So Chile defeat Portugal on penalties after finishing 0-0 extra time. Sounds like Chile dominated in ET especially with legit penalty denied, and hitting woodwork twice.
If Portugal defeat AWs 4-0, and Socceroos draw 1-1 with Chile. What would Socceroos do verus AWs? Unfortunately an easy win for guys in yellow.
So your predicted result for AWs v Socceroooooos?
Both teams at full strength a 0-2 loss would be a fair result.
AWs would having no midfield, be feeding off about 30% possession scraps. This Socceroos side whilst lacking class of say their 2006 World Cup side, is more than useful and has a quality Aussie coach. Drawing 1-1 with Chile was no fluke
Cahill red carded going in on Marinovic, Ange sent to the stands, Wood, Thomas and Marco - finally! - on fire .... we win 3 - 1 no problem.
Cahill announces international career over. Bonus result
With them having Mooy and Rogic would mean we would be totally overrun in the middle of the park.
With them having Mooy and Rogic would mean we would be totally overrun in the middle of the park.
Australia needing a 2-0 win to progress to semis, are 1-0 up at half time over Chile! Is an action packed high class game. Any folks who think AWs would match up well against Socceroos, are sorry in fairy land.
Apart from an aged Cahill, they have no big star names, but I'd say well coached with Ange Pot, and pretty consistent high quality across the field. No A League journeymen, or guys playing French 4th Division. Some youngest guys like Rogic, Mooy & Matt Ryan (now signed by EPL promoted Brighton) who have all come out the A League who could become stars in Europe.
But then with 5x NZ's popn, and large longstanding immigrant football communities (Greek, Italian, Slavic etc) they should be a much better side than us. I'd say only Thomas would go close to making a Socceroos starting eleven.
Reid
DFS had a pod a few months back where they argued about how many of our boys they would take. I think they settled on Reid, Wood and Rojas. They were lamenting the fact that these guys were all better than anyone they had in those positions. I reckon Smith and Thomas would be close to the starting line up too, so that's 5 guys you could make an argument for.
The midget Rojas no chance. He may stand out at Victory but is only the A League. Australia's wingers are fast & big (esp Leckie), and are playing at higher levels. Leckie in Bundesliga, Kruse in Chinese Super League (after number years in Germany), Behich (Turkish Super League).
I also don't think Wood would suit style Socceroos play. In short 2 AWs (Thomas & Reid) definitely good enough to play for Australia. Wood & Smith outside beats.
In summary Australia are just playing a few classes above AWs, and Ange Pot has been coaching his style longer, plus has had a lot more high quality games last 4 years to fine tune it. They really should have beaten a full strength Chile (who admittedly only needed a draw to progress). Neither Rogic or Mooy played last night and yet still had the quality to push Chileans all the way. I'd pick a comfortable 2-0 win over AWs, and potentially lot worse if Reid unavailable.
Still be great to see the two sides match up in October. Hopefully FFA are generous enough to give NZF a game, provided Socceroos already qualified for Russia 2018.
I would take Rojas over Kruse any day of the week.
Rojas, Thomas, Wood, Reid would all make the Socceroos team (maybe Smith too). Pretty comfortably imo (not necessarily the starting lineup but the squad for sure).
Bring back the Trans Tasman Cup.
For those that dont know...
2 leg affair, home and away
Wednesday night 1st leg
Saturday night 2nd leg
Those were the real days..
I remember a fantastic 1-0 home win in Wellington at the Hutt Rec in what was known as the Water Polo match...Fred de Jong header the winner!!!
Australia had legends like Graham Arnold, Oscar Crino, Charlie Yankos, Frank Farina, Alan Davidson and Jeff Olver in goal. Coached by Frank Arok.
Those were the real days..
A meaningless matchup now is a yawn!!!
Yeah easy fix. Though Deutschland's 5.4 Million registered male players, probably comes in handy as well
https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsu...
Out of that you'd probably get the odd handy player, even with AH in charge!
Promises to be a good final. The two form teams in world football.
Bring back the Trans Tasman Cup.
For those that dont know...
2 leg affair, home and away
Wednesday night 1st leg
Saturday night 2nd leg
Those were the real days..
I remember a fantastic 1-0 home win in Wellington at the Hutt Rec in what was known as the Water Polo match...Fred de Jong header the winner!!!
Australia had legends like Graham Arnold, Oscar Crino, Charlie Yankos, Frank Farina, Alan Davidson and Jeff Olver in goal. Coached by Frank Arok.
Ive got the 86 and 88 series on dvd!
Bring back the Trans Tasman Cup.
For those that dont know...
2 leg affair, home and away
Wednesday night 1st leg
Saturday night 2nd leg
Those were the real days..
I remember a fantastic 1-0 home win in Wellington at the Hutt Rec in what was known as the Water Polo match...Fred de Jong header the winner!!!
Australia had legends like Graham Arnold, Oscar Crino, Charlie Yankos, Frank Farina, Alan Davidson and Jeff Olver in goal. Coached by Frank Arok.
Thats why it was such a fantastic win!
but pretty much the entire squads of both countries played in Australasia back then... Wynton was in Europe and couldn't get back, and the great drift of Aussies to top Euro clubs hadn't started then... was a very different context back then.
Great story here with the flying kiwis
