OT: Association Football

[84 Baby]

And we’ve gone back to ball watching

 

[84 Baby]

The Indonesian's are almost 100 places below Australia in the world rankings. Yet, we don't look any better than them. I stand by my claim. Arnie has no idea. We have looked hopeless all tournament.

My point was Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t do much either. We are missing some very basic skills

 

[84 Baby]

Martin Boyle is one f those missing skills bu he’s all f**ken heart that bloke!

 

[84 Baby]

What on earth were the Indos complaining about there?!? Clear a foul as you’ll ever see

 

[84 Baby]

Like if a player isn’t much chop, I can’t get too angry if he at least puts in effort, like Boyle or Baccus or even Behich but when you’re shit and don’t even try to get the ball, that pisses me off, Riley McGree

 

[84 Baby]

Well we withstood the pressure and scan see why Indo is ranked so far below us

 

[JokerEel]

I said we would win!

 

[84 Baby]

I think we had a better mindset against opposition stacking their backline (at one point Indonesia had a 5 man flat backline). Souttar & Rowles are good at moving it from side to side then when we dragged a defender out of position Irvine went forward rather than turning it back (which is what we did vs Syria & Uzbekistan), and he was rewarded with a lucky deflection.
The second goal was finally a good cross to a player giving all to get on end of it.
Those two efforts then forced Indonesia to try and play higher and that opened the gaps later in the game.
Funnily I see a lot of similarities between Socceroos and Eels.
I don’t think we’ll win the next game (at least not in normal play). South Korea and Saudis play to our absolutely biggest weakness with lack of pace in the backs. Love Souttar but he isn’t fast. I predict we’ll concede a breakaway goal and lose 1, maybe 2 nil.
That all said I think this tournament has been wide open. Of the “good” sides only really Qatar has consistently performed. South Korea & Japan have been very off, Iran aren’t the defensive powerhouse they were, Saudis are bit like us in a dip in squad. While Iraq have had a great start, Uzbeks and Tajiks have been steadily improving for few years. Even the likes of Thai, Indo, Malaysia and India have closed the gap quite a bit. Really the only team that will walk away at the moment definitely having a poor outing is China, maybe Oman.

 

[84 Baby]

WOW! Score a goal, get a red card

 

[84 Baby]

Wow Iraq have imploded horribly

 

[84 Baby]

And the last kick of the game is blazed over the top from the six yard box!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Wow Iraq have imploded horribly

*exploded

 

[84 Baby]

Iraq coach or Tom Cruise?

 

[84 Baby]

*exploded

Maybe lucky they weren’t playing Saudis?
Or Kuwait

Also in the other game Palestine showed their proficiency in surprise attack raids to strike first

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Too soon ffs

 

[bazza]

Maybe lucky they weren’t playing Saudis?
Or Kuwait

Also in the other game Palestine showed their proficiency in surprise attack raids to strike first

If only Israel played in Asia rather than pretending to be European

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If only Israel played in Asia rather than pretending to be European

Like us with Oceania. It’s definitely better for Australian football, just makes little geographic sense.

 

[84 Baby]

Like us with Oceania. It’s definitely better for Australian football, just makes little geographic sense.

I don’t think Israel (& Turkey) play in UEFA because it’s better for their football.

 

[84 Baby]

Too soon ffs

Haven’t seen a replay yet? Spoilers Qatar fight back and rescue the game from Palestine’s hostage hold.

 

[bazza]

I don’t think Israel (& Turkey) play in UEFA because it’s better for their football.

Turkey I would say is for football reasons. At least they are (partly) in Europe