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Socceroos vs Egypt - 2026 World Cup R32 - Sat 4th of July 4am AEST

I think in hindsight we sould have started Mabil and Devlin and worn Egypt out. Yengi too then bring on Volpato and Irankunda. The first hour despite 2 goals was something of a write off for a tight finish.
 
So the Egypt goal. The scorer was the one to shoot from the free kick. He then lingers in behind while everyone else is busy watching.

There was immediate follow up danger but Behich, Irankunda and Volpato were all asleep to the deep danger.

It was Circati's area but there wasn't a chance to scramble back to his space while O'Neill and Metcalfe needed to close down the cross quicker.

Beach needs to do better there. If Ryan concedes that he gets scathed when it's within his reach and he has no spring in his dive. Herrington was also a step deeper keeping the scorer onside.
 
Souttar played so many good passes between their lines. If we had Robertson to receive and turn we'd be so good in that space.

One big issue was after good play we'd get down into the corner areas and just slow it and lose it. Irankunda wasn't the right target in the middle either. We should've started with Yengi or at the absolute worst have Irvine as a false 9.
 
A number of moments in both halves where Egypt would turn over the ball or we had decent space in the final third. I felt we were toying with them. With some better player selections and greed we'd have scored.
 
So the Egypt goal. The scorer was the one to shoot from the free kick. He then lingers in behind while everyone else is busy watching.

There was immediate follow up danger but Behich, Irankunda and Volpato were all asleep to the deep danger.

It was Circati's area but there wasn't a chance to scramble back to his space while O'Neill and Metcalfe needed to close down the cross quicker.

Beach needs to do better there. If Ryan concedes that he gets scathed when it's within his reach and he has no spring in his dive. Herrington was also a step deeper keeping the scorer onside.

And then let's not forget that a green Herrington kept him onside just as he did for the goal when we played Switzerland. Just as well we had three international CBs in the coaching box to make sure these avoidable mistakes don't get repeated.
 
You know this is never ever happening.
It won't happen because Football Australia will always consider making it out of the group stage a pass mark but if we want to be taking the World Cup seriously then we need to adjust our expectations accordingly which would include winning knockout stage matches.
 
You mean go with the plan that failed miserably against the US? 🤔
No because Egypt didn't press and move as much as the USA did. I think selecting a few fresh and physical players would've softened Egypt up and then skilled ones could exploit the gaps.
 
I'm often OK with defenders taking penalties provided they're no nonsense low and hard. Both went high.

We had fresh players on who can take penalties. If Hrustic coverts the first then we can at least see the development.
I don't like him for the NT, poor at his defensive duties, hardly scores or gets an assist, he just doesn't perform as high as his ego thinks he should.
 
Mabil was good in ET. The exact fresh legs and drive to do something. He was fouled late on the edge of the box and his shot was blocked. Disappointing but they planned it that way. I wish Hrustic had also been over it.

We really missed Goodwin this tournament and he was fit enough to make a contribution.
Goodwin is past it, he didn't even have a very good season for Adelaide.
 
Goodwin is past it, he didn't even have a very good season for Adelaide.
He's a different player for Australia and his dead balls were needed. He could've contributed something and definitely more than Leckie.
 
No because Egypt didn't press and move as much as the USA did. I think selecting a few fresh and physical players would've softened Egypt up and then skilled ones could exploit the gaps.
I don’t disagree in hindsight. But we would have slammed Popa if he’d done that and gone a goal down. Taking Ira and Volpato off when we were on top and bringing on less attacking options was a mistake. I would have loved to see Ira, Mabil, Hrustic with Volpato even for 10 minutes when we had them on the ropes to try to win it in regulation.
The thing I hate most is bringing off your players who are the best chance of scoring just because they can’t run around as much after 60 minutes.
 
I don’t disagree in hindsight. But we would have slammed Popa if he’d done that and gone a goal down. Taking Ira and Volpato off when we were on top and bringing on less attacking options was a mistake. I would have loved to see Ira, Mabil, Hrustic with Volpato even for 10 minutes when we had them on the ropes to try to win it in regulation.
The thing I hate most is bringing off your players who are the best chance of scoring just because they can’t run around as much after 60 minutes.
After we levelled we seemed hyped to go for it again. I saw one momentum chart that said we one the 70s then Egypt had the late 80s. Both teams could've won with better direct play.
 
He's a different player for Australia and his dead balls were needed. He could've contributed something and definitely more than Leckie.
His deadball specialty would've been handy and would have been a better selection than Leckie.
 
After we levelled we seemed hyped to go for it again. I saw one momentum chart that said we one the 70s then Egypt had the late 80s. Both teams could've won with better direct play.
For me, this is the biggest coaching failure. We had them on the ropes then took off our best routes to goal.
 
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