The Socceroos thread.

[sydmariner]

So we have to beat a team ranked 68 then a team ranked 22 to face teams rated 3, 11 and 35. good lick with that

We played France & Denmark in 2018.

 

[sydmariner]

Hopefully Marco has a better chance than us (he scored in a world cup btw)

 

[Big Al]

Looks like Arnie was playing it smart all along.
Japan scored Spain and Germany.
Much easier draw for us coming through the qualifying tournament as warm up games and Arnie will be deemed a hero for the miraculous recovery. Arnie is a step ahead.

 

[pjennings]

Let's assume for chuckles that we actually make Qatar. Let's also assume no long term injuries/illnesses with the exception of Souttar who is only due back in the weeks before


Who would be in your squad? What formation would you play? What would be your preferred staring XI?

 

[booney]

Big assumption but sort of fun

GK : Ryan,Vukovic,Birraz
RB : Atkinson,Karacic

 

[booney]

Sorry hit wrong button.
LB : King,Behich
CB : Sains,Degenek,Rowles,Stens
DM: Luongo,Mooy
AM: Rogic,Genreau,Hrustic
RW: Boyle,Tilio
LW: Mabil,Goodwin
CF: MacLaren,Cummings,D'Agostino,Duke

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

Ryan

Atkinson Sains Degenek King

Mooy Luongo

Boyle Rogic Goodwin

Cummings

 

[pjennings]

I have gone reasonably similar

Nominally 4-3-3

GK : Ryan,Vukovic,Birraz
RB : Karacic,Atkinson
LB : Behich, Davidson
CB : Sains,Degenek,Rowles,Stens

Central midfielders - noting that Sainbsury and Stens can cover if needed as a DM

Luongo, Mooy, Nisbet, Rogic,

Wide midfielders / attackers - noting that Nizz can RM if required

Goodwin, Boyle, Tilio, Hrustic

Central Attackers - noting Duke can play LW if needed

Cummings, Fornaroli, Kuol, Duke,

Some notes

• Ideally I would convince Langerak back.
• I thought seriously about Judas Holland but couldn't do it.
• I don't rate Hrustic in the middle but he does have a deadly free kick so would probably put him wide.
• I don't rate Maclaren unless we control the midfield so he misses out.
• I do rate Daggers but put Alou in front of him for his ability to create something out of nothing. We need a striker that is different when we are chasing the game.
• I rate Nizz highly

Starting XI


Ryan

Karacic Sains Degenek Behich

----------Luongo----------

---Rogic-----------Mooy----

Boyle----Cummings----Duke

I would be tempted to start Nizz in front of Mooy since I'm not sure see Mooy as a 90 min player still. Mooy would then come on for Rogic to retain position or we needed to control the game better or otherwise for Nizz

 

[booney]

It's a pity we can't play a couple of friendlies before the playoffs. Players like King,Luongo,Cummings and yes indeed Nizzie could be given game time to see if they could meld into the team.

 

[Melange]

Tommy having a very good game against Rangers

 

[FFC Mariner]

Doesn't have to rely on Mooy to give him the ball

 

[booney]

Tommy having a very good game against Rangers

Yep definitely .I wish he could play like that for the Socceroos-with him on song we would destroy most Asian teams and even give Japan a game.

 

[sydmariner]

'You never know until game-day': Stensness opens up on road to Socceroos debut

Playing around the world for club and country, Gianni Stensness took a unique road to his maiden Socceroos cap.&nbsp

www.socceroos.com.au

 

[Wombat]

Doesn't look like a squad that could get out of the group stages tbh. (Btw Stens is not a CB.)

 

[sydmariner]

Match details confirmed for FIFA World Cup™ intercontinental play-offs

FIFA has confirmed the match details for June's FIFA World Cup™ intercontinental play-offs, which will see four

www.socceroos.com.au

 

[Man Overboard]

I am appalled by Qatar hosting the Cup. Its not just the bribery to secure it, the failure to provide the airconditioned stadia that were part of the bid, the disgusting human rights record, the anti-semitism, the misogyny [remember the Australian women cavity searched at the airport], or the fundamentalist islamic fascism that permeates this nation. The latest is the 6500 deaths by migrant construction workers, and the bizarre response by Infantino. It will make no difference to anyone but me, but I refuse to watch any of the games and will be notifying the broadcaster and FIFA exactly why that is.

