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2022 FIFA World Cup

How's me of all people starting a World Cup thread? I know SFA about the game but follow it whenever the Aussies play. From the untrained eye such as mine, our squads looks like one of the worst we have ever gone in with.
I'm sure they'll give it there all but the talent compared to other countries just isn't there. One of our best players in Rogic isn't even in the squad, something isn't right there. Would have preferred Ange as coach, Arnold comes across as a battler who is just in the same league as other coaches. We'll make up numbers and surely this will be curtains for him. Would love better than to knock off the Frogs on Wed morning, Ill be up watching.
Go the Socceroos.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

 

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #1
Im tipping Argentina to take the tournament.

Brazil and Portugal the other ones I'd be looking at as the potential winners.

Australia's chances are slim, but a chance is better than none, but this batch of soccerwhos are not going to achieve much.
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #2
Hope the AFL doesn’t get too many ideas from the World Cup. Imagine $21 beers. But I’m guessing the AFL would never follow the in-ground beer ban.

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #3
4-1 v France, I thought it would be 5-0 TBH. The gulf in talent and class between the sides was obvious.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #4
4-1 v France, I thought it would be 5-0 TBH. The gulf in talent and class between the sides was obvious.

Had they finished their chances better they would have put 7 in.  I thought we started very plucky and were doing what we could to stifle them, but when they went through the gears there was no going with them.  Going up 1-0 was possibly the worst thing that happened, because as soon as it did, they just really turned it up and went for it. 

"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #5
Had they finished their chances better they would have put 7 in.  I thought we started very plucky and were doing what we could to stifle them, but when they went through the gears there was no going with them.  Going up 1-0 was possibly the worst thing that happened, because as soon as it did, they just really turned it up and went for it. 


That early goal seemed to anger the French. We went too defensive IMO, should have taken a leaf out of Saudi Arabia's book v Arg, All or nothing.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #6
We went too defensive IMO, should have taken a leaf out of Saudi Arabia's book v Arg, All or nothing.
Agreed, I think we shizened the bed when we went a goal up early and it wasn't our kids that failed, it was some of the older blokes who seemed start struck by the French. It's like some of the squad went into the match with a "We can't defeat them" mindset!
The Force Awakens!

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #7
Agreed, I think we shizened the bed when we went a goal up early and it wasn't our kids that failed, it was some of the older blokes who seemed start struck by the French. It's like some of the squad went into the match with a "We can't defeat them" mindset!
We need a new Jedinak in the back half. He controlled games and wasn't intimidated by gun gwds, in fact, he intimidated them.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #8
Sometimes you just have to accept when a team is way better than you.  The French have been to the euro finals in 2016, and are current world champs for a reason. 

Don't look at the last time when we pinched a result off them when they were sleeping.  They are much better than that, and as much as I would like to see the Australian national team achieve something, this is arguably the least talented side I have seen represent the country at this level.



"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #9
No Australian player would be even close to making the French squad.
2012 HAPPENED!!!!!!!

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #10
, this is arguably the least talented side I have seen represent the country at this level.
No being a 24x7 follower of soccer I've read a lot of old heads in media today to get a specialist perspective, they are bitching and moaning about player development, but I think they are basically potting the youth in the squad to cover for the old boys who underperformed, the specialist commentators are basically looking after their mates / former team-mates. They complain about the kids in the squad, then in the next breath they complain about Australia's poor player development of kids, it is a stupidly polarising and pointless complaint.

Some would read it as a side swipe towards the coach, so not much has changed, it is the same old same old.

You can see why blokes don't want the job, it's a poison chalice.
The Force Awakens!

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #11
The usual pundits who have made a living bashing Australia and it's culture have been very quiet recently.  I wonder why.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #12
No being a 24x7 follower of soccer I've read a lot of old heads in media today to get a specialist perspective, they are bitching and moaning about player development, but I think they are basically potting the youth in the squad to cover for the old boys who underperformed, the specialist commentators are basically looking after their mates / former team-mates. They complain about the kids in the squad, then in the next breath they complain about Australia's poor player development of kids, it is a stupidly polarising and pointless complaint.

Some would read it as a side swipe towards the coach, so not much has changed, it is the same old same old.

