Socceroos (Graham Arnold and) The Socceroos Thread

[TheGreatBarryB]

Craig Foster now on Nine sports show. Talked about euro playoff draw and before that our qualifying chances. Said well last time we had to go through playoffs and we beat Honduras and said we may have to go same route this time….simply not aware draw against South America already done. And he’s the chief Stan/Nine analyst!

 

[corbies]

You'd hope we could knock off UAE or Lebanon (even in the middle east). Iraq...I'm not so sure.

Couldn't knock off UAE at the Asian Cup.

 

[gaskin]

Home game against Vietnam on the 27th of January is in Melbourne.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Arnold not planning to cap Cristian Volpato only to tie him to the Socceroos for life immediately.
He prefers him to make the decision himself whether he wants to play for us or Italy.
So in a way if he really wants to play for Australia than he'll still decide to do so in the future, but if Italy ends up selecting him before us, then he may accept on the assumption that Italy seems to want him more.
Depending on how good he turns out to be, it could turn out to be a decision that we may regret.
In turn, he might regret not the chance to play for the Azzurri in the future if he accepts a Socceroos call-up.
Bold move by Arnie either way.

‘He has to live with that’: Arnold won’t give Serie A prodigy cheap Socceroos cap just to lock him in

‘He has to live with that’: Arnold won’t hand Serie A prodigy Socceroos cap just to lock him in

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[gaskin]

Arnie can try to cap him all he wants but it is still the up to the player which national team he wants to play for.

 

[Elmer_Judd]

Arnold not planning to cap Cristian Volpato only to tie him to the Socceroos for life immediately.
He prefers him to make the decision himself whether he wants to play for us or Italy.
So in a way if he really wants to play for Australia than he'll still decide to do so in the future, but if Italy ends up selecting him before us, then he may accept on the assumption that Italy seems to want him more.
Depending on how good he turns out to be, it could turn out to be a decision that we may regret.
In turn, he might regret not the chance to play for the Azzurri in the future if he accepts a Socceroos call-up.
Bold move by Arnie either way.

‘He has to live with that’: Arnold won’t give Serie A prodigy cheap Socceroos cap just to lock him in

‘He has to live with that’: Arnold won’t hand Serie A prodigy Socceroos cap just to lock him in

www.foxsports.com.au

I happen to agree with Arnie, the kid has a much better chance to have a significant International career with us than Italy, but I like that he has not forced him into making decision

Just my opinion anyway

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Arnie can try to cap him all he wants but it is still the up to the player which national team he wants to play for.

But in the article he has apparently said that he would consider making a decision early if the Socceroos contact him about playing for them.

Volpato told BeINSports he was focused on getting more match time with Roma rather than worrying about which nation he would represent.

“I’m just trying to get more Serie A minutes, but of course if the Socceroos call me, maybe it’s a different conversation,” Volpato said.

“It’s not an easy one in many ways: I was born and raised in Australia but my blood is Italian. It’s hard.”

 

[gaskin]

But in the article he has apparently said that he would consider making a decision early if the Socceroos contact him about playing for them.

Yes, consider making a decision. Arnie can't cap him without Volpato agreeing to represent Australia.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Anyone bought tickets for the Vietnam game? I bought mine but didn't get the SMS and got a message from Ticketek saying that there is a problem delivering tickets via SMS.

The ability to download the tickets doesn't appear in my app, either.

Ticketek make it very difficult for you to ring them, so just checking the collective wisdom before I throw myself off the deep end.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

 

[giggler99]

 

[Dixie Flatline]

 

[giggler99]

Good article, we can’t forget what’s happening in Qatar well done to Jackson for speaking out!

‘It’s important’: Why the Socceroos are getting vocal over the Qatar World Cup​

Vince RugariJanuary 24, 2022 — 11.52am
Jackson Irvine knows what he’s about to say won’t go down well with some people - that he’s speaking out about the World Cup in Qatar when, right now, there’s no guarantee the Socceroos will actually be there.
“I know, when people read conversations like this, they’ll think, ‘bloody hell, we’re in a tricky situation for qualifying’ and all of these things,” he told the Herald and The Age. “I just think they’re outwith [separate from] each other.”

