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

[Decentric]

For all those naysayers talking about replacing Popa as coach, look where he has brought the team from since taking over from Arnold?

Moreover, he has tried many new players.

Popa has a problem that there is a plethora of young players coming through, with far higher ceilings than the older Socceroo incumbents - but they are inexperienced.


A team needs experienced players to organise less experienced players around them. Only experienced players know their own games well enough to organise less experienced teammates.

 

[Decentric]

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

Agree with a most of this, except the third last sentence.

On a heavy pitch ( they need some games in a dry summer place like eastern Tasmania), Cameroon effectively closed down the Aus passing lanes further forwards.

I think the checking, and forwards movement off the ball was okay from Aus, but it could have been better. Would have liked Metcalfe in amore attacking role, and to replace Italiano at RWB whe he went off, and to have started Okon Jr at DM.

Apart from having a great engine, Boyle is a consistent underperformer for the Roos when I compile stats. He might be a brilliant, experienced mentor though to young players?

I saw a lot of clumsly tackles committed by Aus, with players tackling off the wrong foot, which was their preferrred foot. They would have had better body shape to tackle off their non-preferred foot in some instances.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

What I took away from the game last night was that Herrington just keeps on stepping up to the plate, loved watching him play for BR, try to catch highlights of Colorado Rapids and now the NT. JBos, he is just JBos. But two other things stood out: first, the Socceroos rarely play against a team that is so fast and able to close them down quickly, and Cameroon did just that. Secondly, the midfield lacks creativity meaning that the forward line gets long bombs from defence or are starved. I am not going to criticise the forward line because I felt that the midfield should have been better. Normally, they are but last night Cameroon showed that O'Neill and Metcalfe cannot cope with rapidly closing teams. Metcalfe should play RW, pair Robertson with Trewin in the midfield. O'Neill on the bench and be brought on when trying to close the game by playing a defensive 6.

 

[Sharkman84]

For all those naysayers talking about replacing Popa as coach, look where he has brought the team from since taking over from Arnold?

Moreover, he has tried many new players.

Popa has a problem that there is a plethora of young players coming through, with far higher ceilings than the older Socceroo incumbents - but they are inexperienced.


A team needs experienced players to organise less experienced players around them. Only experienced players know their own games well enough to organise less experienced teammates.

Popa gets less criticism than Arnold ever did tbf.

The big issue people have with Popa is his tactics produce dull, dour football and his terrible man management skills has seen us lose players who could've been a part of the team for the next decade.

 

[Decentric]

What I took away from the game last night was that Herrington just keeps on stepping up to the plate, loved watching him play for BR, try to catch highlights of Colorado Rapids and now the NT. JBos, he is just JBos. But two other things stood out: first, the Socceroos rarely play against a team that is so fast and able to close them down quickly, and Cameroon did just that. Secondly, the midfield lacks creativity meaning that the forward line gets long bombs from defence or are starved. I am not going to criticise the forward line because I felt that the midfield should have been better. Normally, they are but last night Cameroon showed that O'Neill and Metcalfe cannot cope with rapidly closing teams. Metcalfe should play RW, pair Robertson with Trewin in the midfield. O'Neill on the bench and be brought on when trying to close the game by playing a defensive 6.

Agree with most of your insightful post, WAIW, but O'Neill is pretty good at playing with the ball in confined time and space.

The younger tyros in DM are too, and Irvine is clever enough to read the play in advance to compensate for his under par 2 foot passing, whilst excelling in 1 foot passing, in limited time and space.

I'm astonished Popa hasn't played Metcalfe at RWB, WAIW?

I was surprised he played Metcalfe at DM, when there are so many options there who do it regularly at club level. Popa could have played Trewin there, or Okon Jr, from the start, not played Trewin at RWB, despite Rowles doing well as a regular CB at LWB as a defensive option.

To play forwards one needs more advanced players to shake their markers, and open diagonal passing lanes. The straight ball played forwards is only effective if a player is unmarked. The diagonal ball enables a player to receive and simultaneously scan the field for opponents, as they receive the ball.

 

[Decentric]

Popa gets less criticism than Arnold ever did tbf.

The big issue people have with Popa is his tactics produce dull, dour football and his terrible man management skills has seen us lose players who could've been a part of the team for the next decade.

I'd like us to have more ball, but in terms of results, Popa has done well with his 3-4-3, 5-2-3, 5-4-1 system.

We are hard to break down.

I don't blame him for players leaving.

I think both Popa and Arnie received a lot of harsh criticism.

For the players joining other countries, we have even better players coming through who have committed to Aus - Mo Toure, Iran, Herrington, Circati, Bos, et al.

Herrington has come from nowhere, looking like he could be as good as any Socceroo ever. There might be a few others too - Sicluna, Younis?

 

[JS96]

You can see Popovic wants certain combinations. Bos and McGree, Boyle and Italiano and then Mabil too. Irankunda and Italiano worked well. As games go on we'll have some good subs to make. McGree and Metcalfe has underwhelming games again.

