Socceroos International Friendlies - Australia V Venezuela / Colombia

[giggler99]

Back in the U.S.A for more preparation for next years World Cup this time against South American opponents. What are we expecting? how will we fare? Who do we want to see prove themselves that they can cut it in next years World Cup?

International Friendly
Venezuela V Australia

When:
Saturday 15th November 2025

Time:
1:00pm AESDT, 12:00pm AEST 12:30pm ACSDT 10:00am AWST

Where:
Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas

Broadcast: N/A Streaming: Paramount Plus


International Friendly
Colombia V Australia

When:
Wednesday 18th November 2025

Time:
12:00pm AESDT, 11:00am AEST 11:30am ACSDT 9:00am AWST

Where:
Citi Field, Queens, New York


Broadcast: N/A Streaming: Paramount Plus

Socceroos Squad:​

Name	Current Club, Country	‘A’ Caps (Goals)	Junior Club (Member Federation/Country)
Max BALARD	NAC Breda, Netherlands	4 (1)	Maccabi Hakoah FC / Football NSW
Patrick BEACH (Gk)	Melbourne City FC	0	Mt Druitt Rangers / Football NSW
Martin BOYLE	Hibernian FC, Scotland	38 (10)	Lewis United FC / Montrose FC (Scotland)
Cameron BURGESS	Swansea, Wales	21	ECU Joondalup / Football West
Nicholas D’AGOSTINO	Viking, Norway	4	Runaway Bay / Football QLD
Milos DEGENEK	FK TSC, Serbia	52 (1)	Blacktown City FC / Football NSW
Cameron DEVLIN	Hearts, Scotland	4	Sutherland Sharks / Football NSW
Callum ELDER	Derby County, England	1	Manly United / Football NSW
Jason GERIA	Albirex Niigata, Japan	10	Weston Molonglo Football Club / Capital Football
Craig GOODWIN	Adelaide United FC	31 (7)	Munno Parra City / Football SA
Nestory IRANKUNDA	Watford, England	9 (3)	Adelaide Croatia Raiders / Football SA
Jack IREDALE	Hibernian, Scotland	0	ECU Joondalup / Football West
Jackson IRVINE	St Pauli, Germany	78 (14)	Ringwood City / Football Victoria
Paul IZZO (Gk)	Randers FC, Denmark	3	Campbelltown City SC / Football SA
Deni JURIC	Wisla Plock, Poland	0	Hurstville Zagreb FC / Football NSW
Riley McGREE	Middlesbrough, Scotland	31 (1)	Gawler Eagles / Football SA
Connor METCALFE	St Pauli, Germany	30 (1)	South Cardiff FC / Northern NSW Football
Lewis MILLER	Blackburn Rovers, England	17 (1)	Pittwater RSL FC / Football NSW
Paul OKON-ENGSTLER	Sydney FC	0	Marconi Stallions / Football NSW
Aiden O’NEILL	New York City FC, USA	25	University of Queensland Football Club / Football QLD
James OVERY	Manchester United, England	0	Perth Glory /Football West
Kye ROWLES	DC United, USA	27 (1)	Palm Beach SC / Football QLD
Mat RYAN (Gk)	Levante UD, Spain	101	Blacktown City / Football NSW
Al Hassan TOURE	Sydney FC	0	Croydon Kings / Football SA
Mohamed TOURE	Randers FC, Denmark	6 (2)	Croydon Kings / Football SA
Kai TREWIN	Melbourne City FC	0	Gungahlin United / Football ACT

​

 

[Jeremias]

Next few days will be a fascinating watch with a real rankings fight on our hands.

We currently sit in pot 3 but it’s very tight between South Korea, Ecuador, Australia and Austria.

South Korea and Ecuador currently sit in pot 2.

Australia (current rank 25) - Venezuela (50), Colombia (13)

South Korea (22) - Bolivia (76), Ghana (73)

Ecuador (23) - Canada (28), New Zealand (85)

Austria (24) - Cyprus (125), Bosnia & Herzegovina (75) + potentially playoffs

Gut feel is we miss out on pot 2 but it is very close.

 

[Jeremias]

 

[chef]

Jossip Simunovic Skokovic
Mark Frank Viduka
Harry Luke Kewell
James Mark Bresciano

Dude enough of this shit, post normally or not at all.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Dude enough of this shit, post normally or not at all.

Ang Fostercogolu?


Ok ok. Starting from, now.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

If we need to win to get seeding why debut 3 players?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

What's the level of this socceroo team? Genuine question.