Jackson Irvine has found a true home at St Pauli, a club he says is proof that sport and politics can be successfully mixed.Getty
Want proof that sport and politics can mix successfully? Irvine is living it every day at St. Pauli, the famed left-wing club in Hamburg, Germany, which sits second in the 2.Bundesliga and firmly on course for promotion. Last week, they knocked off Erling Haaland’s Borussia Dortmund to reach the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals; as they prevailed 2-1, the badge on their jerseys was overlaid with rainbow colours in a nod to LGBTIQ+ communities.
Taking a stand, be it against fascism or for refugees, clearly hasn’t impacted their football this season.
“It’s such a cool place. It’s amazing to have just an absolute ‘no dickheads’ policy,” Irvine laughs.
“The values of the club are so clear. You can’t exist within this community if you don’t uphold these values and actively engage. That’s what it’s all about. It totally aligns with the way that I see the world. We live and breathe it, it’s part of the fabric and the identity of the club, and it’s well established, but it just shows that it can be done - you can create an environment where you don’t just have to do [tokenistic] things for a round, just to tick a box. You can really support these issues and embrace communities that need the support.”

Workers walk to the Lusail Stadium, one of the venues for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.AP
Being immersed in this environment has emboldened Irvine, an already socially aware individual, to take the next step in his footballing activism and join the few players from around the world who are using their profiles to pressure Qatar into improving their human rights record. Thousands of migrant workers have died utterly preventable deaths while building the glitzy, high-tech stadiums that will hold the world’s attention in 10 months’ time. As Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo has also pointed out, it’s currently illegal to be gay there.
The German, Dutch, Belgian and Danish national teams have all made collective stances on Qatar, wearing t-shirts before matches last year bearing messages that champion human rights and promising further protests down the line. While retired greats like Tim Cahill and David Beckham have signed rich ambassadorial deals with Qatar, Matthijs de Ligt, Leon Goretzka, Tim Sparv, Toni Kroos are among a small handful of current players around the world to have used their platform to criticise the oil-rich nation and the way it is preparing for the tournament.
When Socceroos players fly into Melbourne in the coming days ahead of Thursday night’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Vietnam, this discussion will be bouncing around the walls of their dressing room as Irvine, Mat Ryan and other politically minded players contemplate further steps.
Football Australia, wary of the organisation’s politically precarious position in the Asian confederation as it contemplates a bid to co-host the World Cup in 2034, had previously discouraged Australian players from making a stand on Qatar, according to multiple sources. They’re doing it anyway - aided by their union, Professional Footballers Australia, which has helped players decode what can be a complex issue by facilitating talks with human rights groups and migrant workers on the ground in Qatar, and letting them form their own opinions.

Amnesty International activists unfurl a banner on the building of the French soccer federation in Paris. It reads: “Thousands have died in Qatar and the football federation has not said a word.”AP
“To be honest, it’s just been one of those things that we’ve kind of separated from the federation, I guess,” Irvine said.
“As players, we’re a separate entity. Of course, we represent the national team and are proud to do so, and the federation plays its part in other things, but for us this was more just about us doing it ourselves and understanding that that was the most important thing. If we do that outwith the national team set-up ... it was still going to be something that we pursued in some form.”

Mathew Ryan, one of Australia’s most senior Socceroos, is also critical of Qatar.Getty
Irvine is not alone. Ryan, the Real Sociedad goalkeeper and one of the Socceroos’ most senior figures, is also on board.
“The World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and our absolute focus is on ensuring we qualify,” Ryan said. “Equally, we know that the World Cup can leave a legacy both on and off the pitch and that by speaking up we can positively impact the lives of those who are building the stadiums we hope to play in and who will remain in Qatar long after the tournament ends.”
The Matildas, of course, won’t be going to Qatar - but two players, Aivi Luik and Elise Kellond-Knight, spoke to workers in Qatar through briefings set up last year through the PFA, FIFPro, Amnesty International and global union Building and Wood Workers’ International.
“Being able to speak directly and ask questions to some of the workers responsible for building the stadiums, I was able to gain some clarity on the current situation on the ground,” Luik said. “And while it seems that labour reforms and conditions have gotten better, it’s evident more needs to be done in ensuring they are implemented and abided by.”
Irvine remembers how these conversations sparked up when Qatar controversially beat Australia to the hosting rights for this World Cup back in 2010. He also remembers how quickly they faded away. Since FIFA’s announcement over a decade ago, more than 6500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar, according to The Guardian, while many thousands more have been exploited or otherwise violated.
Qatar has routinely denied or downplayed the number of worker deaths and reports regarding the conditions they work under, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino - who now reportedly lives in Qatar - has argued the country has made social progress because it was awarded the World Cup rights.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reportedly moved to Qatar.AP
“I still think a lot of people haven’t fully processed what’s going to be happening,” Irvine said.
“And it wasn’t probably until the last four or five years, where there’s been a bit more research and a lot more public pressure and light being shone on specific issues that have been happening over there - that’s probably fallen into place with where I am in my life personally, and how more comfortable I am to learn and speak about these issues.
“From the second we step off that plane, as footballers, you’re affecting these communities. We’re in a unique position to push for lasting change and the cooperation between the players and these migrant workers is the starting point to improve those conditions.”
The Socceroos will discuss the possibility of further collective action in the coming weeks and months. Those who don’t want to take part, or aren’t across the issues in detail, won’t have to.
“But I’ve made it clear that I think it’s important,” Irvine said.
“At the end of the day, as players, we can’t change laws, but what we can do is apply pressure from a position of influence to drive positive change and lasting change for the people who are suffering these terrible conditions, which is what we really want. Because the last thing that anyone wants is for this light to dim post-World Cup.
“That’s got to be where the conversation leads a year down the road, and I’m sure we’ll continue to speak about that.”
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‘It’s important’: Why the Socceroos are getting vocal over the Qatar World Cup

