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Socceroos vs Mexico/Switzerland - Pre-World Cup Friendlies 2026 🇦🇺🇲🇽🇨🇭

LFC said:
Robbos - world class is too high the bar lets say great talent that had vision/ability and touch such as mentioned.
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LFC, totally agree, we just don't produce those type of midfielders count them in one hand Bresc, Crino, Luongo, Rogic, Mooy, maybe start 2nd hand with Skoko, Cullina.
Just not in our DNA.
 
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Robbos said:
LFC, totally agree, we just don't produce those type of midfielders count them in one hand Bresc, Crino, Luongo, Rogic, Mooy, maybe start 2nd hand with Skoko, Cullina.
Just not in our DNA.
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I still rate this fella people don't mention enough but for his commentary bloopers ha
He had a game but for timing/Farina - he could have contributed a lot more for our Roos imo.
 
LFC said:
I still rate this fella people don't mention enough but for his commentary bloopers ha
He had a game but for timing/Farina - he could have contributed a lot more for our Roos imo.
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I remember watching this game live on TV where Zelic's amazing tight angle goal at the near post from virtually the by-line won us qualification for the Barcelona Olympics (1992) in an Oceania v UEFA play-off. The Dutch were understandably cocky, they'd won the Euros in 1988, and had new talent coming through like the de Boer brothers. First leg in Sydney finished 1-1, Tony Vidmar scoring for the Olyroos. Zelic's wonder goal in Utrecht came in the 117th minute of extra time, final score 2-2, and meant we went through on away goals rule. At the Barcelona Olympics we made the semis, finishing 4th.
Those were glory days for our underage teams. In 1991, the Young Socceroos (Mark Bosnich in goal) played hosts Portugal, the eventual winners, in the semi-final at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon in front of 119,000 fans. We lost the semi 1-0 to a Rui Costa goal. Paul Okon, Tony Popovic, Kevin Muscat, Steve Corica and Zeljko Kalac were also in that squad. We made the semis again (losing to England) in the next edition in 1993 held in Australia for a second consecutive fourth placed finish at an U20 Men's World Cup.
The other remarkable result for Australian men's football back then, and often forgotten, was at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which wasn't limited to U23 players. Frank Farina scored against Yugoslavia in a 1-0 group game win for us (coached by Yugoslav-Aussie mad dog Frank Arok). We finished 2nd in the group to Brazil, above Yugoslavia and Nigeria, and made the quarter-finals, where we lost 3-0 to the eventual winners, the Soviet Union. Anything can happen in football, go the Roos in 2026!
 
socceroosmad said:
I remember watching this game live on TV where Zelic's amazing tight angle goal at the near post from virtually the by-line won us qualification for the Barcelona Olympics (1992) in an Oceania v UEFA play-off. The Dutch were understandably cocky, they'd won the Euros in 1988, and had new talent coming through like the de Boer brothers. First leg in Sydney finished 1-1, Tony Vidmar scoring for the Olyroos. Zelic's wonder goal in Utrecht came in the 117th minute of extra time, final score 2-2, and meant we went through on away goals rule. At the Barcelona Olympics we made the semis, finishing 4th.
Those were glory days for our underage teams. In 1991, the Young Socceroos (Mark Bosnich in goal) played hosts Portugal, the eventual winners, in the semi-final at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon in front of 119,000 fans. We lost the semi 1-0 to a Rui Costa goal. Paul Okon, Tony Popovic, Kevin Muscat, Steve Corica and Zeljko Kalac were also in that squad. We made the semis again (losing to England) in the next edition in 1993 held in Australia for a second consecutive fourth placed finish at an U20 Men's World Cup.
The other remarkable result for Australian men's football back then, and often forgotten, was at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which wasn't limited to U23 players. Frank Farina scored against Yugoslavia in a 1-0 group game win for us (coached by Yugoslav-Aussie mad dog Frank Arok). We finished 2nd in the group to Brazil, above Yugoslavia and Nigeria, and made the quarter-finals, where we lost 3-0 to the eventual winners, the Soviet Union. Anything can happen in football, go the Roos in 2026!
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Mate ! great memory bank sir !
Not bad for a pack of semi pro Jnr's eh.
I enjoyed Neds play alot, that by line angled strike was hit sweet as and he put in some crackers from out the box as well over time.
He learnt @ Dortmund 1st season a UEFA final and Bundas Champ last season and carried on @ 1860.
Huge loss to our Roos back then imo.
Yep anything can happen in football - Sunday hanging out for it.
 
LFC said:
Mate ! great memory bank sir !
Not bad for a pack of semi pro Jnr's eh.
I enjoyed Neds play alot, that by line angled strike was hit sweet as and he put in some crackers from out the box as well over time.
He learnt @ Dortmund 1st season a UEFA final and Bundas Champ last season and carried on @ 1860.
Huge loss to our Roos back then imo.
Yep anything can happen in football - Sunday hanging out for it.
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Does anyone else remember "Mad Dog" Frank Arok? He was a total one-off, incredible passion for the Socceroos. Popa I'm sure has passion too but Arok was really the anti-Popovic!
 
socceroosmad said:
Does anyone else remember "Mad Dog" Frank Arok? He was a total one-off, incredible passion for the Socceroos. Popa I'm sure has passion too but Arok was really the anti-Popovic!
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ab sa bloody lutely !
Animated on the sideline, passion galore ! and a typical ethnic embracing Oz better than those born here in ways.
A leader, St George icon days, mentored heaps of our guys back then, Ange/GA/Dukes.
You mentioned the Seoul Olympics !
Improved our Roos heaps despite a coupe of WC quali failures :(
 
I know it is a bit late, but have just looked at the first 30 mins I missed in the Mexico game.

Aus were so languid in Squeezing. Apart from Toure energetically closing down defenders, Aus urged to maintain shape at all times.

Conversely , Mexico Squeezed Aus intensively in our attacking half, whilst Aus’s off the ball running to open passing lanes in support of the Aus ball carrier was listless.

Apart from Bos’s energetic forays, and Irvine sprinting back to cover a Mexican accelerated attack, once, most Roos jogged for the entire half. It must be Popa’s instructions!
 
Decentric said:
I know it is a bit late, but have just looked at the first 30 mins I missed in the Mexico game.

Aus were so languid in Squeezing. Apart from Toure energetically closing down defenders, Aus urged to maintain shape at all times.

Conversely , Mexico Squeezed Aus intensively in our attacking half, whilst Aus’s off the ball running to open passing lanes in support of the Aus ball carrier was listless.

Apart from Bos’s energetic forays, and Irvine sprinting back to cover a Mexican accelerated attack, once, most Roos jogged for the entire half. It must be Popa’s instructions!
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Keep shape, congest and conserve legs. Counter later. I think it's certainly Popovic's instructions.
 
Quicky said:
Keep shape, congest and conserve legs. Counter later. I think it's certainly Popovic's instructions.
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Second half all hell has broken loose!

Suddenly, Aus are Squeezing intensively on a number of occasions, plus more energetically supporting the ball carrier by more energetic running.

Mexico are struggling. They are hassling the ref, and are second to the ball. The ref is being lenient with them too.

Popa’s strategy works if it is 0-0 at half time.
 
Decentric said:
Second half all hell has broken loose!

Suddenly, Aus are Squeezing intensively on a number of occasions, plus more energetically supporting the ball carrier by more energetic running.

Mexico are struggling. They are hassling the ref, and are second to the ball. The ref is being lenient with them too.

Popa’s strategy works if it is 0-0 at half time.
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First half v Turkiye is going to be nerve wracking.
 
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