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Socceroos vs Mexico/Switzerland - Pre-World Cup Friendlies 2026 🇦🇺🇲🇽🇨🇭

Still digesting the game, first thoughts are:

  1. As a final hitout, I think it was fine (or even good). A 1-1 draw against a team better than any we'll face in the group stages (save maybe Turkiye) is decent enough, and nobody got injured which is always a positive.
  2. I'm an Okon Jr fan generally, and I think he has a big future, but he looked off the pace today and perhaps shouldn't have been selected in the squad.
  3. I like Trewin as well, but not as a right wing back. Italiano also didn't have a great game. With Miller's injury, and the failure to choose a proper backup RWB, that looks like comfortably our weakest position.
  4. Switzerland's goal was, in part, a function of our 5-2-3 formation which I absolutely hate. They recovered the loose ball in midfield because we don't have a third man in there, and the failure to pick up Ndoye was a result of confusion between our RCB and RWB as to whose man he was. A 3/5 man backline works well against a 4-4-2, but it doesn't work neatly against a 3 man frontline.
  5. Irankunda is quality and can create goals out of nowhere. He's our genuine point of difference and I want him on the field as much as possible.
  6. I'd be fucking livid at our goal if I was a Swiss fan. That defending was shambolic!
 
My thoughts on these games

Matt Ryan is still No 1 keeper but if he gets hurt we have good replacements.

I think our best 3 central defenders are Burgess, Soutar and Circati. We have reasonable cover here with Geria, Hetherington and Degenic.

Bos is our best left wing back but Behich provides good cover. Not sure how some here could call his performance poor.

Right wing back is a problem. Shame Miller got hurt. We miss him. Maybe give Geria a chance but I've no idea if they've trained with him there. Maybe Italiano remains the best option. I think Trewin is better elsewhere as one of the two defensive midfielders.

Assuming we go with two defensive midfielders I'm OK with Metcalfe and Irvine in those roles. Trewin can also be used here. We do have a lot of options and can put on players with a more attacking mindset during the game if needed but I think Popovic starts defensive. Players like Devlin & Okon are more likely as subs later in the game. Not sure about O'Neil. I don't think he has been at his best in these friendlies.

Not sure what to call the next two spots. maybe attacking midfielders who can swing wide or sit behind the main striker. This is a spot where we can use subs as I expect them to be covering some ground and working very hard. Irankunda has shown some good periods of play and should start at least two of the games. Leckie hasn't shown a lot so far. I think his game time will be limited. Lets hope he makes a good contribution off the pitch. I would probably start with Irankunda and Mabil in those roles or maybe Metcalfe if he doesn't play in the central defensive midfield role. Volpato and Villupilay look more like substitutes to me coming on when the defense is a bit more tired.

I thought Yengi made a good fist of target man today but I would still start Toure ahead of him.
 
Alex M said:
My thoughts on these games

Matt Ryan is still No 1 keeper but if he gets hurt we have good replacements. Disagree - huge drop-off after Ryan

I think our best 3 central defenders are Burgess, Soutar and Circati. We have reasonable cover here with Geria, Hetherington and Degenic.Agreed

Bos is our best left wing back but Behich provides good cover. Not sure how some here could call his performance poor. Agreed

Right wing back is a problem. Shame Miller got hurt. We miss him. Maybe give Geria a chance but I've no idea if they've trained with him there. Maybe Italiano remains the best option. I think Trewin is better elsewhere as one of the two defensive midfielders. Agreed

Assuming we go with two defensive midfielders I'm OK with Metcalfe and Irvine in those roles. Trewin can also be used here. We do have a lot of options and can put on players with a more attacking mindset during the game if needed but I think Popovic starts defensive. Players like Devlin & Okon are more likely as subs later in the game. Not sure about O'Neil. I don't think he has been at his best in these friendlies. Disagree with some. Metcalfe better more forward, Devlin more the destroyer. Agree about O'Neill though fully fit would probably start with Irvine.

Not sure what to call the next two spots. maybe attacking midfielders who can swing wide or sit behind the main striker. This is a spot where we can use subs as I expect them to be covering some ground and working very hard. Irankunda has shown some good periods of play and should start at least two of the games. Leckie hasn't shown a lot so far. I think his game time will be limited. Lets hope he makes a good contribution off the pitch. I would probably start with Irankunda and Mabil in those roles or maybe Metcalfe if he doesn't play in the central defensive midfield role. Volpato and Villupilay look more like substitutes to me coming on when the defense is a bit more tired. Agreed

I thought Yengi made a good fist of target man today but I would still start Toure ahead of him. Agreed
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Another game based on two half’s, we are so damn poor in the nest half and got cut up so easy. We are gonna get thrashed cum World Cup mark my word.
 
Haven’t seen many comments on here lauding the quality of the Swiss in the first 45 mins.

They were very good off the ball -and - with the ball. However, the penalty for so much intensive Squeezing is running out of gas at about 50-65 mins. The Swiss seemed to be less energetic after 45 mins, enabling Aus to play with the ball more easily.

Read the Swiss coaches comments on Football 360. He paid homage to Aus. He said they found Iran and Toure’s pace a handful. And that they needed tough games against tough teams like Aus as preparation. He said the game unfolded as they expected.
 
Decentric said:
Haven’t seen many comments on here lauding the quality of the Swiss in the first 45 mins.