Jackson Irvine has experienced first-hand proof that sport and politics can be mixed successfully - which is why he’s now prepared to speak up about the World Cup in Qatar and human rights abuses.

www.smh.com.au

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Anyone else going on Thursday? I'm really looking forward to it, until we start playing Arnie-ball 5 minutes in while they sit 10 behind the ball of course.

Be very interested to see what the starting XI is, no Hrustic either due to suspension.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Anyone else going on Thursday? I'm really looking forward to it, until we start playing Arnie-ball 5 minutes in while they sit 10 behind the ball of course.

Be very interested to see what the starting XI is, no Hrustic either due to suspension.

Aye. I'll be there.

 

[The Fonz]

If they drop points to Oman, have to sack Arnold. He's hopeless

 

[FreoRicci]

Surely he’s gone. No idea how to defend nor change tactics

 

[jhong]

Again gets nothing questions after the match . Media doing no favours for the public by letting Arnold avoid getting some serious questions to answer . After what the press put Ange through Arnold can consider himself fortunate indeed .

 

[Zidane98]

Get Rafa Benitez in ASAP

 

[Eastcoasteagle]

Did I read correctly Oman were missing 12 players due to covid, and we still drew???

In fairness, I thought that 86 minute penalty was extremely harsh.

 

[Fabab]

Garbage again,we have two tempos when we play,dead slow and stop ffs.

 

[giggler99]

Probably best we don't qualify! It will force a review, some sackings and a complete rebuild of our youth system which is well overdue.

 

[dwwaino]

Arnold was never up to it and it was only because of nepotism that he was appointed. We've probably been papering over the cracks for a while now, last Asian and World cups we were pretty bog average, but it's time for a clean out and review of the FFA from the top down. Whether we have the cattle or not, that sort of result in a must win against a second string Oman is simply not acceptable.

 

[Munga]

I still think the best prospects should be leaving Oz to play in Europe when young. When did Kewell leave, 14/15? If they aren't in Europe by 21yo it will be a struggle building a good enough world class national team. If they chase the big bucks at asian and arab clubs they probably aren't good enough/motivated enough to chase success on the biggest stage. Look at 2006 and the clubs they were at, chalk and cheese with today's squad. Our best 30 players should be in Europe 1st Divs and to a lesser extent 2nd Divs.

AC Milan	Zeljko Kalac
Birmingham City	Stan Lazaridis
Blackburn Rovers	Lucas Neill
Blackburn Rovers	Brett Emerton
Bristol City	Luke Wilkshire
CD Alavés	John Aloisi
Central Coast Mariners	Michael Beauchamp
Crystal Palace	Tony Popovic
Dynamo Dresden	Joshua Kennedy
Everton FC	Tim Cahill
FC Basel	Scott Chipperfield
FC Basel	Mile Sterjovski
Hammarby IF	Ante Čović
Liverpool FC	Harry Kewell
Middlesbrough FC	Mark Schwarzer
Middlesbrough FC	Mark Viduka
Newcastle United	Craig Moore
Parma FC	Mark Bresciano
Parma FC	Vince Grella
PSV Eindhoven	Jason Čulina
PSV Eindhoven	Archie Thompson
Stoke City	Josip Skoko
Sydney FC	Mark Milligan

 

[gaskin]

There is a difference between leaving young and leaving before you are ready. A lot of the young players are leaving at 18 when they would be better served leaving at 20/21 with 2-3 seasons of regular football in a tough league under their belt.