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World Cup 2018
- Thread starter 22nd Man
- Start date
Great games by Australia last night.
Leckie was outstanding. Mooy not too far behind.
Arzani coming on changed it again for us. He will be a superstar.
And on the negative - Kruse should never get another game for the national team. So slow!!!!
Leckie was outstanding. Mooy not too far behind.
Arzani coming on changed it again for us. He will be a superstar.
And on the negative - Kruse should never get another game for the national team. So slow!!!!
We can take it up to these teams but we can’t win unless we press hard. High risk high reward but you can’t win world cups playing the way we have. I can’t believe we didn’t bring on Cahill when Nabbout went down, it was the perfect chance for him to bring his qualities for the team.
We’re going to have to go all out against Peru and try and score at least 2 more goals then them just to be sure and just pray that France don’t put the cue in the rack.
We’re going to have to go all out against Peru and try and score at least 2 more goals then them just to be sure and just pray that France don’t put the cue in the rack.
Don't have a striker. Juric and Nabout not the answers. We need to find our next viduka. Cahill should have come on late.
Arzani is an amazing player and looking forward to watching him tear it up in the green and gold in future. Not sure why Kruse is picked ahead of Irvine luongo petratos or arzani. Bert has made a significant difference in a short time. Not sure what went wrong under ange after the asian cup, but we went backwards for some reason.
Arzani is an amazing player and looking forward to watching him tear it up in the green and gold in future. Not sure why Kruse is picked ahead of Irvine luongo petratos or arzani. Bert has made a significant difference in a short time. Not sure what went wrong under ange after the asian cup, but we went backwards for some reason.
Harry said:
Yeah I don't rate Kruse, he runs around but he's not good enough to actually break down an opposition and create and that's ultimately why he should be in the team particularly for the Peru game. I hope Arzani starts.
I'm not even sure really looking for a Viduka type, he's a better Nabboult type but as good as Viduka was he wasn't a prolific striker, he was excellent at bringing others into the game but not prolific. When you are playing with only the one striker that guy needs to be scoring a good amount of goals and that's what Australia are crying out for. Nabboult runs a lot but I just don't think he's a natural striker, doesn't seem to run to the right areas offensively where he will be in with a chance of scoring.
Like others, no idea why Cahill didn't play the last 15 minutes last nights, plenty of crosses going into the box, with his strength, movement and aerial ability he would have made it difficult for the Danes.
We have to thrash Peru by 2+ goals for any chance of finishing 2nd.
From The Age:
Australia's World Cup predicament
(1) How Australia miss knockout stage Australia lose to Peru. Denmark draw or beat France
(2) How Australia progress to knockout stage France win, Australia win and finish with better goal difference than Denmark OR France win, Australia win and Australia finish with same goal difference than Denmark, but with more goals scored
(3) How Australia's progression could come down to a raffle France win, Australia win but finish on the same points, goal difference, goals for and goals against as Denmark
If Australia and Denmark are equal, the tie-breakers are:
- Points obtained in group games between the two teams
- Goal difference from games involving the two teams
- Number of goals scored in games involving the two teams
- Fair play points
- Drawing lots by FIFA
From The Age:
Australia's World Cup predicament
(1) How Australia miss knockout stage Australia lose to Peru. Denmark draw or beat France
(2) How Australia progress to knockout stage France win, Australia win and finish with better goal difference than Denmark OR France win, Australia win and Australia finish with same goal difference than Denmark, but with more goals scored
(3) How Australia's progression could come down to a raffle France win, Australia win but finish on the same points, goal difference, goals for and goals against as Denmark
If Australia and Denmark are equal, the tie-breakers are:
- Points obtained in group games between the two teams
- Goal difference from games involving the two teams
- Number of goals scored in games involving the two teams
- Fair play points
- Drawing lots by FIFA
I agree Viduka wasn't a prolific goal scorer but his role in the team was to hold up the ball and bring others into the game. That's what you want from your striker when only playing one up front. Nabbout cant and wont ever do that. Juric has the build and strength to do it but rarely does. Look at the Danish number 9. Built like a brick shithouse. But plays that role up front as he should. He played a big hand in them scoring their first goal.mrposhman said:
The key also is to have class finishes to support the striker. In the first half Leckie cut the ball back to Kruse. Kruse should have at least hit the target. But he was too slow to react. His first touch was horrendous which allowed the Danes enough time to react. A quality finisher would have put that in the back of the net.
Smoking Aces said:
That's the unfortunate thing for Australia at the moment, you either have a striker that can hold up the play and bring goalscoring attacking players into the game to score goals (Rogic, Leckie and Kruse) or you have a goalscoring striker. None of the former 3 are prolific either which is why they need a goalscorer.
Agree on that one regarding Kruse, it was on his primary foot when it was cut back, there should have been no need to take a touch, he should have been shooting with his first touch, as soon as he took the touch the defenders could close the space and block the shot easily. This tends to be the difference between the better players at this level and the also rans, they know when to take a touch and when to play it first time. The best players in the world would have hit that first time without even a thought of taking a touch.
