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Thought they deserved their own thread as quite a few people on here will support them. Pretty good chance to progress to the second round I think, hope they do as it will be good for this part of the world and the A-League. Also to those who can't stand to support them (AKA News), it is good for us if they do well for heaps of reasons and there is no real reason for us to want them to do bad/not progress beyond first round...

Likely WC Squad:

Goalkeepers:
-Mark Schwarzer
-Michael Petkovic
-Adam Federici/Brad Jones

Defenders:
-Craig Moore
-Lucas Neill
-Luke Wilkshire
-Scott Chipperfield
-Shane Lowry
-David Carney
-Rhys Williams
-Mark Milligan

Midfielders:
-Jason Culina
-Mark Bresciano
-Harry Kewell
-Brett Emerton
-Tim Cahill
-Vince Grella
-Carl Valeri
-Mile Jedinak (maybe?)

Strikers:
-Josh Kennedy
-Scott McDonald
-Bruce Djiite
-Mile Sterjovski/Brett Holman/Dario Vidosic

Anyone disagree with this squad? The last striker position it pretty open and you could say McDonald's place is under-threat however I doubt they will keep him out of the WC squad. Colosimo could maybe force his way in...wellyphoenixfan2009-11-18 12:10:55
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pretty strong team in some aspects. anyone else think we could take them. i do
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Downey26 wrote:
pretty strong team in some aspects. anyone else think we could take them. i do
Despite on paper the fact that they should beat us by a few goals, the fact they don't really "click" as a team, they stuggled with Bahrain and the fact we should lift if we play them I think we have quite a good chance to beat them.
Woof Woof
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Think Australia will have a tough job to get to 2nd round this time around. They'll in all likelihood be in a group with a seeded team, a European side, and an African/South American team.

Even with Cahill in the squad it's a pretty average team by international standards.el grapadura2009-11-18 12:17:30
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Downey26 wrote:
pretty strong team in some aspects. anyone else think we could take them. i do
Despite on paper the fact that they should beat us by a few goals, the fact they don't really "click" as a team, they stuggled with Bahrain and the fact we should lift if we play them I think we have quite a good chance to beat them.
 
yea stronger on paper than they are on the pitch
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el grapadura wrote:
Think Australia will have a tough job to get to 2nd round this time around. They'll in all likelihood be in a group with a seeded team, a European side, and an African/South Americn team.

Even with Cahill in the squad it's a pretty average team by international standards.
I think it is a pretty strong squad, they just play poorly together. Kewell, Schwarzer and Neill could make most other international squads (albeit not first team).
Woof Woof
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el grapadura wrote:
Think Australia will have a tough job to get to 2nd round this time around. They'll in all likelihood be in a group with a seeded team, a European side, and an African/South Americn team.

Even with Cahill in the squad it's a pretty average team by international standards.
I think it is a pretty strong squad, they just play poorly together. Kewell, Schwarzer and Neill could make most other international squads (albeit not first team).


Kewell probably, Schwarzer maybe, but he's very old now, Neill is average.
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not sure how good kewell is playing now for whoever it is in turkey he plays for. galatasaray?  heard he played defence for a bit. schwarzer is adequate, and neill will do.
 
i wouldnt say they are guna set the tounament alight
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el grapadura wrote:
el grapadura wrote:
Think Australia will have a tough job to get to 2nd round this time around. They'll in all likelihood be in a group with a seeded team, a European side, and an African/South Americn team.

Even with Cahill in the squad it's a pretty average team by international standards.
I think it is a pretty strong squad, they just play poorly together. Kewell, Schwarzer and Neill could make most other international squads (albeit not first team).


Kewell probably, Schwarzer maybe, but he's very old now, Neill is average.
Yeah that is why Nelsen is easily the best defender in Oceania (geographically speaking).
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Downey26 wrote:
pretty strong team in some aspects. anyone else think we could take them. i do
Despite on paper the fact that they should beat us by a few goals, the fact they don't really "click" as a team, they stuggled with Bahrain and the fact we should lift if we play them I think we have quite a good chance to beat them.


That is not much difference to what we did against Bahrain, except they won 2-0 at home rather 1-0 that we did. I don't buy that "fact" they don't click as a team since AFC is a hard being on the road where the home advantage is bigger. (Anyone remember how lucky we got away with a 0-0 draw against Bahrain)?

Also if you think about their amazing goal defence in the final asian group stage? It was a zero goal against I think that we have out work cut out to try and score against them.

