All Whites vs Socceroos | Fri 5th Sept | 9:45pm | GIO Stadium (Canberra) | Duke TV/FIFA+
542 replies·18,867 views
26 Aug 23:04
Elemenop
our top lineup is a match to Aussie now. But it's the depth below - they have way more... we are bringing on young A league guys or people with no goals in League 2 - while they are bringing on Scottish prem + Championship level players.
I totally agree with your point on depth, but I still think we'd do well to say a full strength All whites team is a similar quality to a full strength Socceroos. Screenshot_2025-08-26-23-54-32-910_com.android.chrome-edit.jpg474.17 KBThe attacking picks are generally their weakest area and Australia doesn't really have too much of a nailed on starting XI at the minute (in part because of their burgeoning depth) - but this is my stab at what their full strength best XI might look like.
That back 5 is comfortably better at the moment than ours, helped by the fact they have a pretty good right back in Miller who doesn't bring the overall unit down in quality. I still think the only player we have who starts in this side is Wood, with the exception of possibly Marko over an aging Mass Luongo by the end of the season.
Yeah much as I love Libby, Feyenoord is a bonafide big club and Bos on debut started with a bit of a bang there. Provided the late winning assist in a UCL qualifiers win over Mourinho's Fenerbahçe. Like Cacace, Bos started out in Belgium.
I'm a bit worried about the AWs right flank, against the Socceroos. Payne still far from being fully match fit and sharp, plus Elliott I don't really rate that highly. I wouldn't be shocked if Bindon again got some mins at RB.
Poppa often likes Aiden O'Neill (NY City in the MLS) as one of his midfielders. Ajdin Hrustić is still pretty classy, and Poppa might pick him as he seems over his injury issues. And I wouldn't rule out Hibs wily Martin Boyle from starting.
Matt Ryan has yes just signed with promoted Levante in La Liga.
However I do think the Aussie football public will be surprised by how good we are now, and the quality of clubs our players are at. I reckon a 50% chance of getting at least one draw from the two games. Higher chance at home at Mt Smart, when Ryan Thomas is likely to get more mins you'd think.
The two matches in 2022, plus Brentford 2023, the AWs were virtually toothless. So creating chances and scoring will in itself be a huge improvement.
Yeah much as I love Libby, Feyenoord is a bonafide big club and Bos on debut started with a bit of a bang there. Provided the late winning assist in a UCL qualifiers win over Mourinho's Fenerbahçe. Like Cacace, Bos started out in Belgium.
I'm a bit worried about the AWs right flank, against the Socceroos. Payne still far from being fully match fit and sharp, plus Elliott I don't really rate that highly. I wouldn't be shocked if Bindon again got some mins at RB.
Poppa often likes Aiden O'Neill (NY City in the MLS) as one of his midfielders. Ajdin Hrustić is still pretty classy, and Poppa might pick him as he seems over his injury issues. And I wouldn't rule out Hibs wily Martin Boyle from starting.
Matt Ryan has yes just signed with promoted Levante in La Liga.
However I do think the Aussie football public will be surprised by how good we are now, and the quality of clubs our players are at. I reckon a 50% chance of getting at least one draw from the two games. Higher chance at home at Mt Smart, when Ryan Thomas is likely to get more mins you'd think.
The two matches in 2022, plus Brentford 2023, the AWs were virtually toothless. So creating chances and scoring will in itself be a huge improvement.
The 2022 games we never got our strongest 11 on the field. And that's the point.. beyond our top 11-13 players aussie is way ahead.
Positive is this can only get better for us. We just need to build having 20+ players pushing for that first XI.
No it was a fairly full strength AWs squad over the 2 games. Have a look at the link below, very few missing from the big Costa Rica playoff game earlier that year. Only Lewis & Kirwan as a guess? Singh the big absentee.
Reid didn't play at Suncorp, so he was fit for the EP match, his AWs farewell. Wood getting injured early in the Auckland match was a blow, when the team were pretty damn awful against a basically Australian B team.
