Socceroos vs Cameroon/ Curaçao March 2026 🇦🇺🇨🇲🇨🇼

[grazorblade]

Funny thing when we gave Ange the role, Marcelo Bielsa had been very interested in the job.

Given what he did at Leeds and what he's now doing with Uruguay and his past work with Argentina and Chile that's a huge case of what might've been.

How well sourced was the rumour we could get bielsa?

 

[JS96]

I try to forget that game.

As I said posting the video in the archive, I happened to be there with a few then work colleagues from China, it was not a pleasant experience.

I was there. Horrible viewing. Thing is these days I'd like a few dead rubbers to try other players.

 

[Alex M]

I'm not blaming them for the crowds though - that first started under Pim with dead rubber against China where he picked nobodies.

That was our under 23 side which was picked to prepare them for the upcoming Olympics.

 

[JS96]

Herrington is an exceptional talent but someone like that coming in and also Geria with the professionalism is refreshing. Defence isn't our issue though. Juric actually wasn't as bad as some comments it was just he was isolated and not fed. We need to break up our friendly games into a set of mini challenges such as try to feed Juric 5 times in the first 15 min. Our practice games seem like ad hoc fitness runs when we should be breaking up the 90mins to try things and if they don't work we learn and adapt.

 

[JS96]

Bielsa sitting on an esky at Wembley so he's half way to coaching us!

 

[Sharkman84]

How well sourced was the rumour we could get bielsa?

According to this SMH article from 2019, Bielsa had expressed his desire to be the Socceroos boss and was disappointed the then FFA (now Football Australia) never approached him. Bittersweet for me now as I'm also a longtime Leeds fan and that allowed him to end up doing at Elland Road what many managers had failed to do since 2004, to get the club back into the Premier League.

Marcelo Bielsa puts his hand up to coach Socceroos

The Argentinian was at the top of FFA's shopping list immediately after Ange Postecoglou resigned in November 2017 but formal negotiations never eventuated.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Sharkman84]

Bielsa sitting on an esky at Wembley so he's half way to coaching us!

The image of him sitting on that esky is the stuff of legends in West Yorkshire.

 

[JS96]

Don't we pay some of the highest for national team manager in the world? It's a very lucrative gig.

 

[Cunningstunt]

Don't we pay some of the highest for national team manager in the world? It's a very lucrative gig.

No. Not compared to pl wages

 

[JS96]

No. Not compared to pl wages

I'm purely asking about national team managers. Club vs international football of course.

 

[grazorblade]

I'm purely asking about national team managers. Club vs international football of course.

I think even if thats the case the prestige is going to matter. I china or an oil league want an epl level player they probably have to pay more usually then an epl club

I suspect we would find the same, that we would have to overpay to get a top manager

 

[grazorblade]

Our nt is 650k pounds i believe. According to ai we are much cheaper

• Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil) — ~£8.3–9.5 million (€9.5 million)
  The clear top earner after taking the Brazil role in 2025.
  
• Thomas Tuchel (England) — ~£5.1–6.7 million (€5.9 million)
  High salary reflecting England's resources and expectations.
  
• Mauricio Pochettino (United States) — ~£4.2–5.5 million (€5.3 million; reports up to $6 million including bonuses)
  Significant investment by U.S. Soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
  
• Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) — ~£4.2–5.5 million (€4.9 million)
  Young, high-profile coach tasked with reviving Germany.
  
• Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan) / Roberto Martínez (Portugal) — ~£3.5 million (€4 million each)
  Cannavaro's deal with Uzbekistan stands out as an outlier for a less traditional powerhouse. Martínez has long been among the better-paid international coaches.
  
• Didier Deschamps (France) — ~£3.3–4.4 million (€3.8 million)
  Consistent earner tied to France's success and federation budget.
  
• Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) / Ronald Koeman (Netherlands) — ~£2.6–3.5 million (€3–3.5 million)
  Bielsa and Koeman command solid pay for their pedigrees.
  
• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) — ~£2–2.6 million (€2.3 million)
  World Cup-winning coach, though Argentina's federation pays relatively modestly compared to European heavyweights.
  
• Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay) and others (e.g., Ricardo Gareca for Chile in some older lists) — ~£2.2–2.6 million (€2.5–3.3 million)
  Mid-tier for competitive CONMEBOL or UEFA sides.
  
