Decentric said:

No way I would fail to attend a farewell Socceroo game in my home town ( albeit it being easy to get around) based on those criteria. My wife, who isn't really a football fan like most ostensibly are on G and G, would have been really keen to attend live Socceroos or Matildas games too.

What was the cost of tickets? Maximum? Minimum?

Enjoyed the game immensely - and it would have been better live. Loved the 2 live match reports from G and G members at the game.

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mate - knowing the game sched months in advance there is no excuse booking game ticks (cheap $70 high $120) and early pre booking cheap virgin/Jetstar/Rex return flights around $50/70 each way.
I know you have concerns not having the ironing done Plus your a ev owner I read - cashed up due to our tax funded rebates and very low running cost.
No excuse D - melb is just up the road/sky and back.

rebelliousfeminist974 said:

With Italy failing to qualify for yet another World Cup I think Volpato and Antonio Arena would be better off jumping ship to Football Australia from the Italian football federation and committing to pulling on the green and gold jersey for life if they want to play in at least one World Cup over the course of their careers.

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Agree 100%!

And just looking at the WC groups, I think Greece have failed again to qualify for a WC, where Triantis pledged allegiance.

The question needs to be asked? Is it worth Aussies playing in UEFA leagues where their national teams constantly fail to qualify for WCs?

Scotland have at last qualified for a WC.

Is there a cogent argument the Greek and Italian national teams fail under big match pressure? That their domestic leagues don't instil them with sufficient mental strength to win big games?

There is also an argument that Aus has more experienced big game players at international tournaments than Greece and Italy, who are enticing Aus dual nationals to play for them.

Aus could be a more cohesive team unit, with greater mental strength and better team morale. Having to travel so much and play in unfamiliar conditions in Asia, must really toughen a team up mentally.

It is a bit sad for football supporters in Aus who pledge allegiance to Italy and Greece over the Roos and Matildas.

My wife just read out an article in the New York Times evaluating the Aus WC group, claiming we will finish last. What they don't account for, is constant World Cup experience for Aus.

Also, in the last Qatar WC a Danish Tech Dir of a big Copenhagen club was really worried about Den playing Aus. He said Aus had played twice as many WCQ games as Denmark in qualifying for Qatar and were a far more battle hardened team unit. And that Aussies who played in Denmark were very strong mentally, and worked very hard for the team unit.

The Cameroon coach, after complaining about substitutions, said Aus are a very good team unit, who he expected to do well in the World Cup.

Ditto the Argentinian national team coach, Messi and their keeper. They said they were lucky to beat a quality team like Aus, but teams of the the Socceroo qual have to be expected at WCs.

USA and Turkey have missed out on WCs. Forgotten our other opponent? Aus could have more players with WC experience than the opposition.

The Socceroos are also aware they will have to play very well to beat anyone in any WC. Team unity is paramount.

rebelliousfeminist974 said:

Our other group D opponents are Paraguay, who have failed to qualify for the past three editions of the World Cup prior to this cycle and were last in the tournament in 2010, where they made the quarterfinals.

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Thanks, RF.

It makes Aus the most experienced team in the group at WCs. Turkey haven't been for years. The USA failed to qualify for a WC a few WC comps ago too.

Decentric said:

It is a bit sad for football supporters in Aus who pledge allegiance to Italy and Greece over the Roos and Matildas.

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I’m yet to meet an Aussie women’s football fan doesn’t support the Tillies to be honest. But yeah it’s quite sad that people are picking their parents’ and grandparents’ countries over their own. I can’t see a rational argument for it, if we’re all supporting our heritage countries then every Socceroos fan would be Indigenous.

Decentric said:

Thanks, RF.

It makes Aus the most experienced team in the group at WCs. Turkey haven't been for years. The USA failed to qualify for a WC a few WC comps ago too.

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The USA only missed the World Cup in 2018. Before that the last time was 1986 (the end of the 32-year qualification drought).

HonestSpursFan said:

I’m yet to meet an Aussie women’s football fan doesn’t support the Tillies to be honest. But yeah it’s quite sad that people are picking their parents’ and grandparents’ countries over their own. I can’t see a rational argument for it, if we’re all supporting our heritage countries then every Socceroos fan would be Indigenous.

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I know some support a foreign country and Aus second.

One thing that helps the Aus team is lack of media pressure.

That is because there is little interest! There has been ABC TV media coverage for the Tillies and Socceroo home games, more for the former, but less than AFL players being suspended, etc!

HonestSpursFan said:

The USA only missed the World Cup in 2018. Before that the last time was 1986 (the end of the 32-year qualification drought).