Was a lot of optimism heading into that 2nd game that NZ would finally get a win over the Socceroos, when Arnold made it clear he would heavily rotate his squad over the 2 matches. But the All Whites were dead set terrible in Mt Eden.
Basically all of the current AWs starting 11 (bar Thomas, Surman & Bindon) were around in 2022. They are all - including even agruably old boys Wood & Boxall - now at a higher level.
There's a lot of recency bias going on in that list!
At the time of the WC Vicelich was playing for Auckland, no longer a pro.
If Joe finishes up with half the career Ivan had he would be satisfied. I think Bell is a very good player, but he has a long way to go to match Vicelich's levels and achievements.
Bell has had a truck load of negativity expressed against him the last few years. Some with good reason based upon some of his All Whites games and Rufer seemed the better player.
It’s only really in the last 12 months or so when he has hit a recent purple patch.
So I think the jury’s still out on him. Behind both Thomas and Marko in the pecking order.
Bell has had a truck load of negativity expressed against him the last few years. Some with good reason based upon some of his All Whites games and Rufer seemed the better player.
It’s only really in the last 12 months or so when he has hit a recent purple patch.
So I think the jury’s still out on him. Behind both Thomas and Marko in the pecking order.
Deffo right about the last year or so just finding some real consistency and strong performances for club and country. Feel like he's developed physically too. Only 26 games for All Whites at 26 years old, but 5 consecutive 90 minutes. Probably not competing with Clayton helps, but Ryan Thomas in the mix will bring decisions - either one takes the #10 spot of the 3 and bumps Singh or similar to the bench, or one starts on the bench. Wonder if Bell-Thomas with Stamenic roaming forward works, or Thomas.
Then Dibley-Dias depending on his choice could come through and 18yo Marley Leuluai is playing CDM for Burnley U21s, on the bench for first team in Carabao Cup last night.
Shows how much the team and players will develop and strengthen over the next few world cup cycles with so many players realistically there until 2034: Cacace, Stamenic, Garbett, Bindon, Surman, Paulsen, likes of Just, Singh, Bell, McCowatt would be more like 35 by then.
Supporting the supporters and love an away day anywhere in the world. Kiwis Can Fly!
Edit: so I don’t sound like an uneducated rugby league player.AucklandPhoenix
Bell has had a truck load of negativity expressed against him the last few years. Some with good reason based upon some of his All Whites games and Rufer seemed the better player.
It’s only really in the last 12 months or so when he has hit a recent purple patch.
So I think the jury’s still out on him. Behind both Thomas and Marko in the pecking order.
Bell has had a truck load of negativity expressed against him the last few years. Some with good reason based upon some of his All Whites games and Rufer seemed the better player.
It’s only really in the last 12 months or so when he has hit a recent purple patch.
So I think the jury’s still out on him. Behind both Thomas and Marko in the pecking order.
Deffo right about the last year or so just finding some real consistency and strong performances for club and country. Feel like he's developed physically too. Only 26 games for All Whites at 26 years old, but 5 consecutive 90 minutes. Probably not competing with Clayton helps, but Ryan Thomas in the mix will bring decisions - either one takes the #10 spot of the 3 and bumps Singh or similar to the bench, or one starts on the bench. Wonder if Bell-Thomas with Stamenic roaming forward works, or Thomas.
Then Dibley-Dias depending on his choice could come through and 18yo Marley Leuluai is playing CDM for Burnley U21s, on the bench for first team in Carabao Cup last night.
Shows how much the team and players will develop and strengthen over the next few world cup cycles with so many players realistically there until 2034: Cacace, Stamenic, Garbett, Bindon, Surman, Paulsen, likes of Just, Singh, Bell, McCowatt would be more like 35 by then.
