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U20 WC 2025 Australia match thread

I'll get to that in a second, because there is a scenario where that could happen with Nigeria.



So, end result is, we need either of these to happen next:
  • Colombia to defeat Nigeria by 2 or more goals.
    • specifically a 3-1 Colombia victory will see goal difference, for and against equal which means the following tiebreakers would be applied. I'll break these down at the end too:
      • fair play points:
        • first yellow card: –1 point;
        • indirect red card (second yellow card): –3 points;
        • direct red card: –4 points;
        • yellow card and direct red card: –5 points;
      • drawing of lots.
  • USA to defeat South Africa by 7 goals.
  • New Caledonia to defeat France. Any scoreline would do, because we'd be ahead of either New Caledonia or France in that instance, as this would guarantee South Africa finishes in 2nd place (I believe)

As for the head to head fair play points with us and Nigeria (and I'll throw Egypt in there as well, since it was close)
  1. Australia - 4 points (4 yellow cards)
  2. Nigeria - 5 points (5 yellow cards)
  3. Egypt - 5 points (5 yellow cards)
So, this means in the instance that Colombia wins by 3-1, resulting in a tied goal difference, goals scored, and goals conceded, Australia will advance, as Nigeria have already accumulated more yellow cards.
I came up with the same scenario when I checked the criteria, but thanks for adding up all the cards, didn't get that far. I would love to see New Caledonia beat France for love of the underdog. Judging by the names on the NC teamsheet, the majority are Indigenous Kanaks, so it'll be the locals v the colonists. But I've watched part of the NC games, there's not a hope in hell they'll beat les Bleus unfortuntely. The USA beating Soth Africa 7-0 or 8-1 is very very unlikely despite how impressive the Americans have been. Which means it'll be nailbiting tomorrow watching Colombia v Nigeria, hoping for a 2-0 or 3-1 result. Or Nigeria loss by 3 or more. Haven't watched much of Nigeria. Colombia have impressed, and I get the feeling there's more to come from the 3rd placed team in Conmebol qualifying. Vamos Colombia!
 
Despite the evident frustrations, comparing this to the 2009 and 2013 teams and campaigns shows we're miles better than then. Positive football, no nervous kicking it away or not having an idea of what to do.

Cuba had their worst game too. They were much more robust against the other teams. We were toying with them. Regrettable finishing.
 
Despite the evident frustrations, comparing this to the 2009 and 2013 teams and campaigns shows we're miles better than then. Positive football, no nervous kicking it away or not having an idea of what to do.

Cuba had their worst game too. They were much more robust against the other teams. We were toying with them. Regrettable finishing.
Still sounds like the story of our lives for the past 20 years - can't convert in the final third - across all our age groups, that always tends to be the problem.
 
Yes you need to support Colombia tomorrow now
I like Colombia at the Copa anyway (and Sweden at the Euros). They needed to win in the Olympic women's tournament to get us through, now we need them to win to get us through in the U20 World Cup.
 
Well this side has a lot of composure in front of goal in the asian cup but unforunately not here

I thought fitness was an issue thoughout. The last 30 minutes of each match was poor. Probably should have had a domestic camp before a camp in chile
 
hmmm usa is pretty bad....probably all comes down to the other game
 
1-1 now. USA won't be doing us any favours
 
Having had a look a the first two Aus games, twice, and the Cuba game once, Aus didn't do too badly.

Cuba gave Aus much more space in between the lines. That is the distance between the attacking line and the defensive line. It was much greater in the Cuban game than between the Italian and Argentinian defensive and attacking lines. Hence, Aus was able to play in more time and space.

In the Asian qualifying games I thought Okon Jr and Bennie were the stand outs, but as is common in football, things can change quickly in a short period of time in underage development.

Bennie wasn't as good as against Asian teams. Okon was good, but not as dominant. The greater time and space he had on the ball against Cuba made him look better than against Italy and Arg.

Youlley was a bit disappointing, given how good he was for the u23s a year or so ago.

Badalato has improved immeasurably for mine. Ditto Esposito. Overy showed adaptability playing both left and right FB positions. Both Inserra and Talidira appear to have improved.

I was hoping for more from Kikianis.

Herrington looked very good against Cuba, but it is hard to compare him to the other 2 CBs who played against the tougher Arg and Italian opposition.

Pearman seems to have made strides forward.

Not sure why Morgan preferred Toure and Jovanovic over Caputo?

The Cuban defence conceded time and space, but Caputo's superb diagonal run, receive, shot and goal, was excellent for the first strike against Cuba. Can't remember who played the perfectly weighted angled ball, assist for him?

Despite a mistake for the Cuban goal, Hall made some good saves.
 
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Well this side has a lot of composure in front of goal in the asian cup but unforunately not here

I thought fitness was an issue thoughout. The last 30 minutes of each match was poor. Probably should have had a domestic camp before a camp in chile
Haven't seen the last 20 min against Cuba - yet.

Aus was killed against Arg late in the game in our Defensive Transitions and their Attacking Transitions.

When Aus committed players forward, if we lost the ball in the final half/third, we struggled to turn and chase running towards our own goal. We sometimes had sparse coverage of the centre of the pitch - which is paramount.

Yet at 90 mins, Aus was only 1-2 down. Quintal's goal was only just ruled a foul prior. They scored 2 in extra time.

It looked like fresh opposition subs ran over our defensive and midfield lines a bit in the last 30 mins of the first two games.
 
Having had a look a the first two Aus games, twice, and the Cuba game once, Aus didn't do too badly.

Cuba gave Aus much more space in between the lines. That is the distance between the attacking line and the defensive line. It was much greater in the Cuban game than between the Italian and Argentinian defensive and attacking lines. Hence, Aus was able to play in more time and space.

In the Asian qualifying games I thought Okon Jr and Bennie were the stand outs, but as is common in football, things can change quickly in a short period of time in underage development.

Bennie wasn't as good as against Asian teams. Okon was good, but not as dominant. The greater time and space he had on the ball against Cuba made him look better than against Italy and Arg.

Youlley was a bit disappointing, given how good he was for the u23s a year or so ago.

Badalato has improved immeasurably for mine. Ditto Esposito. Overy showed adaptability playing both left and right FB positions. Both Inserra and Talidira appear to have improved.

I was hoping for more from Kikianis.

Herrington looked very good against Cuba, but it is hard to compare him to the other 2 CBs who played against the tougher Arg and Italian opposition.

Pearman seems to have made strides forward.

Not sure why Morgan preferred Toure and Jovanovic over Caputo?

The Cuban defence conceded time and space, but Caputo's superb diagonal run, receive, shot and goal, was excellent for the first strike against Cuba. Can't remember who played the perfectly weighted angled ball, assist for him?

Despite a mistake for the Cuban goal, Hall made some good saves.
That beautiful assist for Caputo's goal was from right fullback James Overy (Man U), our youngest player but one of our best.
 
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