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World Cup 2026 Australia thread

grazorblade said:
we might use him in 2nd halves against tired legs. Seems to be the pattern so far

His height probably prevents the goal (since it was O'Niells man)
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I still think if Burgess was there it would be no goal - he would have got the ball, O'Neill and the Mexican. Herrington looked very solid for the rest of the game but I just can't help but think that would have been easily repelled if Burgess was there - he was too deferential to O'Neill.
 
patjennings said:
I still think if Burgess was there it would be no goal - he would have got the ball, O'Neill and the Mexican. Herrington looked very solid for the rest of the game but I just can't help but think that would have been easily repelled if Burgess was there - he was too deferential to O'Neill.
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the goal scorer was one of their shorter players and was marked by one of our mids with the main threats covered by souttar, irvine, herrington and circati. O'Niell misjudges the cross and races forward leaving his man
 
grazorblade said:
the goal scorer was one of their shorter players and was marked by one of our mids with the main threats covered by souttar, irvine, herrington and circati. O'Niell misjudges the cross and races forward leaving his man
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Look at it from behind, Herrington was static - and fairly isolated. Burgess would have attacked the ball and taken them all out.
 
patjennings said:
Look at it from behind, Herrington was static - and fairly isolated. Burgess would have attacked the ball and taken them all out.
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I disagree, Herrington was marking number 11 and in a line with circati and souttar, there is no way of anticipating O'Niell racing forward and leaving his man who was being man marked
 
grazorblade said:
I disagree, Herrington was marking number 11 and in a line with circati and souttar, there is no way of anticipating O'Niell racing forward and leaving his man who was being man marked
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I think that is proving my point. A player that has played every minute of a 46 game season isn't go to anticipate - he is going to see what is happening and take responsibility himself as he has done for Australia many times. Part of being a youngster in a squad and team is learning who you can trust. That will change in time with form and fitness but you are there for what you can do - not to defer to older players
 
patjennings said:
I think that is proving my point. A player that has played every minute of a 46 game season isn't go to anticipate - he is going to see what is happening and take responsibility himself as he has done for Australia many times. Part of being a youngster in a squad and team is learning who you can trust. That will change in time with form and fitness but you are there for what you can do - not to defer to older players
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Ill make a point to watch some old games to see if he does anticipate and join a dual if a player is already marked in a set piece situation

I think burgess has a pretty big error rate for the roos (not that he is a bad player, he is very good, but errors leading to goals or chances isnt something we have seen from herrington yet)
 
Quicky said:
Can we start Okon at the World Cup?

I don't trust him if I'm honest.

But equally those saying he's been one of our better mids are correct.

We looked our best v Mexico with some of his progressive passes.

Should we risk it?
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Probably not start yet but maybe in the future. He should play though, it’s stupid flying him in if he doesn’t get a single minute (since he’s not a goalie).
 
grazorblade said:
Ill make a point to watch some old games to see if he does anticipate and join a dual if a player is already marked in a set piece situation

I think burgess has a pretty big error rate for the roos (not that he is a bad player, he is very good, but errors leading to goals or chances isnt something we have seen from herrington yet)
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Probably worth noting that a club level hiis club plays a higher line and his lack of speed does not help. His role in the Socceroos his a lot simplers and he has less errors for country than club.
 
patjennings said:
Probably worth noting that a club level hiis club plays a higher line and his lack of speed does not help. His role in the Socceroos his a lot simplers and he has less errors for country than club.
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He has had quite a lot of errors for his country though, I'll go through it later when I have a chance but a lot of the goals we conceded in wcqs were from a mistake of his
 
German kicker Australia feature. Tight publication deadlines and the digital age is here but these magazines getting so much wrong make it redundant and misinformed.

I remember 2006 the news agencies had random European and American magazines with McKain starting for Australia.
 
JS96 said:
German kicker Australia feature. Tight publication deadlines and the digital age is here but these magazines getting so much wrong make it redundant and misinformed.

I remember 2006 the news agencies had random European and American magazines with McKain starting for Australia.
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hopefully a sign our opponents will be just as sloppy with their scouting
 
grazorblade said:
hopefully a sign our opponents will be just as sloppy with their scouting
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I doubt it but Poch has picked too very good sides for the team morale in Senegal and Germany. While Senegal are very good going forward they are not one of the best defensive sides. The same with Germany, their defence is in a state of transition.

They could actually go in with two wins and team morale high. However, neither prepares for the tough defences he will face in Group D. Still it was probably needed after the March window.
 
Popovic said the 4 omitted players will be heading home. I find it foolish in case an injury happens. They'd have to turn someone around. Rowles might be going to Australia or on a European holiday.

Trust Popovic to replace an injured player with someone not omitted from the 4 if it happens.
 
The other thing that worried me in the Mexico game was the drinks break. I was hanging out for it because we were under the pump and the break would have given Popovic the chance to reset - which he did when it eventually came in the 33rd minute. In the meantime we had already conceded after when the break should have been taken.

Now that is one thing that FIFA could crack down on and instruct the ref to make them very close to the 22:30 mark. Remember this was sold as a player welfare condition - that TV could use - not a TV break that the players could take a breather in.

But no - the decision is not theirs. It is the television producers. Now yesterday was a friendly and doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme. But imagine that in a group game - if the ref calls it when it is supposed to happen we rest and play better - just as we did after the break cam at the 33rd minute.

Now flip the script - had Australia been the one having Mexico under pressure do you think the the break would have come at 33 mins or would it be at the assigned time.

By abandoning a strict, objective clock rule, FIFA has essentially given broadcasters a "momentum switch." Whether it is used to bail out a television-friendly giant or to squeeze maximum viewership out of an attacking phase, the timing of the break is being weaponized to protect financial interests rather than sporting integrity.
 
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Exactly right. The whole welfare crap yet openly stating commercials can come too.

It takes the swing out of the game and we're going to have to use whatever bloody science there is to not let it affect us like tennis players do.

I welcome the rule change that keeper head injuries forbid players from talking to the coach.
 
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