2022 Football World Cup

[sharkafar]

It was clear watching last night that we just don't have the cattle. I thought we battled away but the French players were patently a class or two above us.
So was it luck when we had the 'golden generation' or are we doing things differently now which means we are simply not producing the players of the calibre of Viduka, Kewell, Bresciano, Grella, Emerton, Cahill etc?

 

[sharkafar]

Oh, and never underestimate the Blue Samurai.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Oh, and never underestimate the Blue Samurai.

What a win, good to see some upsets.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Oh, and never underestimate the Blue Samurai.

Japan have jumped so far ahead of Australia in the past decade its staggering. We could learn a lot. Its no surprise we havent beaten them in 10 games, with the last win coming in 2009.

People like to call Australia vs Japan in football a ‘rivalry’. Its not, we’re no longer even on their radar anymore, they’ve left us for dead.

 

[Flanno]

Something needs to change at grassroots, it’s too expensive to play football in Australia and there are so many other sports for families to choose from. Not to mention with the cost of living pressures, plenty of parents are starting to drop kids sport which is very sad

 

[HaroldBishop]

Something needs to change at grassroots, it’s too expensive to play football in Australia and there are so many other sports for families to choose from. Not to mention with the cost of living pressures, plenty of parents are starting to drop kids sport which is very sad

Yeah agree with this.

My 7 year old just tried out for a development squad because his mates did.

Highly doubt he gets picked but if he does the fee is ridiculous.

I think having specialist squads so young is stupid anyway, too young. Make it inclusive.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Something needs to change at grassroots, it’s too expensive to play football in Australia and there are so many other sports for families to choose from. Not to mention with the cost of living pressures, plenty of parents are starting to drop kids sport which is very sad

You could start by cutting down the bloated admin running the game. There’s waaaaay too many people with selfish interests with their fingers in the pie so to speak.

 

[HaroldBishop]

You could start by cutting down the bloated admin running the game. There’s waaaaay too many people with selfish interests with their fingers in the pie so to speak.

You reckon they should go with the FIFA model?

 

[CrazyMatt]

You reckon they should go with the FIFA model?

Dunno about that but it is a fact that there are too many associations running the game around the country. Cutting those down and centrallising operations a bit I think would help massively. The problem is too many people in those pampered positions are caught up in their own selfish egos and don’t want whats best for the game, only themselves.

Which admittedly does sound like FIFA LOL.

 

[Sparkles]

Dunno about that but it is a fact that there are too many associations running the game around the country. Cutting those down and centrallising operations a bit I think would help massively. The problem is too many people in those pampered positions are caught up in their own selfish egos and don’t want whats best for the game, only themselves.

Which admittedly does sound like FIFA LOL.

Don't forget you could cut costs by using immigrant slave labour

 

[HaroldBishop]

Great second goal from Brazil

 

[Sparkles]

Great second goal from Brazil

Yeah, that was a cracker. Loving having the games in a before school friendly timeslot so the kids get some live action.

Anyone have any idea what AEDT time the finals will be played?

 

[HaroldBishop]

Yeah, that was a cracker. Loving having the games in a before school friendly timeslot so the kids get some live action.

Anyone have any idea what AEDT time the finals will be played?

2am and 6am mate.

 

[Sparkles]

2am and 6am mate.

Cheers mate

 

[Mr Ryan]

Does anyone know if there are any A-League imports playing for any of the other nations?

 

[CrazyMatt]

Does anyone know if there are any A-League imports playing for any of the other nations?

No not this time around. I think Salem Khelifi from Perth Glory got close to the Tunisia squad but apart from him no.

There are a few current foreign internationals in the A-League like Robert Mak from Sydney FC (Slovakia), but none who’s countries made the world cup.

 

[HaroldBishop]

No not this time around. I think Salem Khelifi from Perth Glory got close to the Tunisia squad but apart from him no.

There are a few current foreign internationals in the A-League like Robert Mak from Sydney FC (Slovakia), but none who’s countries made the world cup.

Out of interest how many of our guys play in the top level European leagues?

 

[Thresher]

The games seem a lot more physical this World Cup.

Ghana and Tunisia in particular were big on hard contact in their first games.

Australia has been criticised for this in the past but I didn't see much of it from them against France.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Out of interest how many of our guys play in the top level European leagues?

Aiden Hrustic plays for Hellas Verona in Italy’s Serie A.
Awer Mabil plays for Cadiz in Spain’s La Liga.
We got a bunch of guys in the Scottish Premier League, although thats not among the very top of European football, maybe one step down.
Matt Ryan plays for Copehagan in Denmark who are regulars in the Champions League group stages.

 

[Flanno]

Did Foden bang Southgate’s wife?