• Luis de la Fuente (Spain) — ~£1.74 million
  Lower than expected for a major European champion side, reflecting Spain's more modest federation spending on the coach.
  
• Hajime Moriyasu (Japan) — ~£872,000
  Among the lower end of well-known teams despite Japan's competitive status in Asia.

 

[JS96]

I think even if thats the case the prestige is going to matter. I china or an oil league want an epl level player they probably have to pay more usually then an epl club

I suspect we would find the same, that we would have to overpay to get a top manager

Oh to be on that Mancini Saudi pay. They're still paying him.

 

[JS96]

Very poor choice of stadium for last night. When I last went to Stadium Australia from the city I forgot how long it takes even with the express service. I know the other codes are on but it should've been at a rectangular ground.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I guess to argue with myself a bit....As much as the pragmatism isn't pretty, we have gotten on a decent run against that 2nd tier of nations (regulars at world cups, but not in the top 10)

Oponent	Result
Peru	0-0 (won on penalties)
Tunisia	1-0
Denmark	1-0
Equador	3-1
Equador	1-2
Mexico	2-2
New Zealand	2-0
South Korea	1-1 (lost in extra time)
Japan	1-1
Saudi Arabia	0-0
Japan	1-0
Saudi Arabia	2-1
New Zealand	1-0
New Zealand	3-1
Canada	1-0
Usa	1-2
Venezuala	0-1
Cameroon	1-0

10 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses, which is insane against world cup quality opponents

35 points from 18 games is insane string of results at this level.

In the period between 2012 and the peru game we had 18 games against 2nd tier opponents that i can find (might have missed some) for 4 wins and 5 draws and 9 losses for 17 points

So huge jump in recent years

Not to be that guy but *Ecuador.

 

[Decentric]

watching the replay

the first 10 minutes were excellent and metcalf, who i criticized, had 4 neat passes forward under pressure

After that we go through a period where every possession we only have a few passes because we are trying to get a killer ball straight away which leads to a period where cameroon are back in the game because they get to dominate possession for a while

then a lot of conservative backwards passing, probably to settle things

it feels like we need a general out there, we struggle to get the balance right either being too positive or too negative and there aren't a lot of periods of sustained attacking pressure in the first half from us

I've only read about 2 pages on G and G, but there are not many positive comments about the Roos last night.

Watching live, I thought the first half was mediocre from the Roos, apart from the sparkling debut of Herrington. Italiano was also lively on the right flank.

I was disappointed watching Juric live, and note JS96's comment than he was better than G and G have credited him. Poland is a decent league where he plays his club football. I will have a good, closer look at him on replay and compiling stats.

Was it more of a question of a malfunctioning midfield and attacking line? There were plenty of players playing in unfamiliar roles.

Also, observing your replay perceptions, Grazor, Metcalfe constantly does a lot of subtle, little things that are not easily identifiable live. However, I think he is better in a more attacking role, or, I thought Popa might try him as a wing back?

What impressed me was Cameroon's Squeezing. That is the level of inensity within the Press. Whether a team deploys a Full Press, Half Press, Partial Press.

Until the 60 -65 min mark, Cameroon applied such intense closing down to whichever Socceroo was on the ball. They hardly ever sat back and kept their defensive shape compact in Ball Possession Opposition. Cameroon really got on with the game, trying to attack and win it.

I thought the ref was very good too, apart from getting in the way of a few Socceroo key passing interplays! Where was he from?

At half time, I thought it was an insipid first 45 mins, but Aus's defensive shape was good.

I think in a few years we are going to have a very good team, if we can stop the dual nationals pledging allegiance elsewhere.

Agree with the pundit who suggested 18 yo old Herrington was best on ground! Not long ago he was 3rd or 4th choice Aus u20 CB.

We had a lot of younger players out there last night. The age 24 cohort and under was well represented. These are guys who have had 10 years in the new development system.

Also, Okon Jr looked good as a sub, when looking at him with SFC in the AL, wasn't sure he warranted selection?

Iran was dynamite. His pace and athleticism was superb, as was his skill. We desperately missed Mo Toure at 9, with Popa resorting to like a 3 winger attacking trio in the second half, devoid of a genuine number 9.