 

[Decentric]

You can see Popovic wants certain combinations. Bos and McGree, Boyle and Italiano and then Mabil too. Irankunda and Italiano worked well. As games go on we'll have some good subs to make. McGree and Metcalfe has underwhelming games again.

I think Met struggled in his role at DM, but I'm not sure McGree had a bad game?

McGree did a lot of good defensive work off the ball. It will be interesting to observe him on the replay and compiling stats.

 

[Decentric]

Elder was injured this time again - but I really don't rate Geria any more.

ThoughtGeria was okay last night.

He was tested a bit more against the higher quality teams we've just played, who forced him to play on the ball woith less time and space than he is comfortable with.

 

[Decentric]

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

A lot of useful info here.

Thanks, G.

 

[JS96]

I think Met struggled in his role at DM, but I'm not sure McGree had a bad game?

McGree did a lot of good defensive work off the ball. It will be interesting to observe him on the replay and compiling stats.

It's more he just couldn't get a shot off and looked isolated. I guess we're waiting for world cup for people to really turn it on. Last night doesn't matter in the big picture for our squad locks.

 

[DandyCasey]

Would be the perfect time to trial Metcalfe at RWB, with the lack of squad cover, not going to happen though.

 

[Frankly Speaking]

To add stats to back that up, Metcalf is in the top 3% in the bundesliga for tackles per 90 and top 6% for intercepts, top 13% for touches, top 12% for duels won, top 10% for big chances created. His stats are pretty similar when he was in bundesliga 2 and played a lot more minutes - this is his game. Elite off the ball, has a killer pass and wins a lot of duals while being a poor finisher and not a very sophisticated dribbler.

In other words the perfect Popovic player.
In his own image, so to speak. Strong defensively, no capacity to create anything.

 

[Frankly Speaking]

For all those naysayers talking about replacing Popa as coach, look where he has brought the team from since taking over from Arnold?

Moreover, he has tried many new players.

Popa has a problem that there is a plethora of young players coming through, with far higher ceilings than the older Socceroo incumbents - but they are inexperienced.


A team needs experienced players to organise less experienced players around them. Only experienced players know their own games well enough to organise less experienced teammates.

With respect, D, Popas' problem is his own tactical negativity. He is a blunt axe of a coach.
I accept that we have him like it or not, but for the good of the code in this country our next coach must be someone who coaches a more expansive game.

 

[erogenouszone]

Twas proper football weather.

 

[Keeper66]

You can see Popovic wants certain combinations. Bos and McGree, Boyle and Italiano and then Mabil too. Irankunda and Italiano worked well. As games go on we'll have some good subs to make. McGree and Metcalfe has underwhelming games again.

I thought McGree did quite well, he was the only creative player in the first half, but was let down by a lack of support higher up. I thought the Socceroos looked the most dangerous in the first half when McGree was on the ball.

 

[Hillbilly55]

Metcalfe and O Neil at Midfield just didn't work. They just stand there hardly move

The gaps between the front 3 and midfield were far too long for any meaningful forward moves most of the time. We need to be far more compact.

 

[Hillbilly55]

McGree or Metcalfe never shoot, it's infuriating. Boyle is a big momentum killer every time he gets the ball.

O'Neill very inconsistent as usual

We don't want Metcalfe to shoot. The only goal he scored for Aust the Saudi Keeper moved out of the way, the ball was straight at him. I have a theory that people who worry about/psychologically "see" the keeper either shoot at them or wide. People who "see the net" and look beyond the keeper are more likely to score.

 

[Hillbilly55]

Poppa doing well to keep Cameroon scoreless despite them having six shots in the first half though.

Interesting that Cameroon were very physically strong in the challenge. Most of their players are young and want to put their hands up for ongoing selection.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

Agree with most of your insightful post, WAIW, but O'Neill is pretty good at playing with the ball in confined time and space.

The younger typos in DM are too, and Irvine is clever enough to read the play in advance to compensate for his under par 2 foot passing, whilst excelling in 1 foot passing, in limited time and space.

I'm astonished Popa hasn't played Metcalfe at RWB, WAIW?

I was surprised he played Metcalfe at DM, when there are so many options there who do it regularly at club level. Popa could have played Trewin there, or Okon Jr, from the start, not played Trewin at RWB, despite Rowles doing well as a regular CB at LWB as a defensive option.

To play forwards one needs more advanced players to shake their markers, and open diagonal passing lanes. The straight ball played forwards is only effective if a player is unmarked. The diagonal ball enables a player to receive and simultaneously scan the field for opponents, as they receive the ball.

I would never play Metcalfe at RWB. As you can see when he is moved into the DM role, he becomes very conservative and I just don't think that he has the nous for it. Hence his role at club level has been almost always as a RW or upfront. I think that Popa was trying to see whether he could play the DM role if need be and that could mean that he adds more players for another role knowing that he has the flexibility with Metcalfe.