the World Cup.

Our defensive style or not we got some players that could do damage for us at the World Cup, I just have concerns Popa’s risk adverse style not just the system but what he chooses in terms of personnel might be our undoing when the stakes are high because we got a great opportunity to get out of the group with what we got.
 
I didn’t really expect to be saying this 3 months ago, but does Okon Jr start next to Irvine in the World Cup?

He’s come from absolutely nowhere, but every time I’ve seen him play for the Roos and for Sydney FC he just looks better than all the other options. His technique with ball at feet, his eye for a pass, and the way he uses his body is just sublime.
 
Toebash said:
I didn’t really expect to be saying this 3 months ago, but does Okon Jr start next to Irvine in the World Cup?

He’s come from absolutely nowhere, but every time I’ve seen him play for the Roos and for Sydney FC he just looks better than all the other options. His technique with ball at feet, his eye for a pass, and the way he uses his body is just sublime.
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No - he is too static before receiving the ball and is slow in defensive decision making - quicker on attacking decisions but as a DM/HM under pressure is not in my squad. He reminds of an early Milligan or an early Mooy - not the later versions. Give him 12 months and he is probably there.
 
patjennings said:
No - he is too static before receiving the ball and is slow in defensive decision making - quicker on attacking decisions but as a DM/HM under pressure is not in my squad. He reminds of an early Milligan or an early Mooy - not the later versions. Give him 12 months and he is probably there.
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Fair enough. Who would you start instead?
 
don't have exact dates but we'll get 3 separate batches of players to Florida and up to 35 or so. The wording is a bit tricky. We play Mexico the day after the squad needs to be submitted but FIFA will announce it the next day.
 
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