You can see why blokes don't want the job, it's a poison chalice.
The bitching and moaning comes from the likes of Craig Foster who has delusions of grandeur.  The reality is, that the French have a system and soccer culture that has been churning out champion players since I remember walking and talking.

Who pray tell are the old boys?

Aaron Mooy, Aziz Behich and Matthew Leckie?  They were arguably the better players on the park for Australia particularly in possession.  The main culprit is the coach who is part of soccers Sydney Mafia (the one that ruined Australian Cricket).

This is what tells the story best:
According to Transfermarkt.com which is as good a guide on a players worth in the international market place as any:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/kylian-mbappe/profil/spieler/342229 

Kylian Mbappe.  One player albeit an absolute star of the game and gun.  Paris St. Germain, playing with superstars like Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Current market value 160 million Euros. 

Australia's team that faced France:

Mathew Ryan - Fc Copenhagen Denmark second string keeper.  5 million euros
Nathaniel Atkinson - ASC Cham in the German lower leagues  unrated lets put him at 700k  euros.
Harry Souttar - Stoke City English Championship (second division) 4.5 million euros
Kye Rowles - Heart of Midlothian Scottish Premier League - 600k  euros
Aziz Behich - Dundee United Scottish Premier League - 700k euros
Jackson Irvine - FC St. German 2nd division Pauli - 2 million euros.
Aaron Mooy - Celtic Scottish Premier League 4 million euros.
Riley McGree - Middlesborough FC - English Championship (second division) - 2.00 million euros
Mathew Leckie - Melbourne City A League - 800k - euros
Mitchell Duke - Fagiano Okayama Japan - 800k euros
Craig Goodwin - Adelaide United A league - 1.2 million euros.

Total squad value:  22.3 million euros.


It speaks volumes.

The Australian "old boys" are all at worst, 32 years of age and playing youngsters cements a generation of pavlovs dogs doesnt it?  Timmy Cahill at aged 35 and 36 was miles above what any of this team can offer us today.  Age is literally just a number.

Argentina fielded 4 players over the age of 35, and whilst they didn't win against the Saudis who were stoic, they dominated general play and created more chances which usually means that they win 95% of the time with the odd outlier going the other way.

That French team has representation of players who are both older and younger, and represent top teams, gaining better experience in high pressure situations against higher calibre opponents and teamates most of the year, whilst the motley crue that represented us are playing in some cases in leagues where guys arent proper professionals. 



"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #13
Yes, I understand.

In the context I use it "Old boys" isn't an ageist term, it's about relationships and inner circles.

Does FA have a long term plan, and if so does it have the wherewithal to actually see it through?
The Force Awakens!

Re: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Reply #14
Yes, I understand.

In the context I use it "Old boys" isn't an ageist term, it's about relationships and inner circles.

Does FA have a long term plan, and if so does it have the wherewithal to actually see it through?

At the end of the day, France's bench would have wiped the floor with us.  A guy that didn't even make the field is playing for Arsenal in the English Premier League (William Saliba) is rated at 50 million euros. 

The old boys are the ones that chased Ange Postecoglou out of Australian Soccer.

The same ones that decided to embark us on the A league project, which has improved the professionalism of the sport, but has only caused a rift between true old passionate soccer fans who created the club and football culture that churned out the likes of Mark Bresciano, Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella.  Once upon a time, this sport was represented by a bunch of guys who were largely multicultural no longer.

If ever you wanted to see Australia's racism failings, the A league is a prime example.  McVictory don't even hide using the tune to Scotland the brave as the club song FFS whilst clubs that have 30 years of history were tossed aside and not even granted a license even though they were better placed to help the league transform. 

Good old Brittish colonialism at work again.  They said they were making the sport more professional, but all they did was fund the top level off the academy kids (this is a crime) cementing Australian soccer as a rich persons game, which costs thousands to get kids into any meaningful competition with true learnings.  The A league has been going for how many weeks already this year and you wouldn't even know there is a game on most weeks.  Its a complete travesty. 

Its also the antithesis of what happened in England.  The clubs got together there, and formed a break away competition from the FA which resulted in the English Premier League forming and the English 1st division becoming a side show. 
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson