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Socceroos vs Paraguay 2026 World Cup match thread 🇦🇺🇵🇾

socceroosmad said:
To be honest I think Burgess may just be exhausted physically and mentally. I've often heard it said that Premier League players play too many games. But there are even more games in the Champonship (46) and Cam played 90 mins of all 46 games. Never came on as a sub, never subbed off, never benched. It's a wonder he can still function at all. His body and mind will be thinking surelywe're on holiday now
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46 games are great when you're on the fringes and can play 34 times a season. Not so good if you're injury prone like McGree.

Fewer games are terrible if you're on the fringes. That why I hate our young players in countries with fewer games and big benches.
 
JS96 said:
46 games are great when you're on the fringes and can play 34 times a season. Not so good if you're injury prone like McGree.

Fewer games are terrible if you're on the fringes. That why I hate our young players in countries with fewer games and big benches.
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The Championship is often quite even and competitive too so it’s hard to rest players. Resting players could easily cost some points.
 
NoMates said:
That’s what it was early this morning, checked bet365 and they have Par @2.80 and a draw @ 2.30, Socceroos @ $3.80
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They also think there’s a fair chance that Karl Stefanović and Kyle Sandilands will run for One Nation (there’s actually a market for this).
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Correction: Spain 0–0 Cape Verde
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Sorry! And also Ecuador 1 Curacao 1. One measure of the size of an upset (or unexpected big win or loss) is points allocated (plus or minus) per match in the ELO ratings. There have been 7 matches played so far in the WC with more than 30 points allocated. Four of those have been in Group D (and it ain't over yet!):
62 AUS v TUR 2-0
54 USA v PAR 4-1
48 CIV 1 ECU 0
47 GHA 1 PAN 0
40 USA 2 AUS 0
36 PAR 1 TUR 0
 
We shift to a proactive, technically fluid 4-2-3-1 formation to break down Paraguay’s rigid, physical 4-4-2 mid-block. We need to maximize our technical profiles in the final third while protecting our backline from South American counter-attacks.
Toure
Irankunda - Volpato - Metcalfe
O'Neill - Irvine
Bos - Burgess - Souttar - Circati Beach

The Defensive Structure & Tactical Backfill​

  • The Center-Back Pivot: Harry Souttar retains the armband and acts as our primary aerial eraser. Cameron Burgess partners him; despite his own-goal misfortune against the US, his physical profile is vital against Paraguay's direct long balls to Antonio Sanabria.
  • The Fullback Dynamics: Jordan Bos drops back to a traditional left-back role. He will act as an auxiliary winger during sustained possession, utilizing his elite ball-carrying capability. Circati steps in at right-back to provide defensive stability, pinning himself to form a fluid three-man rest defense when Bos pushes high.
  • Between the Sticks: Patrick Beach keeps his spot in goal. His distribution is sharper than Maty Ryan's, which is critical for evading Paraguay's initial two-man pressing line.

The Creative Engine: Integrating Cristian Volpato​

Cristian Volpato transformed our attacking dynamics off the bench in Seattle, providing genuine top-tier imagination.

  • The Inverted Trequartista: Volpato starts as the central Number 10. Because he lacks the deep tactical training camp minutes under his belt for a full 90-minute defensive shift, his instructions are strictly offensive.
  • The Dynamic: He will operate in the pocket between Paraguay's midfield and defensive lines. He must use his lethal left foot to slide threaded, line-breaking passes into the half-spaces. If he tires around the 60th minute, Ajdin Hrustić is ready to replace him without losing technical quality.

Wing Isolation & Striker Pinned Depth​

We must stretch Paraguay's narrow 4-4-2 block by utilizing maximum width.

  • The Wide Flanks: Nestory Irankunda must start on the left wing after his blistering impact from the bench. His raw velocity will force Paraguay's right-back into 1v1 isolation. On the right, Connor Metcalfe provides tactical balance, tucking inside to create overloads and allowing Volpato to drift wide.
  • The Spearhead: Mohamed Touré starts up top. His job is completely selfless: pin Paraguay’s veteran center-backs, Gustavo Gómez and Fabián Balbuena, deep inside their own penalty box. This horizontal pinning opens up the crucial intermediate space for Volpato and Irankunda to cause absolute havoc.
 
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Starting to wonder if Popa is using Copilot to determine his starting line-ups. They certainly don't appear to be anything that a conventional human brain could conceive. Honestly, I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if he doubles down on Vellupilay and we see him again against Paraguay. After Volpato's immediate and dramatic impact off the bench, it's unfathomable that he's only played 29 minutes across 2 games.
 
HappyGuus said:
Lose by 1, we're still 95% going through. Lose by more and the chance drops off quickly.

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Been saying it for months, jussayin

NicCarBel

Thread 'SIMULATIONS - 2026 FIFA World Cup'

Alright everyone, I’ve finished my simulations of the playoffs and the following nations have qualified for my simulated run through of the World Cup

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UEFA A - Italy
UEFA B - Sweden
UEFA C - Kosovo
UEFA D - Denmark
Intercontinental A - DR Congo
Intercontinental B - Bolivia

I’ll be doing a sim through of the groups using these as the extra qualifiers this week, with screen recordings of the sims for Australia’s games (and might do All Whites as well) and see how the tournament progresses.

IMG_5227.jpeg

I’ll probably do another one after the actual playoffs are complete (with the...
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B-mac said:
The last 10 mins of this game will be a sh!t show. That’s when you bring on our old heads who have seen it all - Behich, Irvine, Degenek types. Feel we missed a trick not playing Herrington V the USA. Personally I’d stick with Burgess for Paraguay.
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Other way round.. USA were coming onto to us meaning ww could stay in a deep block and then counter them. Speed wasnt needed for this gane style. Meanwhile paraguay will sit deep like we do then try counter. As such herringtons recovery pace to defend the counter is much more important likewise his ball playing ability. Fast defenders and skillful attackers need this game .. the opposite of the 2 matche
 
Bunch_of_hacks said:
Other way round.. USA were coming onto to us meaning ww could stay in a deep block and then counter them. Speed wasnt needed for this gane style. Meanwhile paraguay will sit deep like we do then try counter. As such herringtons recovery pace to defend the counter is much more important likewise his ball playing ability. Fast defenders and skillful attackers need this game .. the opposite of the 2 matche
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poppa-ball relies on speed a lot actually. Obviously in the counter attack, but also in transitioning from the midblock to a deep block as well as trying to quickly change our shape from our compact block when we regain the ball
 
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