The best that I can see us performing against Pim's Socceroo is 0-0 draw. Also at the World Cup finals, with the 21 days of pre-tournament training preparation, there is plenty of time for this team to click. they are not going to just have 3 days before an international WC match. they are going to have 7 times that amount for at least three matches in the group stage and Pim is very experienced coach at these tournaments. Socceroo's at world cup mode, we would be lucky to get away with a 1-0 lost, where it is likely they will get knock two or three goals.

However I think that we can make a very strong defence in the centre midfield and centre backs. At the world cup, it's the speed of the wings and crosses, that I get a bit worried.

It is a very good chance that we will see the 3-4-3 and the 5-2-3 in the World Cup Finals with a hint of 3-5-2 over 4-4-2.
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Anyone reckon Durante has a shot? I dont know all of those defenders so I cant comment.
 
Aussie could do quite well (get to ro of 16) if they get their **** sorted. They looked pretty average at times in AFC qualifying. They do rely on Cahill too much though
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I saw Scott Mcdonald for the first time about a month ago (for Celtic) and thought he would walk into the Aus team with his eyes closed. How is his position under threat? I dont know about you guys but Aus will definately be my second team and I hope they do well.
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Nz Seb wrote:
I saw Scott Mcdonald for the first time about a month ago (for Celtic) and thought he would walk into the Aus team with his eyes closed. How is his position under threat? I dont know about you guys but Aus will definately be my second team and I hope they do well.
 
Same here, supported them last time. Will be my second team this time round.
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threat wrote:
Anyone reckon Durante has a shot? I dont know all of those defenders so I cant comment.
�

Aussie could do quite well (get to ro of 16) if they get their **** sorted. They looked pretty average at times in AFC qualifying. They do rely on Cahill too much though
Behind Colosimo and a few other A-League defenders plus the likes of North, so no. AWB I think they conceded one to Japan in a 2-1 win.
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Nz Seb wrote:
I saw Scott Mcdonald for the first time about a month ago (for�Celtic)�and thought he would walk into the Aus team with his eyes closed. How is his position under threat? I dont know about you guys but Aus will definately be my second team and I hope they do well.
Has yet to score, doesn't start at all for them and was recently dropped from Oman squad.
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Aussies are bloody well organised and will be hard for anyone to break down, particularly us, but they lack firepower up front I reckon. Cant keep relying on Cahill.
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Looks OK, although it needs more Matthew Spiranovic.

I just wish Macca would score for Australia already.

Hopefully Vidosic goes. Other fringe players like Troisi, Garcia, Kisnorbo etc might make a claim for a spot depending on form I guess.

Sadly, Holman will go because Pim loves him :/
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Aussies are bloody well organised and will be hard for anyone to break down, particularly us, but they lack firepower up front I reckon. Cant keep relying on Cahill.
Need more Party All The Time.
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aussienixfan wrote:
Looks OK, although it needs more Matthew Spiranovic.

I just wish Macca would score for Australia already.

Hopefully Vidosic goes. Other fringe players like Troisi, Garcia, Kisnorbo etc might make a claim for a spot depending on form I guess.

Sadly, Holman will go because Pim loves him :/
Ruka seems like a good chance aswell.
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Australia seem to have tried just about every guy with an Australian accent in the last 18 months but none seem to have advanced their case really (except for maybe Jedinak and Rhys Williams) - it's still the same guys from 2006.  They'll probably still get them through this World Cup but there must be some concerns for the next tournament as they're all in that 30 age bracket.  They're producing some decent players but not guys who are truly world class.  Must be a bit of a worry, especially as these guys were roduced without going through the "system"
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Oska wrote:
Aussies are bloody well organised and will be hard for anyone to break down, particularly us, but they lack firepower up front I reckon. Cant keep relying on Cahill.
Need more Party All The Time.
 
Definatly the missing link haha
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Would be awesome to see Mile Jedinak go over to S. Africa with them.  That guy is class all round.  The only thing I wonder, do you really think Djite is good enough to be in the squad?  Maybe he's improved a lot since I last saw him play.
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He plays quite often for Australia and is fairly young. People on 442 also thought he would go so I put him in.
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Nz Seb wrote:
I saw Scott Mcdonald for the first time about a month ago (for Celtic) and thought he would walk into the Aus team with his eyes closed. How is his position under threat? I dont know about you guys but Aus will definately be my second team and I hope they do well.
From what I have heard and read McDonalds problem is the system Verbeek is playing, he is playing 1 up front which suits someone more like Kennedy with Kewell and Cahill making runs to support. McDonald doesn't really fit in that system apparently
 
Anyone know how close Ruka will be? I always liked him at Perth
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bopman wrote:
Nz Seb wrote:
I saw Scott Mcdonald for the first time about a month ago (for�Celtic)�and thought he would walk into the Aus team with his eyes closed. How is his position under threat? I dont know about you guys but Aus will definately be my second team and I hope they do well.