I think he got a raw deal from some kiwi supporters. He was like a one man band for a while in the midfield. Against better teams we still need 3 good solid ball controlling mids. Mix of - Marko/Bell/Rufer/Thomas. Lewis used to be in the mix too, but he's gone..
I have a theory that Bell struggles in really hot conditions. Like against Mexico in the US last year, and with the Olywhites at the Paris Olympics. Maybe that's why he likes playing cooler Norway. If you are going to play in a summer league, it will be one of the easier ones temperature wise.
His biggest strength is his excellent work rate, being nearly always available for a pass. He really was outstanding in temperate Toronto in June.
But it's just so much harder to keep that very high work rate in sapping conditions. Bazeley realised that after the Mexico game and from memory brought Rufer in alongside Bell for the following USA game, moving Stamenic forward into Singh's AM spot. Strengthened the central midfield and it worked.
But for the Olympics last year in sweltering France, Bell was surrounded by kids and the Olywhites midfield was over run by the US & French, giving them way too much space, and Joe B didn't look great.
I have a theory that Bell struggles in really hot conditions. Like against Mexico in the US last year, and with the Olywhites at the Paris Olympics. Maybe that's why he likes playing cooler Norway. If you are going to play in a summer league, it will be one of the easier ones temperature wise.
His biggest strength is his excellent work rate, being nearly always available for a pass. He really was outstanding in temperate Toronto in June.
But it's just so much harder to keep that very high work rate in sapping conditions. Bazeley realised that after the Mexico game and from memory brought Rufer in alongside Bell for the following USA game, moving Stamenic forward into Singh's AM spot. Strengthened the central midfield and it worked.
But for the Olympics last year in sweltering France, Bell was surrounded by kids and the Olywhites midfield was over run by the US & French, giving them way too much space, and Joe B didn't look great.
it was pretty warm there in Toronto. Certainly warmer then Northern Europe.
Don't forget he went to uni in the States so likely played in some incredibly diverse weather: super hot, super humid, super cold, heavy snow, the occasional twister and a hurricane or two!
Climate and temperature should not be a factor for him.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
Yeah but it wasn't sweltering high 30s like the Mexico game in California, and Olympics games in France. Any game with water breaks in each half is the barometer for tough conditions
But it's also how the midfield is setup. He's alongside similarly fit guys in Stamenic and Rufer, who track back that helps his game. Thomas is also very fit and apparently tops the kms per game stats at Zwolle.
Garbett was the other midfielder in that Pasadena game, and there was just huge gaps that the Mexicans exploited. It was also an aged CB pairing of Boxall & Smith in that 3-0 spanking. I think Bazeley learnt alot from that match.
Potentially a very young forward line. Be very interesting to see how Irankunda goes. Lots of ex ALM young talent. 7 new caps.
No current ALM players named, but then of course it's still pre season down under. That does highlight Australia's greater depth though, as Bazeley had to chose 9 from the A League.
More optimistic about the AWs chances now, though Poppa can still pick an experienced hardened starting 11. Do like it how the FA list the players junior clubs with the squad naming.
Subway Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic has named seven uncapped players in the 25-man squad to face New Zealand, starting with next Friday’s ANZAC Soccer Ashes opener against New Zealand in Canberra.
Noah Botic (Austria Vienna), Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen), Adrian Segecic (Portsmouth) and Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split) have received their first senior international call ups.
Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Jordan Bos (Feyenoord), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Fran Karacic (Hajduk Split), Tom Glover (Middlesbrough), Max Balard (NAC Breda), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth) and Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) have been recalled to the squad, for the Subway Socceroos first camp since securing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Gauci in goal for Ryan Circati at CB for Souttar O'Neill & Hrustic into midfield for Luongo & Irvine Boyle on the flank for McGree Mo Toure up front for Yengi
Toure is at Randers with one Superliga goal this season. Or maybe Boyle goes up front and the exciting Irankunda comes in out wide. Both Nestory and Segecic doing well early doors this season in The Championship.
Payne & maybe FDV (if Libby is still lame) will have their hands full.
