Years of All Whites absenteeism at the WC has aways had me rooting for the Socceroos come the big dance. Wouldn't say the same in nay other sport but happy for our Anzac brothers! Perfectly executed game plan.
Yep, it’s hard not to support them
Good for the credibility of the A league as well this team doing well.
Good for the credibility of the A league as well this team doing well.
Auckland will rise once more
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AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Yep, it’s hard not to support them
Good for the credibility of the A league as well this team doing well.
Speak for yourself, would absolutely love if they got grouped!
Must say though, two A-League players getting starts and performing excellently is sure to garner some credibility, as you say
Must say though, two A-League players getting starts and performing excellently is sure to garner some credibility, as you say
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Great result.
You feel like the team is really together and you can change players in and out, but the force of the group is the same.
The game against the USA is shaping up as a classic of Italy v Netherlands Euro 2000 proportions. The great attack v the great defense.
Metcalfe there showing why we need Bayliss- you shoot, get a deflection and get a goal. They don’t all have to be beautiful top bins.
You feel like the team is really together and you can change players in and out, but the force of the group is the same.
The game against the USA is shaping up as a classic of Italy v Netherlands Euro 2000 proportions. The great attack v the great defense.
Metcalfe there showing why we need Bayliss- you shoot, get a deflection and get a goal. They don’t all have to be beautiful top bins.
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A-League has more than just creditability. I've been saying it for how long now..
Any A-League player signed by a 2nd or 3rd tier European League is going to be in their match day squad or even start. That tells me everything. That European or MLS coach/club has given the quality stamp. The evidence is there. Now the exception to this rule is goalkeepers. Goalkeepers sometimes need an adjustment period to get use to European conditions, but not all the time.
The problem is we watch the Premier League/Champions League then look at the Phoenix ( "This is sh*t") with disgust. But the league is good because the coaches standards have risen and the barriers to coach an A-League team is high (UEFA A or Pro license).
Any A-League player signed by a 2nd or 3rd tier European League is going to be in their match day squad or even start. That tells me everything. That European or MLS coach/club has given the quality stamp. The evidence is there. Now the exception to this rule is goalkeepers. Goalkeepers sometimes need an adjustment period to get use to European conditions, but not all the time.
The problem is we watch the Premier League/Champions League then look at the Phoenix ( "This is sh*t") with disgust. But the league is good because the coaches standards have risen and the barriers to coach an A-League team is high (UEFA A or Pro license).
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Saffa wrote:
A-League has more than just creditability. I've been saying it for how long now..
Any A-League player signed by a 2nd or 3rd tier European League is going to be in their match day squad or even start. That tells me everything. That European or MLS coach/club has given the quality stamp. The evidence is there. Now the exception to this rule is goalkeepers. Goalkeepers sometimes need an adjustment period to get use to European conditions, but not all the time.
The problem is we watch the Premier League/Champions League then look at the Phoenix ( "This is sh*t") with disgust. But the league is good because the coaches standards have risen and the barriers to coach an A-League team is high (UEFA A or Pro license).
That is a good point and we keep forgetting the enormous quality progress of football in Australia.
I am old enough to remember that way, back when, there was just Craig Johnston as the sole Australian player of note in the Premier League. He was asked by Frank Arok (the the Australia coach) to play for the Socceroos, but Craig declined, saying that it would be "like surfing for England".
I am old enough to remember that way, back when, there was just Craig Johnston as the sole Australian player of note in the Premier League. He was asked by Frank Arok (the the Australia coach) to play for the Socceroos, but Craig declined, saying that it would be "like surfing for England".
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Whether we (or Australia, more likely) are disgruntled by it, or regardless of whether it's even accurate, us and Aussie always get lumped in together by the rest of the world's football media. It's grating how much more advanced they are than us, but it's good for the A-League, and that's good for us.
Like others have said, I can't stand them in any other sport, but I don't mind the Socceroos really. Hopefully we can carry on the propaganda campaign for ANZAC football being the finest in the land today.
Like others have said, I can't stand them in any other sport, but I don't mind the Socceroos really. Hopefully we can carry on the propaganda campaign for ANZAC football being the finest in the land today.
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.
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USA v Australia sees another own goal. So this is the second most oggies at a World Cup with 7 so far. Most was 12 in Russia 2018.
I'm an optimistic pessimist.
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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The style of football they play is just so hard to watch. Play 5 at the back, sit deep, hope for a lucky counter.
Reminds me of Italiano’s philosophy.
I’m glad the All Whites don’t play like this and actually go out and have a crack.
Reminds me of Italiano’s philosophy.
I’m glad the All Whites don’t play like this and actually go out and have a crack.
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observerfromuh wrote:Ninja wrote:No we won't. Every time we play Australia we seem to freeze up and play long ball tactics.
We would destroy this Australia team
Yes we would
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Absolutely devastating. More frustrating than the actual results is that all those American pundits who spent the buildup to this tournament and game writing us (Aus) off have now been validated, and I can't think of anything more soul crushing than that.
Besides that though, I know there's been controversy surounding the starting 11 but I don't think that should excuse the poor passing that was shown, especially in the 1st half. Damn near everything was intercepted and we really struggled to string anything together which made building up towards the infamous counter-attack very difficult.
