I think you’re looking at the wrong rankings

Decentric said:

Interesting looking at the original post WC tournament rankings compared to FIFA.

Paraguay 34 for FIFA and 16 in WC end of tournament rankings.

They are mentally tough. They came back well from their USA thrashing.

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Paraguay are 34.

I’d suggest reading others posts in addition to writing your own posts?

Kitwally said:

FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking

See latest status of the FIFA-Coca Cola Men's World Ranking

inside.fifa.com

Paraguay are 34.

I’d suggest reading others posts in addition to writing your own posts?

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As is the case with most other things D comments on in this forum, he has little to no idea about the distinction between FIFA rankings and the World Cup placings. And what's worse is that he rarely tries to educate himself on anything before commenting.

Disappointing that we just came 22nd, but then drop a place. I guess there was at least one WC team ranked lower than us that massively over performed well knocking us down? Still I think we have a lot of unrealised potential

IMO you over state technical whizz kids......
Till any of these whizz kids prove it then I will eat my words and gladly at high levels.
I do not see it.
I need to see great one touch football played here game in game out, brilliant first touch/control when under pressure/retain ball give and above all "speed" with the mind playing 2 steps before the opponent.
Afterall the league is known as a development one, so how can you say whizz kids when in a uncompetitive league generally speaking.
Technical kidzzz is one thing, do it with touch/pace/composure/control/instinctively/natural.
Playing a lot of football reasonable level ? some are in League2's/Championship amongst other leagues right now.
We are Not near the qualities needed by a long shot barring 3/4 players.
We need over 15+ to cover every position + subs to cope.
In 4yrs time ? seriously, I consider we will do roughly the same unless we fall into a easy Grp.
Tell me what your view when/IF we played some of the major NT's (proper starting line ups and not friendlies) such as Netherlands/Norway/3Lions/Belguim/ Swiss/even Mex Columbia climbed 10 and 11 in rankings post Cup.
Don't go on of our friendly form for eg such as against the Mex pre cup, in a real game like they played against the 3Lions thats full blooded to judge your talent.
Friendly match's have a false perception for line ups are never true and much trial and error.
Imagine a real game against Morocco - all these games we'd be parking the BUS and struggle getting out of our half but for the few breakaway chances.

mate, its 2026 its got nothing to do what previous gens were like, I sure would expect they are better.
Were talking about the now and ahead and the type of players they are going to contest that are above them generally in Club and their NT we face ahead, again disregard warm up/friendlies.
All depends where they end up in the Club future next 4yrs And deliver and not on the pines.
Volpato/Circati/Bos/Metcalf are givens, one other escapes my mind - they are proven with more potential the rest I'll wait till they are in NT regularly and Delivering under the pressure cooker against finer faster players.
Natural progression younger ones replacing older players but more so we have had AVERAGE players since the retirements of the Rogics/Mooys etc......when Irvine for eg is a beacon for the last years something sure is missing, thankfully that time is up with all due respect.

The young ones also should have ability to read a game already/positioning though that varies, some are better than others - ofcourse experience comes with more games at high levels - all nothing new there.

Vickory/Sicluna/Jelacic for eg - need to get out of here and lets see what they deliver in more competitive comps not the bloody AL.
Why do you think Arzarni is here @ 27 and shining to you.

If what you mean by technique is efficient and precise control of the ball and body I think over time we have improved out of sight and that has to do with the original national curriculum and mandating SSGs. We don't tend to lack athletic options and probably never really have.

But these debates on Australian player selection and development always centre around these two factors (technique and athleticism/size/speed). Where I see a deficit is game IQ and temperament. They are treated as a third rank priority or not at all. As a young player and later as a coach I rarely ever dealt with elite coaches who treated the game as an intellectual exercise and a craft as well as a physical enterprise. Those that did tended to be some first generation mean old Balkan bastard or mad South American. I think we have lost some of that over time and it's not something particularly present in our elite thinking since the national curriculum.

Punchanello said:

If what you mean by technique is efficient and precise control of the ball and body I think over time we have improved out of sight and that has to do with the original national curriculum and mandating SSGs. We don't tend to lack athletic options and probably never really have.

But these debates on Australian player selection and development always centre around these two factors (technique and athleticism/size/speed). Where I see a deficit is game IQ and temperament. They are treated as a third rank priority or not at all. As a young player and later as a coach I rarely ever dealt with elite coaches who treated the game as an intellectual exercise and a craft as well as a physical enterprise. Those that did tended to be some first generation mean old Balkan bastard or mad South American. I think we have lost some of that over time and it's not something particularly present in our elite thinking since the national curriculum.

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One of the things that determines what level a player will achieve is decision making, which fits under your game IQ category. Players with top level decision making ability, along with technique and athletic/physical ability, is what we should be trying to achieve with player development.