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I was astonished they missed Russia.

rebelliousfeminist974 said:

With Italy failing to qualify for yet another World Cup I think Volpato and Antonio Arena would be better off jumping ship to Football Australia from the Italian football federation and committing to pulling on the green and gold jersey for life if they want to play in at least one World Cup over the course of their careers.

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Arena hasn't done any media but my read on Volpato is he just wants to play for Italy. If it was about world cups and making it he would have played for us. A lot of the talk about these guys looks at the pros and cons professionally of playing for each country. Very likely to make it to a WC for Aus, better career prospects for Italy etc.

But for Volpato, he straight up wants to play for Italy. That is really the crux of it. It's nice this will also help his career, but that isn't why he is doing it.

LFC said:

mate - knowing the game sched months in advance there is no excuse booking game ticks (cheap $70 high $120) and early pre booking cheap virgin/Jetstar/Rex return flights around $50/70 each way.
I know you have concerns not having the ironing done Plus your a ev owner I read - cashed up due to our tax funded rebates and very low running cost.
No excuse D - melb is just up the road/sky and back.

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I have travelled to Melbourne for a few Roo games, LFC.

I am a humble aged pensioner too, not as cashed up as I was.

Like the Socceroo games, but not staying in Melbourne. Wish they played them in Geelong.

Like I asked EZ, did you attend the Cameroon game, live, in Sydney? You don't have not doing the ironing as an excuse!

Quicky said:

If you buy 2x tickets that's $240 + food and travel. That's a lot for some people Decentric.

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That is a lot of money, Q.

For me too.

Football Aus is charging too much. I'm sure Test cricket tickets are cheaper. Then again I haven't bought any for 15 years because I've been a member.

Are there any cheaper tickets? I'm assuming with a worse view.

Decentric said:

I have travelled to Melbourne for a few Roo games, LFC.

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well done

Decentric said:

I am a humble aged pensioner too, not as cashed up as I was.

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cashed up maybe not but its not ott when preparing in advance

Decentric said:

Like the Socceroo games, but not staying in Melbourne. Wish they played them in Geelong.

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you should be feeling right at home in melb the home of many comrades

Decentric said:

Like I asked EZ, did you attend the Cameroon game, live, in Sydney? You don't have not doing the ironing as an excuse!

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No no more going to roo games having done so many a time, I'm done being deflated/frustrated - better off WatchFHome with the fam.
Funnily Mabil being called back in was my last gauntlet/straw pre Qatar warm ups vsing Japan @ Parramatta.
Always been wasteful/ineffective as far as I'm concerned, during that game he typically tried taking on 1 on 1's then 2 or 3 and always lost the ball over cooking it........
Sic of that wasteful Dumb football by a player of ours, he's not alone/worse I get no buzz watching so much possession in our own half and feck all shots towards goal..

Mate - I have no time to iron got better excuse's haha

Quicky said:

There were if you wanted to be looking around pole to see the game, and paying through your teeth for the privelege.

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Doubt all the cheap seats are vision inparred.
D $70 I saw......
People waste that much on take out - maccas, pokies etc......
The $20 buck entry was long gone and thats around semi pro entry give or take.
Seriously your in a modern day stand etc - how can you expect much less.
The smart goer eats before might I add - or buys extra snacks for the backpack.

Cunningstunt said:

Arena hasn't done any media but my read on Volpato is he just wants to play for Italy. If it was about world cups and making it he would have played for us. A lot of the talk about these guys looks at the pros and cons professionally of playing for each country. Very likely to make it to a WC for Aus, better career prospects for Italy etc.

But for Volpato, he straight up wants to play for Italy. That is really the crux of it. It's nice this will also help his career, but that isn't why he is doing it.

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Sometimes people pick other countries because of lifestyle, Italy is a beautiful place, sometimes it isn't even about the football. May explain Segacic's decision also.

erogenouszone said:

Sometimes people pick other countries because of lifestyle, Italy is a beautiful place, sometimes it isn't even about the football. May explain Segacic's decision also.

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yes I don't get the angst or persistant hypertheticals - even that Greece or Italy out of the cup.
They have their reasons (plus no one knows the facts) respect their decision plain and simple - like move the f on.

LFC said:

yes I don't get the angst or persistant hypertheticals - even that Greece or Italy out of the cup.
They have their reasons (plus no one knows the facts) respect their decision plain and simple - like move the f on.

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Its pretty obvious mate... Xenophobia is a dirty little secret that can be disguised as patriotism.