2018 world cup qualifiers

[Big Al]

Reminder: Saudi Arabia game
4.30am pre game with 4.45am kick off on Foxtel.
Friday
Thanks Rowdy

 

[Rowdy]

.... on Friday

 

[Rowdy]

Mat Ryan trains ahead of Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia:

GOALKEEPER Mat Ryan completed the Socceroos’ first training session to dispel any doubt about his availability for Friday’s World Cup qualifier away to Saudi Arabia.

All but five of Australia’s 23-man squad completed the light 45-minute session in 36 degrees Jeddah heat, with four players in action on Sunday while Mitch Langerak had a Monday night game in Germany.

Back-up keeper Langerak, the most likely to be called up had Ryan have been ruled out, played in Stuttgart’s home clash with Greuther Furth, meaning he will only complete one full session with the Socceroos before the game.

Ryan missed two weeks with a knee injury but resumed training for Valencia a week ago despite not making the teamsheet in last Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.

Luzern striker Tomi Juric, who was a late sub for the Swiss side, appears to be the best chance of starting of the absentees and will join Australian training tonight (AEST) along with Jimmy Jeggo, who set up Sturm Graz’s winner at Salzburg, Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam), who came off the bench and Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg) was an unused sub.

Captain Mile Jedinak, Melbourne City’s Tim Cahill, Celtic’s Tom Rogic, Huddersfield Town’s Aaron Mooy and Germany-based duo Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie headlined the 18 players that trained at Al-Ittihad’s training ground — the former club of Melbourne Victory’s James Troisi.

Speaking prior to the session, Postecoglou was thrilled to be able to get an extra session in compared to last month’s camp.

“Saudi Arabia will be a very challenging game, it’s as much about the environment,’’ Postecoglou said.

“From our point of view, organisation wise it’s actually not too bad because the Europeans arrive a day earlier than they did for the Perth game, so there’s less travel and less time zone difference so from a physical standpoint we should be in better condition than we were for say the Iraq game.’’

The match kicks off at 4.45am AEST on Friday, with the Socceroos then returning home to host Japan at Etihad Stadium next Tuesday.

 

[sydmariner]

Play Video

2/2
Take a look at some of the recent history between Australia and Saudi Arabia as they prepare to meet in WCQ.
Wednesday, 5 October 2016 -
Staff writer
Football Federation Australia (FFA) has today welcomed the announcement that the Nine Network will broadcast the Caltex Socceroos’ two 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Japan over the coming week.
The Nine Network will provide a simulcast broadcast of the matches alongside Fox Sports, in a huge boost for football fans around Australia. The deal includes all remaining final stage 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers through to September 2017.

The Caltex Socceroos take on Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Friday morning (4.45am AEDT) before flying home to play Asian Rivals Japan at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday night (kick off 8pm AEDT). Tickets for the clash are still available by clicking here.

“This is a great result for football, tremendous news for Socceroos fans around Australia,” said FFA CEO David Gallop. “We welcome the undeniable sports broadcast expertise of Channel Nine on board for what will be two massive games for the Socceroos in the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“The game against Saudi Arabia is a top of the table clash with both teams winning the first two World Cup Qualifiers and the match against Japan is one of the showpiece international matches in Asian Football.

“We have always stated our desire to have a commercial free to air network to work with Fox Sports in delivering football to the Australian public and this is a positive sign that football is valued highly by the commercial FTA networks.”

Ange Postecoglou’s men sit on top of Group B in final stage qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in front of Saudi Arabia only on goal difference. It promises to be a massive clash in front of 65,000 fans in Jeddah.

The Caltex Socceroos will then fly to Melbourne to renew its rivalry with Japan at Docklands Stadium on Tuesday night (11 October).


image: http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/FFA_Socceroos/37/40/socceroos-v-japan-banner_blo6hu1m2dq21hh4hm0yw3rwj.jpg?t=-672786019




2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Match Details

Saudi Arabia v Caltex Socceroos

Thursday 6 October 2016

King Abdullah Stadium, Jeddah

8.45pm kick off (4.45am Friday AEDT)

Caltex Socceroos v Japan

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Docklands Stadium, Melbourne

8pm kick off (AEDT)


Read more at http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...bmlqyv02e34k1jtobcf4l5m8g#JPHfaUXhuDRtff9W.99
I'm heading down to melb for the Japan game (Timmy's 50th).

 

[Rowdy]

Australia primed for Saudi bout:

Australia are set to contend against an angry crowd and sweltering weather as they search for another 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

Ange Postecoglou's side will face the Saudis at the King Abdullah Sports City in front of what is expected to be a sold out crowd of more than 62,000 in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.

Despite the challenging conditions, the Socceroos believe they are well prepared for the match, having beating the United Arab Emirates in similar conditions in Dubai in September while not compromising on Postecoglou's high-intensity attacking game-plan.

This is expected to be a tougher test however, with Saudi Arabia remaining unbeaten in their qualification campaign so far, but regardless of the opposition or the conditions Australia don't plan on changing what has been a successful blueprint.

"The growth of the team has been such that we're embracing the whole challenge now of trying to play our football in difficult circumstances, especially away from home," Postecoglou said.

"The guys believe in it now - not that they never had, but they're executing a lot better.

"We've still got areas to improve but, playing away from home in front of a hostile crowd in tough climatic conditions, doesn't mean we have to adjust our game and that's the biggest progress we've made."

Postecoglou maintains he is yet to settle on a formation but has a number of options at his disposal, having played with two different structures during their victories over Iraq and UAE. The first an attacking 4-3-3 with wingers and a centre forward, and an alternative two-striker system that allowed the star midfield trio Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic and Massimo Luongo to take the field together.

