HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Could Spain v Germany tomorrow be the biggest group game in the history of the Cup?
2022 Football World Cup
- Thread starter CrazyMatt
- Start date
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
And another interesting thing, the winner of our group plays second place in group C which could well be Argentina.
Flanno
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If the only games you watch are Australian then I don’t blame you for thinking that haha
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
He prefers AFL.
Gards
Jaws
If Ryan was a bit closer to his left post he could have cut down the angle more and made it need a better more precise finish so I say he was still a chance of stopping it but glad it got sprayed and we didn't need to find out as prob most likely should have been a goal against us. Those little lapses will really cost us against the big teams that put chances like that away like it's a training run
There a few too many of those chances provided to Tunisia for my liking against a team that didn't really start playing until after half time. Regardless for the most part our defenders did a great job and Ryan was solid as.
Mooy, Duke and Leckie were huge further up field though coach likes some of his experienced form players so much he sometimes leaves them out there to the point of exhaustion and Leckie was going down a lot with leg injuries but was persisted with until very late on.
We have some quality on the bench and have always been frustrated by Aussie coaches that only give them a cameo run at the end like Arnold did with Mabil who is one of our most exciting players. I get alot of coaches do this not just Arnie but in the heat and with Tunisia starting to build some accedency I felt we could have used some fresh legs a bit earlier but we got the win in the end, a good win.
We had 2 really good chances ourselves that we narrowly missed out on converting which those extra goals would have been handy for our F/A which is the worst in the group at -2 but probably isn't going to factor in the end
A few world cups ago we managed a win (against the Serbs) and a draw against another team but didn't progress through the group stages due to F/A thanks to getting destroyed by Germany in the opening game
Socceroos at at their best when they press through the midfield like they did last night. We don't have the raw talent or pace but when we play aggressively and push up as a team with strong challenges and sharp passing we can give teams trouble. Something we did exceptionally well against Italy in 2006. We don't have the class and talent of that 2006 squad but the principles are the same.
Hustle is not something Aussies are lacking in. We had alot of good first and second touches last night and in that first half the ball always seem to fall to our feet when Tunisia were trying to play out of their end. We just kept getting in the right positions and cutting them down before they could build anything productive sans the odd breakaway.
It also builds rhythm and confidence.
Not this outdated and regressive sit back and get them on the counter attack long ball negative style - a trap we sometimes have fallen back into but doesn't work against the better teams who are going to pick apart our defense anyway.
Denmark will throw everything at us but we need to go out and play positive and go for a win, not going into our shell and play for a draw or we haven't learnt from our opening game against France. Obviously we don't need to take unnecessary risks or do anything silly as it's Denmark that will need the win but we still need to play positive and look for opportunities in attack and put the pressure on Denmark.
If scores are level with 10 to go or whatever sure we can put all our players back and play conservatively and try get them on a break but it won't work over 90 mins.
We have done reasonably well against Denmark in the past with a draw and a win from 4 internationals played and you wouldn't think they are bustling with confidence right now.
French to throw the game as payback for AUKUS
Yea flick the aircon switch off - let the other teams sweat it out. We play our A-League in the summer ffs in true back to front upside down Aussie style
If we were to get through and face Argentina, they don't worry me anywhere near as much as teams like Brazil, Germany, France, Netherlands ect.
Messi is becoming like the Nathan Hindmarsh of Football World Cups. Problem is that even with a draw in the knock out stages you still gotta go to penalty shoot outs and Matt Ryan is good but no Schwarzer
CrazyMatt
Jaws
Costa Rica beat Japan, Morocco beat Belguim and Germany are bottom of the group after two games. This world cup is mental.
It all looks very easy with a round ball. Let's see how they go with a Steeden.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Draw, they have a sniff. Was really hoping for a Japan win.
Shortfin Mako
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And the funny thing is if Spain beats Japan and Germany beats Costa Rica then Germany advances.
Japan did the hard work of beating Germany but then gave away that advantage.
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Sir Chadley
Jaws
I’ve been thinking about it a few days now and I’m not sure how we’re going to stop Denmark from beating us.
If you’re Graham Arnold do you go ultra defensive and not worry about scoring and keep them out? Arnold’s mantra seems to go on the attack, I’m worried that opens the game up for Denmark and leaves us vulnerable.
Would be great if we advanced but no way in hell are we beating Argentina.
If you’re Graham Arnold do you go ultra defensive and not worry about scoring and keep them out? Arnold’s mantra seems to go on the attack, I’m worried that opens the game up for Denmark and leaves us vulnerable.
Would be great if we advanced but no way in hell are we beating Argentina.
HaroldBishop
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We'll definitely lose if we go ultra defensive
Shortfin Mako
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I agree with @HaroldBishop. I think Argentina is easier - lock Messi up and you control the game. Denmark is playing more of a team game which makes them dangerous.
We can play a counter attack game but that means very solid defense and also good, accurate long passes which we seem to lack.
Maybe 4-5-1?
Shortfin Mako
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Come to think of it, I think, 4-1-3-1-1 might be better.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
Casemiro is such a beast. I’m so glad Man United signed him.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
We don’t need to go ultra defensive, if we do then Denmark will just control the game and a guy like Christian Eriksen will just tear us apart. Instead I would just make one tactical tweak to help protect the CB’s a little more, play a double pivot instead of twin 8’s. I’d bring in Devlin for McGree and sit him next to Mooy in that CDM pivot and run Irvine as the advanced 10. You could even bring in Hrustic for Irvine as he’s a bit more of a natural 10.
HaroldBishop
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Some absolutely crackng games overnight
Proud Shark
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You've gotta push hard from the outset IMO. We've managed early goals in the last two games. If you can get one again, Denmark will need 2 to advance so they will start to feel the pressure. I think it's then at this point you play the counter attack style and lean into your defence a bit more.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
What does everyone think of having 48 teams at the next Cup?
Gards
Jaws
Brings in more money and fans but you don't want it becoming like the Rugby League WC where this is a bunch of low quality games of minnow teams getting destroyed - qualifying for the WC should be difficult and prestigious, an achievement in just making it through
However you could argue for more teams or at least a change to the qualifying process when a team like Italy misses out but lesser teams make it though with relatively easier qualifying. The tournament isn't so much all the best teams from around the world as it is the best teams from various regions and conferences around the world and not every team from Europe for instance can make it through - there are not enough spots.