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

[ClockworkOrange]

so next game?

-------------------Beach----------------
---Circati----Souttar----Herrington
Bos-------_Irvine ---O'Neill -Behich
-----Volpato---------Irankunda----
----------------Toure-------------------

Could live with that, but with Ira alongside Toure and Volpato as a central 10 in behind.

 

[dr. bellows]

Watching back his touches weren't right and he doesn't enjoy central play. I wonder why a instructions Popovic gave him when he called him over.

The wing run when he shot was better. Once or twice he had shots blocked from way out when passing across would've been better.

Maybe to (judiciously) press at pace hoping to force a mistake from one of their cb's?

 

[Bbouy]

so next game?

-------------------Beach----------------
---Circati----Souttar----Herrington
Bos-------_Irvine ---O'Neill -Behich
-----Volpato---------Irankunda----
----------------Toure-------------------

If we are playing Belgium and Doku is actually playing then he'll most likely play on the left. We cannot have Bos tracking Doku up and back all game, it's a nightmare. Put Bos as the LB and let Italiano, Geria or Behich deal with Doku.

 

[Mk2504]

I don’t agree with Irankunda getting an 8.5

He was probably a 5

We saw why he’s only where he is at the current moment.

He has flashes of brilliance but last night was terrible. Not only was his passing and feet bad but he was lazy at getting into Position.

Hopefully it’s out of his system.

Irankunda @number 9

Speed 10/10
Shooting ability 8/10
Hold the ball 1/10
Link up play 4/10
In the air 2/10

 

[Decentric]

I thought Paraguay were tactically very sound and played with a lot of intelligence.

I wish pundits would pay more attention to the opposition tactics in games. Sometimes it is as though Aus chooses to play a certain way, when the opposition forces Aus to play a specific way. I’ll shed light on this in my tactical/analysis/stats thread.

Turkey are absolute chumps! They beat USA when it counted for nothing, and were out- thought and underprepared for Paraguay and the Roos.

 

[Decentric]

Thrilled to make the knock out rounds.

Now we have had 2 successive Aus coaches, Arnie and Popa, do it in 2 successive WCs.

Have not read all the comments yet, but both Arnie and Popa have IMO been totally underappreciated by fans on these boards.

 

[Decentric]

I’ve also identified low game sense in Volpato. Great skill, but it looks like he hasn’t played as much football as the other guys his age and younger in the Roos.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

I thought Paraguay were tactically very sound and played with a lot of intelligence.

I wish pundits would pay more attention to the opposition tactics in games. Sometimes it is as though Aus chooses to play a certain way, when the opposition forces Aus to play a specific way. I’ll shed light on this in my tactical/analysis/stats thread.

Turkey are absolute chumps! They beat USA when it counted for nothing, and were out- thought and underprepared for Paraguay and the Roos.

Agree. I thought our approach to the game was spot on. Take the initiative early, show we will attack you so you need to be of a defensive mind, but we will not be sacrificing everything for a win.
As a result we ended up playing most of the game under no pressure at all.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

I’ve also identified low game sense in Volpato. Great skill, but it looks like he hasn’t played as much football as the other guys his age and younger in the Roos.

“Low game sense” is harsh. At times he displayed excellent vision with passes others probably wouldn’t make. But, I agree that he can play a bit “head down” when he goes on a dribble and so not make the best decision.

 

[booney52]

We have yet to beat a CONMEBOL opponent at the WC Finals.We have had draws but no wins.