They were very good off the ball -and - with the ball. However, the penalty for so much intensive Squeezing is running out of gas at about 50-65 mins. The Swiss seemed to be less energetic after 45 mins, enabling Aus to play with the ball more easily.

Read the Swiss coaches comments on Football 360. He paid homage to Aus. He said they found Iran and Toure’s pace a handful. And that they needed tough games against tough teams like Aus as preparation. He said the game unfolded as they expected.
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The Nati are a top side, tougher than any of the other teams in our group. A draw is a good result.
 
Was good to see aussie forwards actually with skills. Nestory and Volpato will get very good at playing those 1 touches off one another.

Like the look of Tete those yengis are physical specimens.
 
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Encomium said:
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Thanks for posting!

Consummate media conference by Popa.

The Swiss journo knows a lot more about football than Aus journos! Insightful question from him.

I don’t mean specialist pundits who are former pros, like Brosque, McBreen, Wilko, Harper, Slater, Grace Gill, Kelland- Knight, Chloe Logarzo RR al, but the ones who write in print - Daniel Garb, David Weiner, Peacock, etc, devoid of a serious pro background in playing/ coaching.
 
Decentric said:
Thanks for posting!

Consummate media conference by Popa.

The Swiss journo knows a lot more about football than Aus journos! Insightful question from him.

I don’t mean specialist pundits who are former pros, like Brosque, McBreen, Wilko, Harper, Slater, Grace Gill, Kelland- Knight, Chloe Logarzo RR al, but the ones who write in print - Daniel Garb, David Weiner, Peacock, etc, devoid of a serious pro background in playing/ coaching.
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That was a very good presser by Popa.I wouldn't be knocking our journalists though who have watched a lot of football even though they haven't played at professional level.The two best English journos in my time have been Brian Glanville and Jonathan Wilson,neither of whom were players or coaches.Similarly Garby,Weiner ,Peacock ,Rugari et al have written intelligently and have shown insight into top level football.
 
Did notice in warm up O'Neill just didn't look his happy usual self I'm not saying he didn't want to play but I think he didn't want to start knowing he's not 100% I guess popa just going to keep trying him in hope.
 
From those two games would be picking the following side for the Turkiye game:
GK: Ryan
RB: Geria
LB: Bos
CBs: Circati,Souttar ,Burgess
DMs: Trewin ,Irvine
Forwards: Irankunda,Toure ,Metcalfe

Trewin did not look comfortable at RB against a very good opponent and also Italiano was a bit suspect in defence.Geria did play as a CB when he came on and was proactive in intercepting passes and breaking up attacks.Granted he will not be making forays down the wing like Italiano can but can work with Nestory and the midfielders passing to them after winning possession.Trewin looked a lot more comfortable when moved to DM ,winning a lot of ball and involved in attacking movements.Irvine brings leadership with his onfield presence but Devlin's cameo role showed he can work in tight spaces.Metcalfe was our best player in the second half with smart use of space and a clever pass for Yengi's goal.
Herrington is very good but Burgess showed his experience when he came on and his long ball was a peach.AON is taking a while to get back to his best but the two games will have helped though I think Trewin offers more in the attacking sense at this stage then he does.
 
booney52 said:
From those two games would be picking the following side for the Turkiye game:
GK: Ryan
RB: Geria
LB: Bos
CBs: Circati,Souttar ,Burgess
DMs: Trewin ,Irvine
Forwards: Irankunda,Toure ,Metcalfe

Trewin did not look comfortable at RB against a very good opponent and also Italiano was a bit suspect in defence.Geria did play as a CB when he came on and was proactive in intercepting passes and breaking up attacks.Granted he will not be making forays down the wing like Italiano can but can work with Nestory and the midfielders passing to them after winning possession.Trewin looked a lot more comfortable when moved to DM ,winning a lot of ball and involved in attacking movements.Irvine brings leadership with his onfield presence but Devlin's cameo role showed he can work in tight spaces.Metcalfe was our best player in the second half with smart use of space and a clever pass for Yengi's goal.
Herrington is very good but Burgess showed his experience when he came on and his long ball was a peach.AON is taking a while to get back to his best but the two games will have helped though I think Trewin offers more in the attacking sense at this stage then he does.
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Could probably deal with Geria starting at RWB if it means Irankunda starts. In any case I hope Popa starts to think of Geria as the RWB backup ahead of Trewin.
 
booney52 said:
That was a very good presser by Popa.I wouldn't be knocking our journalists though who have watched a lot of football even though they haven't played at professional level.The two best English journos in my time have been Brian Glanville and Jonathan Wilson,neither of whom were players or coaches.Similarly Garby,Weiner ,Peacock ,Rugari et al have written intelligently and have shown insight into top level football.
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I know that many of our journos are well trained as wordsmiths, but lack genuine football knowledge.

That Swiss journo talked about 1v1s, modes of pressing, playing a high line, culminating in a goal. None of ours know anything about these aspects of football.

A South American journo also asked Popa his perceptions of South American football - and - how far they can go? Popa displayed poise, grace, tact and knowledge, in answering.

Unlike many of our G and G comrades, both Arnie bashers and Popa bashers, I hope Popa stays on after the WC and continues the development of all the youth coming through.

I think Popa started with 8 players under 25 years old against Switzerland. He also alluded to the Aussies lack of collective experience or lack of - and - the quality of leagues the Swiss play in, and, how much experience they have.
 
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