Yep Kruse looks out of his depth at this level. Thing is, playing second div in Germany or A-League, sure, he probably has enough time for the two touch strike. But at this level, against world class defenders, they're on you way too quickly to have time to do that. This is what sets world class goal scoring strikers apart. They are good enough to consistently control their shots on one touch - even when the ball is not sitting perfectly for them. Look at Eriksson's goal in the first half. Actually wasn't sitting that well for him, but instinctively controlled it off one touch and banged it home.mrposhman said:
The other player in the squad, but not getting a lot of discussion is Jamie Maclaren. Say using Maclaren instead of Juric? Would that add a bit more goal scoring spice to the side on the park? Because watching the game, Australia played quite well over most of the field. But it didn't matter how often they got the ball into threatening positions, they just never looked realistically like scoring. An incapability to score is a bit of a problem in a sport where scoring goals is the fundemental aim of the game.
Panthera Tigris said:
Anyone that could get into a position in the penalty area to score will be an upgrade. Nabboult ran around a lot but I'd love to see his heatmap, my guess would be he wasn't in the penalty area a lot. Having only 1 central striker means that they have to be in the penalty area to influence the game when good balls come in. Leckie is a good option on the right hand side, Rogic too (was too isolated against France and Kante was excellent starving him of the ball, much better last night) but for me Australia need to find other options for the other 2 attacking positions if they want to beat Peru.
The Cahill love is a little over the top. Couldn't get a regular bench spot with both Melbourne City and Millwall. As a result he's not match fit. He's 38yo, 39 in 5 months.
He's been our best. He was a freak in the air and had a cracking shot on him every now and again. He won't give us much more than 15mins at a time and even then his reactions wont be as sharp due to the lack of game time.
The Danes weren't the right team for him. Physically stronger and taller. Getting a header in won't be that easy, he's only 180cm in height. We also couldn't lose that match. Not losing was more important than winning.
But against Peru it's different. Winning is the only thing that matters. We have to win by 2 goals assuming the French beat the Danes (not sure that will happen though). Let Timmy and Arzani run them ragged because it makes no sense being conservative in that game.
He's been our best. He was a freak in the air and had a cracking shot on him every now and again. He won't give us much more than 15mins at a time and even then his reactions wont be as sharp due to the lack of game time.
The Danes weren't the right team for him. Physically stronger and taller. Getting a header in won't be that easy, he's only 180cm in height. We also couldn't lose that match. Not losing was more important than winning.
But against Peru it's different. Winning is the only thing that matters. We have to win by 2 goals assuming the French beat the Danes (not sure that will happen though). Let Timmy and Arzani run them ragged because it makes no sense being conservative in that game.
A lot of interesting discussions going on in the media about, “where to” for Daniel Arzani after the WC.
Of course most people in the media saying he should go to Europe as soon as he can. Interestingly, on last night’s post match show, Craig Foster was dead against him going yet. Reckons he should ply his trade in the A-League for a season or two first. Not sure I agree with Foster. What is their really to gain for Arzani himself staying a bit longer in Australia. Sure it might be of benefit to the marketing of the A-League. But not to the benefit of the player himself.
I must say, the most pragmatic view was that of the Danish commentator, who said it depends on what club and who the coach is as to whether he should go this year.
Of course most people in the media saying he should go to Europe as soon as he can. Interestingly, on last night’s post match show, Craig Foster was dead against him going yet. Reckons he should ply his trade in the A-League for a season or two first. Not sure I agree with Foster. What is their really to gain for Arzani himself staying a bit longer in Australia. Sure it might be of benefit to the marketing of the A-League. But not to the benefit of the player himself.
I must say, the most pragmatic view was that of the Danish commentator, who said it depends on what club and who the coach is as to whether he should go this year.
I think Foster's point was a lot of young Aussies go to Europe and sit on the bench, that he would be better off getting another year of game time in the A league.
The problem with the current team is we have no out and out strikers to just put it in the net. Timmy was a freak that has given everything, give him a sniff and he would find the net. Striker, no. Johnny on the spot and aerial opportunist definitely. I think Bert has to give him at least 30?minutes off the pine if the situation presents because I reckon he would be at least a 30% chance to slot oneeven at his age and lack of game time.
But the fact we are talking about Tim Cahill says a lot about soccer in Australia. We have no strikers. Arzani May or may not become something but too young just now.
But the fact we are talking about Tim Cahill says a lot about soccer in Australia. We have no strikers. Arzani May or may not become something but too young just now.
Yes point taken. Although, like the Danish commentator pointed out, look for an offer that is a good fit. As you suggest, no point going to a powerhouse club and playing in the 2nds or sitting on the bench.Brodders17 said:
Personally, as a hypothetical example, i’d love to see him at a club like Leeds United (of course, this would follow in the footsteps of some notable other Aust players). Leeds have just signed themselves a highly credentialed Argentinian coach (Marcelo Biesla). He is renowned as a very technically proficient coach for a fast paced, attacking style of play with flair. Currently sitting in the Championship (had two seasons finishing in the middle to upper rungs) and looking to build a squad to challenge for promotion to the Premier League over the next season or two. Would seem a really good fit.
Perhaps somewhere in the Netherlands may also be a good fit....