 

[marinermick]

I am appalled by Qatar hosting the Cup. Its not just the bribery to secure it, the failure to provide the airconditioned stadia that were part of the bid, the disgusting human rights record, the anti-semitism, the misogyny [remember the Australian women cavity searched at the airport], or the fundamentalist islamic fascism that permeates this nation. The latest is the 6500 deaths by migrant construction workers, and the bizarre response by Infantino. It will make no difference to anyone but me, but I refuse to watch any of the games and will be notifying the broadcaster and FIFA exactly why that is.

I agree with everything you have posted. Fortunately I will have no interest with Italy out and Australia likely to follow.

 

[booney]

I am appalled by Qatar hosting the Cup. Its not just the bribery to secure it, the failure to provide the airconditioned stadia that were part of the bid, the disgusting human rights record, the anti-semitism, the misogyny [remember the Australian women cavity searched at the airport], or the fundamentalist islamic fascism that permeates this nation. The latest is the 6500 deaths by migrant construction workers, and the bizarre response by Infantino. It will make no difference to anyone but me, but I refuse to watch any of the games and will be notifying the broadcaster and FIFA exactly why that is.

Every point you make is valid and in today's Herald Peter FitzSimons says the same thing,especially highlighting Infantino's ludicrous response.

FIFA is a corrupt organisation ,all about money and power.There are good football people who work for it, particularly those who provide technical football expertise to the organisation and member federations but the upper echelons of FIFA are on the nose.

However to be honest if the Socceroos do qualify I won't be able to resist watching their games. I will assuage my conscience by thinking about other major sporting events held in nations with poor human rights records-2018 WC Russia,2008 Olympics Beijing,1978 WC Argentina,1936 Olympics Berlin - which did attract criticism but these criticisms were mostly ignored by the world's populace.

 

[Man Overboard]

I also read Fitzys piece and it finally triggered me to say something.
Yes, its easier to be outraged when we don't have skin in the game, and yes we have not always responded appropriately in the past, but we should not underestimate the power of bad publicity. I am old enough to remember the ban on South African [Apartheid] sport, and although it took economic sanctions to really make a difference, the boycott helped highlight the problem. Its a pity that the proposed Qatar boycott [I think England proposed one shortly after the rigged vote] did not gain traction. I'm a great believer in the expression that 'Evil flourishes when good men do nothing'. I am pleasantly surprised by the wests belated support for Ukraine.
On another note, if there are 6500 deaths, there are probably an additional 15k+ injuries that have not been mentioned. Not all workplace injuries are deaths just as all battle casualties are not deaths- there are usually around two to three times as many wounded as killed in battle. I know that the comparisons are not ideal, but lacking any other info, its the best I can come up with.
BTW I DID contact the Minister for Sport [Kate Ellis] prior to the 2008 Peking games protesting our participation in a propaganda coup for a totalitarian police state with a shocking human rights record. The response? Something along the lines that we can better influence Communist China by engaging them. Well, THAT hasnt worked out real well.

 

[Insertnamehere]

I am appalled by Qatar hosting the Cup. Its not just the bribery to secure it, the failure to provide the airconditioned stadia that were part of the bid, the disgusting human rights record, the anti-semitism, the misogyny [remember the Australian women cavity searched at the airport], or the fundamentalist islamic fascism that permeates this nation. The latest is the 6500 deaths by migrant construction workers, and the bizarre response by Infantino. It will make no difference to anyone but me, but I refuse to watch any of the games and will be notifying the broadcaster and FIFA exactly why that is.

Money talks to FIFA.

 

[Man Overboard]

Sepp Blatter subbed off, Infantino subbed on-a like for like change