World Cup 2018

[whufc]

Saudi Arabia is probably harder than Uzbekistan for the third team, which is probably who we need to worry about

True but i think Qatar in the other group have the ability to be a top 3 side especially as each month goes on they seemed to have qualified some new 'brazillian' Qatari and with the money they are pumping into football.

Also think Japan are a tad easier than South Korea.

Either way we are probably splitting hairs and we will need to play some decent football to get through.

[Keefy]

Who we play and when can be found here

http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/soc ... erm=237171

The Socceroos will renew its rivalry with Japan in the final round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying after the draw was conducted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tonight in Kuala Lumpur.
The Socceroos will renew its rivalry with Japan in the final round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying after the draw was conducted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tonight in Kuala Lumpur.
The Socceroos will face Iraq, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Japan in the 10-match home-and-away series with a place amongst the world’s best 32 teams in Russia up for grabs.
Meet the Socceroos' WC qualifier opponents
Australia will kick off its Group B campaign with a home clash against Iraq on Thursday 1 September 2016 with this stage of World Cup Qualifying coming to an end in September 2017.
The top two teams from both groups will progress directly to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with the two 3rd-placed countries facing off home and away in the Asian play-off on 5 and 10 October 2017.

Read more at http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/soc ... 7jPzwd5.99

[Jim05]

Saudi Arabia is probably harder than Uzbekistan for the third team, which is probably who we need to worry about

Despite the rankings I rate the Uzbeki's as a better side than the Saudi's but you just know we will get screwed by the refs in Saudi Arabia. They are probably the most corrupt of the Middle Eastern nations. Still a very good draw though and hopefully I can time my next holidays with an away trip

[bennymacca]

hopefully I can time my next holidays with an away trip

jeez you are committed, saudi arabia is a fair trek for a game of soccer

[mighty hounds]

I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

[Corona Man]

I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

[mighty hounds]

I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

On a positive note as least we know where Thailand is on the World Map

[bennymacca]

I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

I feel like we get shafted because as a state we are usually pretty good at turning up to anything, because we are starved of top level international sport

[Jim05]

I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

I feel like we get shafted because as a state we are usually pretty good at turning up to anything, because we are starved of top level international sport

Got to take the SA coloured glasses off Benny, the NSW government entered into an agreement with the FFA where they would fund stadium upgrades on the proviso they get x amount of games there. My understanding is Sydney will get 3 games, Melbourne 1 and Brisbane/Adelaide the other.
Doesn't help that for the Asian Cup SA was offered games but our government wouldn't pay for them so that put people at the top off side. All of the sponsorship is in the Eastern states too and I was recently reading that FFA makes more off a 25k crowd in Sydney than a packed Adelaide

[Jim05]

hopefully I can time my next holidays with an away trip

jeez you are committed, saudi arabia is a fair trek for a game of soccer

[emoji1]
I love my soccer but Saudi Arabia is one of the few places in the world that doesn't interest me.
Besides I'm going to Qatar for the 2022 WC

[whufc]

I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

I feel like we get shafted because as a state we are usually pretty good at turning up to anything, because we are starved of top level international sport

Got to take the SA coloured glasses off Benny, the NSW government entered into an agreement with the FFA where they would fund stadium upgrades on the proviso they get x amount of games there. My understanding is Sydney will get 3 games, Melbourne 1 and Brisbane/Adelaide the other.
Doesn't help that for the Asian Cup SA was offered games but our government wouldn't pay for them so that put people at the top off side. All of the sponsorship is in the Eastern states too and I was recently reading that FFA makes more off a 25k crowd in Sydney than a packed Adelaide

Plus we don't ever provide a pitch that's up to FFA standards

[Jase]

[quote="mighty hounds"]I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

I feel like we get shafted because as a state we are usually pretty good at turning up to anything, because we are starved of top level international sport

Got to take the SA coloured glasses off Benny, the NSW government entered into an agreement with the FFA where they would fund stadium upgrades on the proviso they get x amount of games there. My understanding is Sydney will get 3 games, Melbourne 1 and Brisbane/Adelaide the other.
Doesn't help that for the Asian Cup SA was offered games but our government wouldn't pay for them so that put people at the top off side. All of the sponsorship is in the Eastern states too and I was recently reading that FFA makes more off a 25k crowd in Sydney than a packed Adelaide

Plus we don't ever provide a pitch that's up to FFA standards[/quote]
Neither are the cow paddocks that are the Sydney Football stadium or Stadium Australia (or whatever the Olympic Stadium is called these days)...