From what I have heard and read McDonalds problem is the system Verbeek is playing, he is playing 1 up front which suits someone more like Kennedy with Kewell and Cahill making runs to support. McDonald doesn't really fit in that system apparently
�

Anyone know how close Ruka will be? I always liked him at Perth
He is not playing at all for FC Twente but is young. To be honest I don't think Pim cares about developing youth players though. Is he actually in it for the long haul? (I doubt it)
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i cant imagine why you wouldnt have mcdonald in the team, hes class
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Downey26 wrote:
i cant imagine why you wouldnt have mcdonald in the team, hes class
I agree but Pim is very selective. Plus McDonald is not performing for Australia and also doesn't fit into the formation as explained before. He was also dropped for the Oman game. I think he will still make it but only as a reserve.
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Well Guus failed so maybe its good he left
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threat wrote:
Well Guus failed so maybe its good he left
Should of stayed at Chelsea Not that Ancelotti hasn't been doing a good job.
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People on 442 also thought he would go so I put him in.


Oh well, definitely put him in then. Might as well kick the Phoenix out of the A-league if we're taking their advice. Cahill has plenty on magic up his sleave but I think Aussies are second round at best.
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chocnut wrote:
People on 442 also thought he would go so I put him in.


Oh well, definitely put him in then. Might as well kick the Phoenix out of the A-league if we're taking their advice. Cahill has plenty on magic up his sleave but I think Aussies are second round at best.
Good point.
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Downey26 wrote:
never been sold on old pim


I'm in the same boat.

I'd love to see Australia (and France) get revenge on Italy, and hoping for a quarter-finals spot.
loyalgunner2009-11-19 22:26:16
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Nz Seb wrote:
I saw Scott Mcdonald for the first time about a month ago (for Celtic) and thought he would walk into the Aus team with his eyes closed. How is his position under threat? I dont know about you guys but Aus will definately be my second team and I hope they do well.
Has yet to score, doesn't start at all for them and was recently dropped from Oman squad.


Word on the street is that McDonald went 'soft' on coming to Aus in october for the Holland and Oman games, so Verbeek punished him this month.

Just a rumour...
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threat wrote:
Well Guus failed so maybe its good he left


Hang on, he may come back, but I doubt it.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26374898-5019291,00.html
Ex-Socceroo Craig Foster says Australia should bring back Guus <!-- author --> <!--dt><img src="/images/author.jpg" border="0" alt="Greg%20Buckle" /></dt--> By Ed Jackson, Marco Monteverde and agencies
<!--strong>Former Australian Captain</strong --> November 20, 2009 <!-- // author --> <!-- // lead story --> <!-- story -->

Former Socceroos midfielder Craig Foster has called for the return of Guus Hiddink as Australia coach despite the Dutchman's shock failure to guide Russia to the World Cup.

"Aussie Guus" became "Russian Goose" on Thursday (EDT) after Slovenia beat his side 1-0 in Maribor to clinch a spot at South Africa 2010.

The two-legged tie finished 2-2 but Slovenia, whose population of two million pales into insignificance compared to Russia's 142 million, qualified on an away goal.

Hiddink's future is now up in the air, with rumours linking him to the South Africa coaching job as well as a return to Chelsea, the Barclays Premier League club he managed on an interim basis last season, in a technical director's role.

But Foster, who has questioned the Socceroos' style of play under current coach Pim Verbeek, believes the potential opportunity to bring Hiddink back to Australia is too good to dismiss.

Hiddink took Australia to the second round of the 2006 World Cup, South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 tournament and has previously worked with countryman Verbeek.

"I'd strongly encourage the powers that be to get straight on the phone to Guus for a number of reasons," said Foster.

"In an ordinary scenario you'd probably have some problems but Pim Verbeek has already been an assistant to Hiddink at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea. So they clearly have a strong relationship.

"Secondly, when a coach leaves, they often, or more often than not, leave on bad terms. Hiddink left on excellent terms.

"Thirdly, there's still a very strong Dutch influence here . . . clearly the ground is very fertile for him to walk back and take over very quickly. Ideally he should come back as the boss and Verbeek should be his assistant.