 

[Colonial]

Hmmm not the best quality so far

 

[Jeremias]

That’s an unbelievably good save

 

[amazingjoshy]

Ripped apart then

 

[Colonial]

Ripped apart then

It was soft as.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Not watching but weak if we need to win to get a better seed. Stupid for debuting 3 players. Flash back to mid 2000's where we drew with these guys Arango scoring the equaliser in the 90th minute or stoppage time. **** time flies.

 

[Jeremias]

Disappointing to be caught out defensively like that.

Nestory has 6 or so months to grow up otherwise he shouldn’t be starting.

Too easy to get into his head. It was a bit soft but it was late and there was no need for it, and now he’s walking on egg shells until he’s subbed off or the end of the game.

Much rather see him come in off the bench to impact against tired defenders.

 

[gaskin]

Hmmm not the best quality so far

You expect anything different after the last few years?

 

[Colonial]

You expect anything different after the last few years?

More of a hope

 

[amazingjoshy]

Venezuela could hold the ball for the whole game if they wanted to and im not sure there's anything we could do about it

 

[largebus]

Way to honour the 20th anniversary of that match vs Uruguay.

The pot 1 dream was fun while it lasted. Overall Popa ball has been a net positive but it can also produce absolute slop like this game.

Irvine needs to start next match because our midfield is a wet noodle. Hat trick for Luis Díaz coming up.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Really poor loss.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

Surprising loss.

To put that into a bit of context, Bolivia are the 8th ranked best nation out of 10 in CONMEBOL. Australia play Colombia (3rd best in CONMEBOL) next.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Poor starting 11?

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

Poor starting 11?

I think so. Havent seen too much of Okon , Trewin and Lewis Miller to be honest.

Feels like an English Championship level mid-tier squad at best.


Also having watched A-League I dont say this with any disrespect but its about League One (English ) standard. So this is the standard Craig Goodwin has put himself , since coming back from Saudi Arabia, which is a better or more financially driven league and better overall quality players.

 

[FreoRicci]

Thought played okay.
Pretty obvious really miss a force in the midfield.
A Jedinak, most importantly an Aaron Mooy. Someone to hold the ball up, distribute. That’s the weakest link in Australia, the central mid.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

Thought played okay.
Pretty obvious really miss a force in the midfield.
A Jedinak, most importantly an Aaron Mooy. Someone to hold the ball up, distribute. That’s the weakest link in Australia, the central mid.

Hate to say this based on rankings, these are the types of sides Australia shouldn't be losing to.

Games aren't played on rankings alone but it can't be a good sign confronting America sides especially from CONEMBOL and CONCACAF in next years World Cup. Australia already lost to USA in their international friendly in their last international fixtures over there.

England, France are a level above the Socceroos too- maybe a 3-4 goal better side. Of the teams currently top in UEFA World Cup qualifying: Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, fairly confident right now those sides mentioned would beat the Socceroos by at least 2-3 goals right now. Austria, Croatia and Denmark is more Australias level right now. Those latter 3 sides are currently top of their groups in UEFA qualifying. Aussies would be praying somehow they can get matched up with an : Austria, Croatia and Denmark right now.

 

[FreoRicci]

Hate to say this based on rankings, these are the types of sides Australia shouldn't be losing to.

Games aren't played on rankings alone but it can't be a good sign confronting America sides especially from CONEMBOL and CONCACAF in next years World Cup. Australia already lost to USA in their international friendly in their last international fixtures over there.

England, France are a level above the Socceroos too- maybe a 3-4 goal better side. Of the teams currently top in UEFA World Cup qualifying: Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, fairly confident right now those sides mentioned would beat the Socceroos by at least 2-3 goals right now. Austria, Croatia and Denmark is more Australias level right now. Those latter 3 sides are currently top of their groups in UEFA qualifying. Aussies would be praying somehow they can get matched up with an : Austria, Croatia and Denmark right now.

South America will always crap all over Australia. Rankings don’t tell the full story.
Play with flair, possession and directness.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

South America will always crap all over Australia. Rankings don’t tell the full story.
Play with flair, possession and directness.

Especially in that part of the world, with a large Latino population. It feels like its worth a 0.5 goal head start alone.

Just saw the Veneuzela goal:




Yikes I can imagine a Doku (from Belgium) or any team with a right winger looking to exploit that much space, Anthony Gordon from England, Doue (from France)...............lol