As Cameroon eased the Squeezing intensity a little in the second half, Aus was able to have more sustained periods in possession. The Cameroon coach, claimed Aus used too many subs, and had a fresher team. Maybe it was a factor?

 

[JS96]

Not to be that guy but *Ecuador.

That spelling is just a reminder that the equator runs through it. Navigational purposes.

 

[JS96]

I've only read about 2 pages on G and G, but there are not many positive comments about the Roos last night.

Watching live, I thought the first half was mediocre from the Roos, apart from the sparkling debut of Herrington. Italiano was also lively on the right flank.

I was disappointed watching Juric live, and note JS96's comment than he was better than G and G have credited him. Poland is a decent league where he plays his club football. I will have a good, closer look at him on replay and compiling stats.

Was it more of a question of a malfunctioning midfield and attacking line? There were plenty of players playing in unfamiliar roles.

Also, observing your replay perceptions, Grazor, Metcalfe constantly does a lot of subtle, little things that are not easily identifiable live. However, I think he is better in a more attacking role, or, I thought Popa might try him as a wing back?

What impressed me was Cameroon's Squeezing. That is the level of inensity within the Press. Whether a team deploys a Full Press, Half Press, Partial Press.

Until the 60 -65 min mark, Cameroon applied such intense closing down to whichever Socceroo was on the ball. They hardly ever sat back and kept their defensive shape compact in Ball Possession Opposition. Cameroon really got on with the game, trying to attack and win it.

I thought the ref was very good too, apart from getting in the way of a few Socceroo key passing interplays! Where was he from?

At half time, I thought it was an insipid first 45 mins, but Aus's defensive shape was good.

I think in a few years we are going to have a very good team, if we can stop the dual nationals pledging allegiance elsewhere.

Agree with the pundit who suggested 18 yo old Herrington was best on ground! Not long ago he was 3rd or 4th choice Aus u20 CB.

We had a lot of younger players out there last night. The age 24 cohort and under was well represented. These are guys who have had 10 years in the new development system.

Also, Okon Jr looked good as a sub, when looking at him with SFC in the AL, wasn't sure he warranted selection?

Iran was dynamite. His pace and athleticism was superb, as was his skill. We desperately missed Mo Toure at 9, with Popa resorting to like a 3 winger attacking trio in the second half, devoid of a genuine number 9.

As Cameroon eased the Squeezing intensity a little in the second half, Aus was able to have more sustained periods in possession. The Cameroon coach, claimed Aus used too many subs, and had a fresher team. Maybe it was a factor?

By no means did I think it was a mind blowing performance but I think many players had decent averages with firm balls and the amount of movement up and down the flanks, sprint starts and attempts to shift were appreciated. Much better than the Japan home game or the November friendlies.

Juric was isolated but had a couple of nice touches and runs in space so he's got to get another chance in the next game. Boyle looked alright the first 25min with his runs and passing. I think the entire team has to work on being greedy and going for the killer blow.

I'm glad attacking intent came from our defence.

Pausing many scenes our midfield didn't pass forward into space when opportunities were there. Our goal came from a slight deflection. We've got to keep playing it ahead so the defence can make an error or some other chance will be created

 

[JS96]

I think the inside forward role for trained wingers is tricky. They drifted at times to comfortable spaces but also had some good transition touches on the build up.

I've got to study the second half but Mabil looked fine and Irankunda created a lot.

 

[Decentric]

Herrington is an exceptional talent but someone like that coming in and also Geria with the professionalism is refreshing. Defence isn't our issue though. Juric actually wasn't as bad as some comments it was just he was isolated and not fed. We need to break up our friendly games into a set of mini challenges such as try to feed Juric 5 times in the first 15 min. Our practice games seem like ad hoc fitness runs when we should be breaking up the 90mins to try things and if they don't work we learn and adapt.

Agree with the first 4 sentences, but not the rest, JS96.

On the training track there would have been plenty of work done trying to feed Juric as the number 9 on the training track

At this stage I htink Yengi has been more effective. Is he injured as well as Mo Toure?

Look forward to breaking down Juric more closely, when I compile stats. It could have been isolation, and lack of service from players a bit green in the G and G playing near him.