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

[Quicky]

Sure Herrington looked ok the other night but he's not a starting XI player in a WC match nor would you put an 18 y/o novice like him on with 15 minutes to play to defend a 1-0 lead. He's 18 playing in the MLS not some prodigy like Viduka or Kewell. He shouldn't be going to this WC, squad should be the best 23 not an 'experiment'. Would rather have experienced defenders the bench.
Going tonight, very curious about Curacao. Didn't even know they existed 6 months ago lol. Know what we're getting with Popa. A slow and steady start checking out the opposition, putting them (and us) to sleep and snatching a goal from a half chance or some Irankunda magic.

I look at it like this. Popovic will select 6 CBs in the World Cup squad. The locks are Circati, Burgess and Souttar, assuming he returns from injury in time. That leaves 3 and possibly 4 CB spots to fill.

It's true Herrington is only 18 and playing in the MLS. However, he is competing for a national team spot with Degenek (Cyprus), Geria ( J2 and not playing), Trewin and Rowles (MLS - Rowles is in iffy form).

Herrington has the best playing qualities, is in the best form at the highest level of those other options. He just proved he can do it at national team level. He only lacks experience. I get its a lot for a young man but I'd back him.

 

[Toebash]

Yeah it’s at the point I genuinely think Herrington is one of our top 6 CBs, regardless of his age.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I look at it like this. Popovic will select 6 CBs in the World Cup squad. The locks are Circati, Burgess and Souttar, assuming he returns from injury in time. That leaves 3 and possibly 4 CB spots to fill.

It's true Herrington is only 18 and playing in the MLS. However, he is competing for a national team spot with Degenek (Cyprus), Geria ( J2 and not playing), Trewin and Rowles (MLS - Rowles is in iffy form).

Herrington has the best playing qualities, is in the best form at the highest level of those other options. He just proved he can do it at national team level. He only lacks experience. I get its a lot for a young man but I'd back him.

Thats almost a different problem all together. God help us if 9 of our 23 man squad are either goalies or CBs...

 

[NoMates]

Can’t see a big crowd for this game tonight, will be another small turnout once again. I reckon 10k tops!. Curacao to dominate midfield and score a brace and dick us 4-1. With so many players out Poppa should have us parking the bus playing longballs over the tops to see if we can get a miracle draw?.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

Thats almost a different problem all together. God help us if 9 of our 23 man squad are either goalies or CBs...

CB's are now the fulcrum of the side.

 

[Spectator]

I''ve watched one or two football games in my life and I was at the game.

He's better off defending than in attack however I'm sure he'll be on the plane to yankee land.

His Championship form this season, in terms of goals and assists has been excellent, despite missing many games this season with injury. His team id in with a good chance to be promoted automatically to the EPL.

It’s a Caribbean island that is technically a constituent part of the Netherlands. It was a former part of the Netherlands Antilles. About 155,000 people live there. Willemstad is the capital city. While Dutch and English are both understood by the vast majority of residents, the main language is a Portuguese-based creole called Papiamento (spelt Papiamento in Aruba and Papiamentu in Bonaire and Curaçao). The flag of Curaçao looks like this: .

My mother returned to Australia from Europe by ship in 1960 via the Panama Canal. Before the Panama Canal her ship stopped at Curacao along the way. She always called it Cura-Sayo as in the Sao biscuit. I see the enunciation thse days seens to be closer to Cura-sow as in sow pig.

I might add my mother's ship stopped in at many other exotic locations on that voyage.

 

[grazorblade]

Thought this was interesting.

I thought that on first watch about metcalf. On second watch i thought a period where he was doing safe passes was to calm australia down that kept trying for the killer ball as soon as they won possession. It got a bit frantic and poppa mentioned that in the press conference

Agree with okon. His technique to shield the ball while buying time means he can pass forward even if no one has immediately open a passing lane

 

[grazorblade]

Thats almost a different problem all together. God help us if 9 of our 23 man squad are either goalies or CBs...

26 man

But i suspect yes a back up for each position, an extra goalie and 3 extras (its poppa, lets do 3 extra cbs baby!)

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Can’t see a big crowd for this game tonight, will be another small turnout once again. I reckon 10k tops!. Curacao to dominate midfield and score a brace and dick us 4-1. With so many players out Poppa should have us parking the bus playing longballs over the tops to see if we can get a miracle draw?.

Its a great night for it, weather is perfect and no Aleague on tonight. I would have gone to this if South wasn't playing..

It was sad to see how much the Socceroos send off crowds have declined, I still remember 2006 against Greece at the MCG -

 

[grazorblade]

Wonder if he/she reads the forum, made all these points including some of the numbers, swear he isnt my burner account

 

[Hillbilly55]

9 minutes in and Cameroon up 2 - 0 against China.

 

[NoMates]

Its a great night for it, weather is perfect and no Aleague on tonight. I would have gone to this if South wasn't playing..

It was sad to see how much the Socceroos send off crowds have declined, I still remember 2006 against Greece at the MCG -

TV rating for the Socceroos have been dire, once up on a time we would smash NRL and AFL ratings but now we are 3rd rate. Curacao is t a big name team to draw people to the game but there World Cup bound and this is our final match in Australia for sometime. The days of selling out the MCG and stadium Australia are long past us I’m afraid.

 

[Quicky]

Thats almost a different problem all together. God help us if 9 of our 23 man squad are either goalies or CBs...

It'll be 13 of 26. 10 defenders and 3 goalies. And yeah I agree. This formation. Far out.

 

[grazorblade]

The other day loomed at us against 2nd tier opponents (world cup regulars, excluding qatar since they hosted, but not top 10)

Before peru i count 3 wins from the prior 18 games

From peru on 10 wins from the next 18. Huge change

 

[grazorblade]

few of my predictions coming true, maybe i should try a lottery ticket

- poppas press conferences indicated herrington metcalf and juric would start again
- mind games with robbo
- the fact suto appeared in so many media clips about how excited he was to play for the roos means he is never getting a minute

 

[jimshady]

few of my predictions coming true, maybe i should try a lottery ticket

- poppas press conferences indicated herrington metcalf and juric would start again
- mind games with robbo
- the fact suto appeared in so many media clips about how excited he was to play for the roos means he is never getting a minute

It’s pretty uninspiring isn’t it

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Please Poppa GTFO

 

[Keeper66]

Will Robertson actually see any game time?

 

[Taff-01]

It’s pretty uninspiring isn’t it

Same old tried and trusted favourites. Dour Popa will bring on the likes of Robbo and others for the last 5-10 minutes. No imagination. Hopefully Mark Milligan will soon be the national coach, he's bringing back entertaining football with young players to the A-League

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Cameroon's debutant centre back Stephane Keller sent off in the first minute of second half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card for a foul, but they still manage to get the job done against China with a 2-0 win at AAMI Park.