Socceroos World Cup Qualifiers Third Round - Australia V Saudi Arabia/China

[Minka Beaver]

I find it hard to be too critical considering the torrential rain. A couple of missed chances and we looked tired from the hour mark. I would have liked to see Jamie Maclaren get a run. Matthew Leckie worked damn hard - with zero fitness base - in what was effectively a striker-less side.

A good result for both sides, amplified by Japan failing to make up goal difference against Vietnam and Oman failing to capitalise on the Sharjah game to take three points off China.

Even if we fall to third position at this point, the next round is likely to be against a poor side such as Lebanon or Iraq.

Hervé Renard is the epitome of the European career coach working in Africa or Asia.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Do we play the South American 5th placed side this time if we do go through the play offs? Be nice to get Oceania for once! Colombia currently 5th in that group, we would be no chance over two legs against them.

Hrustic looks very promising but fell out of the game second half. Jeggo did his job so can’t criticize him too much. Problem was Irvine works hard but doesn’t offer much to break sides down, and we didn’t have a Rogic or Mooy to throw on after an hour.

Mabil can play, just needs to get game time at club level. But nostarting or even giving Maclaren minutes was the real mystery. Closest to a poaching striker we have.

Given how fatigued they looked I would play Dougall and Elder against China.

what’s happened to Amini?

 

[ioppolo]

Do we play the South American 5th placed side this time if we do go through the play offs? Be nice to get Oceania for once! Colombia currently 5th in that group, we would be no chance over two legs against them.

Hrustic looks very promising but fell out of the game second half. Jeggo did his job so can’t criticize him too much. Problem was Irvine works hard but doesn’t offer much to break sides down, and we didn’t have a Rogic or Mooy to throw on after an hour.

Mabil can play, just needs to get game time at club level. But nostarting or even giving Maclaren minutes was the real mystery. Closest to a poaching striker we have.

Given how fatigued they looked I would play Dougall and Elder against China.

what’s happened to Amini?

AFC is due to play Oceania as last time we played Honduras.

 

[corbies]

AFC is due to play Oceania as last time we played Honduras.

I think it's a random draw still isn't it?

 

[Zidane98]

Harry Soutar has done his ACL. Soggy pitch a factor?

 

[FreoRicci]

Harry Soutar has done his ACL. Soggy pitch a factor?

s**t. Stoke will be furious. Definite starting centre back in most EPL sides.

 

[Zidane98]

sh*t. Stoke will be furious. Definite starting centre back in most EPL sides.

Yeah he is a beast, our Aussie Van Dijk.


Should be available for Qatar 2022 with it being in 12 months time.

 

[FreoRicci]

Yeah he is a beast, our Aussie Van Dijk.


Should be available for Qatar 2022 with it being in 12 months time.

Only 23. His transfer value prior to injury was high.
Let’s make the World Cup first, shall we? Degenek should be good back up. Not the back 4 that’s the problem.
Really should hammer China to keep the gap between 2nd and 3rd. Anything less, Australia will struggle to even make 3rd.

 

[Zidane98]

Only 23. His transfer value prior to injury was high.
Let’s make the World Cup first, shall we? Degenek should be good back up. Not the back 4 that’s the problem.
Really should hammer China to keep the gap between 2nd and 3rd. Anything less, Australia will struggle to even make 3rd.

We need a win against China. Hopefully a Saudi - Japan draw.

 

[FreoRicci]

We need a win against China. Hopefully a Saudi - Japan draw.

Oman play Japan again, who they beat last time they met. A draw there would be nice, however Japan are on a roll now.
Can’t see Vietnam troubling Saudis unfortunately.

 

[Minka Beaver]

Oman v Japan is an enormous game. A draw or a narrow Oman win makes it very hard for Japan to look beyond third. At some point Japan need to claw back goal difference too.

 

[FreoRicci]

Saudi Arabia get the 1 nil win. It’s minimum but it’s enough

 

[FreoRicci]

Duke starts. Interesting. Maclaren still benched.
Would’ve been nice to give Nikita a chance.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Irvine should have buried that.

 

[FreoRicci]

Irvine should have buried that.

He’s been poor this period of games. Last week vs Saudis should’ve had one almost similar

 

[FreoRicci]

Arnold from the old school of crosses.

 

[FreoRicci]

Have no plan. Just crossing in.

 

[omgfridge]

Hope that player is alright from slight nudge.

Thoughts and prayers.

 

[FreoRicci]

Finally a decent cross and it’s well placed. Duke is pretty decent as a forward. Doing alright

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Great ball in from Boyle. Has looked our most dangerous player.

 

[FreoRicci]

Ffs bury that with your left Leckie!

 

[omgfridge]

Ffs bury that with your left Leckie!

Such a good ball from Hrustic too.

Leckie so out of touch.

 

[Fabab]

Need to be taking our chances at this level.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Is Leckie drunk out there?

Hrustic looks good.

 

[FreoRicci]

Jeez. This is bad. One goal is never enough