I still see Paraguay as a winnable game, all that's changed is that it has become a must win for the Socceroos if they want to progress.
Besides that though, I know there's been controversy surounding the starting 11 but I don't think that should excuse the poor passing that was shown, especially in the 1st half. Damn near everything was intercepted and we really struggled to string anything together which made building up towards the infamous counter-attack very difficult.
I still see Paraguay as a winnable game, all that's changed is that it has become a must win for the Socceroos if they want to progress.
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There were four A-League players starting for Aus - Beach and Okon-Engstler were fantastic against Turkiye so fair enough, but starting Velupillay was a baffling decision from Popovic. Would never thought we would have less A-League players starting than Aus, but here we are.
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.
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10 man Paraguay lead Turkey 1-0 at HT, after a very early 2nd min goal.
Lots of drama in this one. A proper fiery clash. El Salavador ref struggling to keep a lid on it.
Wood's old Newcastle team mate Miguel Almiron sensationally sent off for covering his face during a big melee. New rule. Paraguyan assistant coach shown a yellow earlier.
Another big melee as teams leave at HT.
Grab the popcorn for the 2nd half. I think favoured Turkey will be out of the WC, if they lose this one after their earlier defeat to the Socceroos. Head-to-head tiebreak rules to separate 3rd placed teams on same points.
Almiron's red card means he'll miss the Aussie match
Lots of drama in this one. A proper fiery clash. El Salavador ref struggling to keep a lid on it.
Wood's old Newcastle team mate Miguel Almiron sensationally sent off for covering his face during a big melee. New rule. Paraguyan assistant coach shown a yellow earlier.
Another big melee as teams leave at HT.
Grab the popcorn for the 2nd half. I think favoured Turkey will be out of the WC, if they lose this one after their earlier defeat to the Socceroos. Head-to-head tiebreak rules to separate 3rd placed teams on same points.
Almiron's red card means he'll miss the Aussie match
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coochiee wrote:
10 man Paraguay lead Turkey 1-0 at HT, after a very early 2nd min goal.
Lots of drama in this one. A proper fiery clash. El Salavador ref struggling to keep a lid on it.
Wood's old Newcastle team mate Miguel Almiron sensationally sent off for covering his face during a big melee. New rule. Paraguyan assistant coach shown a yellow earlier.
Another big melee as teams leave at HT.
Grab the popcorn for the 2nd half. I think favoured Turkey will be out of the WC, if they lose this one after their earlier defeat to the Socceroos. Head-to-head tiebreak rules to separate 3rd placed teams on same points.
Almiron's red card means he'll miss the Aussie match
I can wait for the referees to not send off Messi for doing this in the final and moreso I can't wait for the PL refs to butcher this next season either 😂😂
Very tasty game though
Very tasty game though
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Such an intense game. Paraguay doing their best to time waste within the rules and turkye is doing their best to waste every opportunity.
Also I didn't know the new covering the mouth rule. I've always thought covering the mouth was stupid anyway so I look forward to this being implemented inconsistently. Lol.
Also I didn't know the new covering the mouth rule. I've always thought covering the mouth was stupid anyway so I look forward to this being implemented inconsistently. Lol.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
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Can I say I felt a bit for the Paraguay keeper. Maybe I am just naïve (in this instance) but I thought he might've been a bit hurt or something
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Turkye are gooone (unless they thrash the Americans)
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
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Didn't think this would happen to Turkiye. 🫣
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's living in Agadez, Niger. Spending more time in town, Agadez, as bad people in the desert are spoiling the good life.
19/4/26.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's living in Agadez, Niger. Spending more time in town, Agadez, as bad people in the desert are spoiling the good life.
19/4/26.
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kwlap wrote:
Turkye are gooone (unless they thrash the Americans)
They are going home regardless of the result in their final match against the USA
Head to head tiebreakers now to initially separate teams on equal points, not GD
Head to head tiebreakers now to initially separate teams on equal points, not GD
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Oh really? I thought it was GD. Wow, that's tough. But for such a talented group, these two games have been a huge failure
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
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Wibblebutt wrote:
So Aussie just need a draw v Paraguay and they're through as 2nd place qualifier. That's well within their ability I think.
And if NZ comes 2nd in our group, then we would play Australia in the knock out round.....still a long way to go though :)
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Nobody would have picked Turkey to be that bad. I doubt they will make much effort against the USA.
Australia were bad....like really bad. Picking two AL hacks in Vellupila and Leckie was dumb but they played a terrible match.
Their biggest problem is they have this Aussie AL mentality that physically intimidating your opposition is no1. So they hack and kick and foul and forget to play football. Its stone age football.
Just look at how the AWs played? Who would you rather watch? Who created the most chances?
For a country that produced Kewell and Viduka etc the talent well is nearly dry. Their first half against the USA was probably the worse spell of anybody at this WC
Australia were bad....like really bad. Picking two AL hacks in Vellupila and Leckie was dumb but they played a terrible match.
Their biggest problem is they have this Aussie AL mentality that physically intimidating your opposition is no1. So they hack and kick and foul and forget to play football. Its stone age football.
Just look at how the AWs played? Who would you rather watch? Who created the most chances?
For a country that produced Kewell and Viduka etc the talent well is nearly dry. Their first half against the USA was probably the worse spell of anybody at this WC
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