Gauci in goal for Ryan Circati at CB for Souttar O'Neill & Hrustic into midfield for Luongo & Irvine Boyle on the flank for McGree Mo Toure up front for Yengi
Toure is at Randers with one Superliga goal this season. Or maybe Boyle goes up front and the exciting Irankunda comes in out wide. Both Nestory and Segecic doing well early doors this season in The Championship.
Payne & maybe FDV (if Libby is still lame) will have their hands full.
Yep, you'd think Circati and Gauci should be locks for going straight in. Agree on Boyle purely for providing a bit of experience in the final third, anyone's guess who the rest will be. Would also like to see Balard get the nod over O'Neill if I was an Aussie, but who knows
Crocombe Payne Bindon Surman FdV Stamenic Bell Just Singh McCowatt Wood
Libby probably not fit enough to start. Expecting old man Boxall to start in Auckland, with the younger CBs probably more resilient just a couple days after the big plane journey.
Expecting Singh to start because this is what Baze likes but I personally would play Stamenic as the #10 and have Rufer play with Bell.
Breakout sensation Adrian Segecic has earned a maiden call-up while Nestory Irankunda’s hot start to life at Watford has delivered a recall for the Socceroos’ friendlies against New Zealand.
Portsmouth gun Segecic, 21, is one of four players called up for the first time, named in Tony Popovic’s experimental squad to play for the Soccer Ashes in Canberra next Friday and Auckland three days later.
Segecic’s call-up comes off scoring two goals in three Championship games for Portsmouth, along with notching an assist in the League Cup.
Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda scores first goal for Watford with stunning free kick
Popovic was keen to balance “building continuity” with senior players while also seeing which younger players could hit the level.
“We want to have a lot of depth going into the World Cup and we want to have selection headaches,” he said.
Irankunda, who moved from Bayern Munich to English Championship club Watford over the off-season, has already notched an assist and a wonderful free kick goal.
That has earned the 19-year-old his first call-up under Popovic since last October, having been overlooked since Australia’s clash with Japan.
Popovic said he was excited to see what a “maturing” Irankunda can now offer on the international stage.
“I had Nestory in camp with us in my first window in October. We haven’t had him since, so it’ll be nice to see him,” Popovic said.
“And I think since that time, we’ve seen him probably mature as a player.
“He’s had a year in Europe, which is a great experience for a young player at Bayern Munich, which obviously shows the talent that he has.
“He got some game time at Grasshopper in Switzerland, and now we’re seeing him progress further at Watford.
“So we know he certainly has the talent, and he’s young … He’s still maturing and getting better, and we hope to see him in two, three, four World Cups to come.”
With direct World Cup qualification already secured, Popovic has licence to experiment and test new players in the first of four windows ahead of selecting his squad for the 2026 tournament.
Former A-League Men stars Noah Botic (Austria Vienna), Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen) and Segecic (Portsmouth), plus surprise call-up Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split) will all head into a senior camp for the first time.
There are no players from the out-of-season A-League Men competition, including Aziz Behich, while several other experienced players have been left out or overlooked.
So our young CBs (if Boxall is on the pine) verus their young attackers plus wily Boyle.
Two reasonably similar quality midfields? More equal if we have Thomas on the field.
Then they have a pretty experienced quality backline, to try contain Wood and Just. Burgess with the man marking job on the Woodsman?
I went to the Suncorp game in 2022, and even though we lost Chris W gave Trent Sainsbury a torrid time. I think it was Sainsbury's (61 caps) last ever Socceroos match. Degenek who made this Socceroos squad was the other CB that night.
Lets hope we build off the impressive June games and play well. If so yes we can definitely get a win, more so the Mt Smart game. They are more under strength that us. Reasons to be optimistic. Fingers crossed no injuries & withdrawls after this weekend's club games.
According to Niche Cache our record in Penrose against Australia is 3W, 3D & just the one loss!