"I understand there's issues about ego there and Verbeek's done an outstanding job to qualify the team.

"But by no means are they operating to a fantastic level and Hiddink's World Cup experience is very important . . . (there's) a level of discipline, or a management style with the players, which is the polar opposite of Verbeek.

"His tournament preparation of a group is second to none.

"Verbeek's done, again, an excellent job over a long term campaign but Hiddink is the master at preparing a group for a short tournament."

A shattered Hiddink gave little away about his future after Russia's defeat.

"I have an existing contract until the end of the World Cup finals in July 2010," Hiddink said.

"The question (of whether I will continue to Euro 2012) will require some time for thought.

"Before the (World Cup qualifying) matches with Germany and Slovenia the Russian Football Association expressed their desire to continue working together.

"But we'll talk about the future at a later stage."


Early retirement
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Oh FFS DS...

Foster ?  One of the great advantages of this place is that it's a Foster free zone.
Stage Punch
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Hard News wrote:
Oh FFS DS...

Foster ?  One of the great advantages of this place is that it's a Foster free zone.


Quote was Fox Sports HN! Fozzie can rant at times, but at times he has a point.

As Fox Sports did the article, then he gets a run here.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/pims-world-cup-warmup-might-be-a-mild-guus-chase/2009/11/19/1258219925381.html

Pim's World Cup warm-up might be a mild Guus chase

Michael Cockerill
November 20, 2009

CROATIA, Uruguay, Paraguay, Portugal and even a revenge mission against world champions Italy are all possible match-ups for Australia in a blockbuster World Cup farewell match in Melbourne next May, but the chances of the Socceroos resuming their age-old rivalry with New Zealand seem remote.

After yesterday's final round of qualifiers in Africa, Europe and South America, the list of the 32 teams who will be going to South Africa has finally been filled. That list, and the impending World Cup draw in Cape Town, will be used to finalise the Socceroos' build-up - which is almost certain to involve only one match on Australian soil.

While Football Federation Australia has tentatively booked ANZ Stadium for a match on the weekend of May 21 to 23, it's understood coach Pim Verbeek wants only one farewell match, which is virtually certain to be played at the MCG on May 26. Contrary to some suggestions, there is no rule preventing Australia playing a team it draws in the World Cup, although Verbeek is likely to avoid that scenario for fear of giving away too many secrets.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley remains coy about the schedule, and possible opponents, saying: ''We're now in the process of reviewing which teams are available. We now know the results from Europe and South America, so there's a lot more clarity. But I can't confirm any dates, how many games will be played, or any teams.''

Asked who would decide, Buckley added: ''That's up to the coaching staff. Pim and the team will ultimately determine the best way to prepare for the World Cup.''

Verbeek seems intent on mirroring the schedule devised by his predecessor, Guus Hiddink, before the previous World Cup in 2006. The Socceroos played one farewell game, against Greece at the MCG - which drew a record crowd of 95,103 - before flying to Europe, where they finetuned their preparations against the Netherlands (in Rotterdam) and Liechtenstein (in the German city of Ulm).

This time around the team is likely to head to base camp in Johannesburg immediately after the farewell match in Melbourne and play at least two games in South Africa. Based on Hiddink's model, one game will be against a strong opponent and the final match against a weak opponent - although Liechtenstein didn't quite prove to be the walkover they were expected to be. With the Socceroos a big chance of drawing an African opponent, southern African minnows such as Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Lesotho and Swaziland will all come into calculations. Minimising travel for the players in the final week will be a key consideration.

If the World Cup draw on December 5 gives Australia a relatively late start to the tournament, there is a slim possibility of a third game in South Africa, which could raise the possibility of a long-awaited match against the All Whites.

While Buckley praised New Zealand's epic victory against Bahrain in Wellington last weekend, he has cast doubts on a match-up against Australia's oldest opponents, saying: ''It was a wonderful achievement by New Zealand, and they should be congratulated. It's potentially a defining moment for the sport in New Zealand, much as our match against Uruguay [2005] was.

''Of course we all know the great rivalry which exists between the two nations, but when you're preparing for a World Cup, you can't romanticise about that. You have to look at what's best for the team.''

While Australia have played New Zealand 62 times since their first meeting in Dunedin in 1922, the two nations have not met since Australia's switch from Oceania to Asia in 2005. Earlier this week, New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum said he would ''love'' to resume the rivalry in a ''meaningful way''.

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