Terrible pitches...

[Jim05]

[quote="Corona Man"][quote="mighty hounds"]I wonder which match Adelaide will get? Hopefully they reward us with Japan after getting a bigger crowd than Sydney. I won't hold my breath though

Speculation about last night was Thailand

I feel like we get shafted because as a state we are usually pretty good at turning up to anything, because we are starved of top level international sport

Got to take the SA coloured glasses off Benny, the NSW government entered into an agreement with the FFA where they would fund stadium upgrades on the proviso they get x amount of games there. My understanding is Sydney will get 3 games, Melbourne 1 and Brisbane/Adelaide the other.
Doesn't help that for the Asian Cup SA was offered games but our government wouldn't pay for them so that put people at the top off side. All of the sponsorship is in the Eastern states too and I was recently reading that FFA makes more off a 25k crowd in Sydney than a packed Adelaide

Plus we don't ever provide a pitch that's up to FFA standards[/quote]
Neither are the cow paddocks that are the Sydney Football stadium or Stadium Australia (or whatever the Olympic Stadium is called these days)...

Terrible pitches...[/quote]
Not great pitches either but like I said they have an ironclad contract with the FFA for about the next 4-5 years

[Jim05]

Cahill comes off the bench and scores the only goal of the game.
UAE 0-1 Australia.
After the Japs shock opening loss we sit top of the group with the Saudi's

[whufc]

Cahill comes off the bench and scores the only goal of the game.
UAE 0-1 Australia.
After the Japs shock opening loss we sit top of the group with the Saudi's

Seriously good effort by our lads

I haven't seen an Aussie side in my time who is so confident on the ball and can dominate possession for large portions of a game!!

A fairly youngish side as well with a core group that it will be in their prime age for 2018

Ange has done a marvellous job

[bennymacca]

Probably just need a bit more bite up front to take the next step. With the exception of Cahill none of them are that clinical in front of goal.

Giannou hasn't really done much for Australia yet (haven't seen last nights game, did he start?) but hopefully he can be that guy

[whufc]

Probably just need a bit more bite up front to take the next step. With the exception of Cahill none of them are that clinical in front of goal.

Giannou hasn't really done much for Australia yet (haven't seen last nights game, did he start?) but hopefully he can be that guy

Agree we are one striker and probably one tough as filfhy Robert Huth type centre back away from that next step and potential quarter final World Cup placing

In saying that with the likes of Rogic, Mooy and Luongo we do have multiple midfield options we can find goals in

I think Juric has the potential to do a pretty serviceable job for the Aussies over the next four years of his given a decent run in the side

It's like the Warney situation all over again ever striker we get over the next five years is going to be compared to Cahill until someone completely different comes along like a Nathan Lyon

[BoundaryRider84]

Cahill comes off the bench and scores the only goal of the game.
UAE 0-1 Australia.
After the Japs shock opening loss we sit top of the group with the Saudi's

How was the cross though?

[Jim05]

Cahill comes off the bench and scores the only goal of the game.
UAE 0-1 Australia.
After the Japs shock opening loss we sit top of the group with the Saudi's

How was the cross though?

Great cross, he is really starting to show something now

[Jim05]

Probably just need a bit more bite up front to take the next step. With the exception of Cahill none of them are that clinical in front of goal.

Giannou hasn't really done much for Australia yet (haven't seen last nights game, did he start?) but hopefully he can be that guy

I wish I shared your sentiments on Giannou but he is ordinary at best IMO and I just can't see him getting much better. Playing in substandard comps has hindered his development