James Jeggo and Craig Goodwin are in contention for bench roles having impressed in camp so far, while Tim Cahill has been pushing for a starting spot having scored the winner against UAE.

"Everyone's a chance - that's why they're here," Postecoglou said.

 

[Tevor]

Positive is the points we picked up however letting a lead slip is not ideal. Not sure Ange had the best game plan as waited unti 84 mins in oppressive heat to put some fresh legs on the park. KSA made earlier subs and those subs created and scored the equaliser when the Roos looked spent. Game plan also not executed very well as conceding in the first 5 was probably against the plan to weather the storm in the first 20 mins then break them down. We did well though to work our way back to a 2 - 1 lead and without Timmy. Rogic had a blinder IMO.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Positive is the points we picked up however letting a lead slip is not ideal. Not sure Ange had the best game plan as waited unti 84 mins in oppressive heat to put some fresh legs on the park. KSA made earlier subs and those subs created and scored the equaliser when the Roos looked spent. Game plan also not executed very well as conceding in the first 5 was probably against the plan to weather the storm in the first 20 mins then break them down. We did well though to work our way back to a 2 - 1 lead and without Timmy. Rogic had a blinder IMO.

Irvine should have been brought on earlier no doubt. Milligan was fairly terrible at right back both defensively and offensively McGowan would have done a much better job don't understand how Ange thought that was an option.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Agree with both posts above. Thought Tommy was our best. Mile was clearly not at his best - presumably due to club situation. Was probably our worst. That said, I think what hurt us most was poor execution up front - both final ball and finishing. We had more than enough dominance to win. Milligan was also a mistake at RB - but to be fair he looked better than mile - and I can see ange's reasoning given he wanted to bring mile in - and he doesn't want to drop Milligan or mooy. Mooy also started poorly but improved.

Juric is solid but I just don't see him as the answer. Compared to even top HAL strikers he falls well short - Belisha, Fornaroli, even Keogh and Roy O haVe shown greater ability imo. I want our leading socceroo striker to be better than HAL level. So I still feel like this is an issue moving forward.

 

[Big Al]

Pretty bad defensive mistakes. They also gave Abdulrahim way to much space last game. This time got burnt.

I thought Juric was good. Think Kruse is way out of form even though he got the assist.

Rogic was good for 5mins that's it. He would be better coming on after 65m in those hot conditions away from home. To late now.

Big save from Matty.

Milligan is not a RB. We are very weak there.

Mile was pretty shit as well. Doesn't suit the quick Asian teams

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Thought Tommy was the only one who was able to consistently open up the Saudis. Juric times his run properly and tommy has put him through for an almost certain goal - and should have probably had another assist also. Kruse looked under done agree.

 

[Tevor]

Pumped for this game tonight and Japan have not appeared to be in good form so far but I expect they will lift against the Champions of Asia. Will be very interested in see the run on squad and a lot of players looked spent after the Saudi game then add the travel. Timmy to be a super sub again if you read between the lines of Ange's last interview, Kruse to be rested as well and perhaps Burns will get a good run. Apparently this is an unusual position for the Samurai as they are normally leading the table and one foot at the Cup already, interesting to see how they handle it if they go down tonight. We should be find as we are used to putting ourselves under pressure in WC Qualifying rounds.

 

[Rowdy]

Wouldn't mind seing Jackson Irvine get a start at DM if Jedinak is unfit/ or alongside of him or Milligan if either of them are playing.

Cant see Milligan getting another run at RB, he was caught out quite a bit against KSA. McGowan most likely replacement but I'd rather see Melb.Victory's Jason Geria at RB.

The AUS v JAP game is in Melb. so no reason why Postecoglou can't draft Geria into the squad, ample time to recover similar to team mate Tim Cahill who'll he play against in the Melb.Derby on Sat ???

Irvine's natural position is as a DM but has a higher level of skills technically for a defensive player, with the ball at feet & carrying forward - he looks very comfortable.

Irvine could provide a nice addition to Ange's attack, with him pushing higher up the pitch, with late runs into the box or from the edges of the 18yrd.

He's banging in goals for fun at Burton Albion, why not for the Socceroos ???

 

[Rowdy]

Fantastic little video feature by Fox on the 'Making of Mile Jedinak', from a junior with:
Syd.Untd -->
Sth Coast Wolves-->
CCM -->
Genclerbirligi S.K. -->
Crystal Palace -->
Aston Villa & Capt. The Socceroos.

Makes you proud he started his professional career as a Mariner !

 

[Rowdy]

Cant see Milligan getting another run at RB, he was caught out quite a bit against KSA. McGowan most likely replacement ...

Tick ✔

Starting XI:

Ryan

McGowan -- Sainsbury --- Spiranovic -- Smith

Jedinak

Luongo -------------------------------- Mooy

Rogic


Juric ------------------ Giannou​

 

[Big Al]

Not convinced about Giannnou but Kruse and Leckie probably cooked after Saudi Arabia

 

[VicMariner]

Seeing as we can't post links anymore, can anyone PM me a stream??

ETA
Nevermind. Found it on tv. 9.....

 

[sydmariner]

Tick ✔

Starting XI:

Ryan

McGowan -- Sainsbury --- Spiranovic -- Smith

Jedinak

Luongo -------------------------------- Mooy

Rogic


Juric ------------------ Giannou​

I'm at the game & all the ex ccm boys are in the starting 11 & cahill & kruse are on the bench

 

[sydmariner]

Shit Japan just scored

 

[VicMariner]

We seem to be maintaining possession well and getting the ball back quickly.
Japan are not as sharp as the last time I watched them.

 

[Rowdy]

Just lacking goid execution of the final ball & the odd poor pass.