A lack of direct flights from NZ a bit of a ball buster but out of curiosity is anyone from here making the trip to Canberra?
I managed to pick up tickets on a Qantas sale so I’ll be there. Flying Kiwis are organising a game-day meetup and march, so sounds like there’ll be a good VicNix and Little Corner of Yellow turn-out for it as well.
All games leading up to the world cup will be broadcast on TVNZ starting with this game.
Awesome time for us. How many days are the guys together before the game?
Some players will already be on their way from Europe.
AWs have 9 ALM players picked (Socceroos have zero), but apart from Payne none of them are likely starters. Libby played overnight for Wrexham so FDV now to stay on the pine?
Baze could have as many as 12-15 guys light training on Tuesday.
But Wood, McCowatt, Thomas, Bell and Paulsen all have games tonight. The 2 MLS CBs had games today. That cohort would only likely arrive Wednesday our time you'd think, so just the one training on Thursday?
Hard to see Thomas having much involvement in the Canberra match.
I could see Wood and Thomas both having limited minutes in Canberra if any. Maybe a couple others too but definitely those two. Forest and Zwolle would’ve had a chat with the NZF staff I’m sure. Expecting both to start in Auckland on Tuesday though. coochiee
All games leading up to the world cup will be broadcast on TVNZ starting with this game.
Awesome time for us. How many days are the guys together before the game?
Some players will already be on their way from Europe.
AWs have 9 ALM players picked (Socceroos have zero), but apart from Payne none of them are likely starters. Libby played overnight for Wrexham so FDV now to stay on the pine?
Baze could have as many as 12-15 guys light training on Tuesday.
But Wood, McCowatt, Thomas, Bell and Paulsen all have games tonight. The 2 MLS CBs had games today. That cohort would only likely arrive Wednesday our time you'd think, so just the one training on Thursday?
Hard to see Thomas having much involvement in the Canberra match.
I could see Wood and Thomas both having limited minutes in Canberra if any. Maybe a couple others too but definitely those two. Forest and Zwolle would’ve had a chat with the NZF staff I’m sure. Expecting both to start in Auckland on Tuesday though. coochiee
All games leading up to the world cup will be broadcast on TVNZ starting with this game.
Awesome time for us. How many days are the guys together before the game?
Some players will already be on their way from Europe.
AWs have 9 ALM players picked (Socceroos have zero), but apart from Payne none of them are likely starters. Libby played overnight for Wrexham so FDV now to stay on the pine?
Baze could have as many as 12-15 guys light training on Tuesday.
But Wood, McCowatt, Thomas, Bell and Paulsen all have games tonight. The 2 MLS CBs had games today. That cohort would only likely arrive Wednesday our time you'd think, so just the one training on Thursday?
Hard to see Thomas having much involvement in the Canberra match.
The ones playing tonight NZ time should get in to Australia Tuesday and train Wednesday and Thursday. Bell/McCowatt likely to be the two latest arrivals and might be on light training Wednesday.
At the end of the day I think the players themeselves will have the call, if no outstanding medical concerns need to be considered.
Forest will have players flying to all corners of the earth, Wood further than most, but I doubt there is much difference between flying 16 hours in first/business class compared to say 10 somewhere else.
With how good planes are now, the impact of travel on the body is not the same... outside the jetlag IMO.
At the end of the day I think the players themeselves will have the call, if no outstanding medical concerns need to be considered.
Forest will have players flying to all corners of the earth, Wood further than most, but I doubt there is much difference between flying 16 hours in first/business class compared to say 10 somewhere else.
With how good planes are now, the impact of travel on the body is not the same... outside the jetlag IMO.
Idk, I'd argue there's a big difference between flying 26-30h from UK to NZ, than flying 10 hours.
Bugger that's a shame about Libby, but would be even worse if this window aggrevated those injuries. Great expeirence for the two young fellas. Not sure if they'll see any minutes but at least indicates to them that they are progressing wellin their careers
