The World Cup Thread.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

I only listened to the game, but it sounded like Leckie was immense.
Can see a big move for him.
Externally Ange is going to portray "we don't accept defeat" attitude, but internally they'd be delighted.
Great signs for the future

[Rocco Jones]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

I only listened to the game, but it sounded like Leckie was immense.
Can see a big move for him.

Leckie's German 2nd Division club signed him up JUST before the World Cup. Let's get whoever made that decision in as the doggies list manager!

[soupman]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Socceroos 25 and under

Ryan
McGowan- Spiranovic- Williams- Davidson
Bozanic-Oar
Halloran- Rogic- Leckie
Kruse

Bench- Langerak, Sainsburry, Wright, Luongo, Holland, Taggart, Troisi

All these guys are either in our squad or missed due to injury. All at the age where they should get better or at least stay at around the same level.

Franjic is 26 and just getting better. Jedinak at 29 and Milligan at 28, both hopefully around as the really hardened mean old defensive mids. Look not saying it's a golden era but a hell of a lot better than the great depression of last week.

Oar isn't really a defensive midfielder, he either plays off a wing or in the central attacking mid role Rogic would occupy. I think Leckie is more of a striker than Kruse atm also.

I'd imagine it would be something like:
Ryan
Sainsbury Spiranovic Williams Davidson
Luongo Bozanic
Kruse Rogic Oar
Leckie

I think Good is a really good prospect and he and Sainsbury would be ahead of McGowan and competing with Williams and Spiranovic for those two CB spots these next few years.
At RB Sainsbury is the best option.
At LB we are weak but you could also consider Zullo in the future
In DM Holland is there, but Luke Bratton is a maybe as is Osama Malik down the track.
Wingers that could pop up include Brillante who was in the initial squad.
Attacking mids to consider could also be Amini who is developing in Germany I think, I really rate Stefan Mauk at Heart, and Danny De Silva is moving to Italy at the end of next season and has huge wraps on him.
Up forward I am a big fan of Taggart, but you could also see guys like Mitch Duke and Tom Juric as well as Eli Babalj who is playing in Holland atm where Oar and Davidson have come through.

So there is talent coming through when you also consider guys like Yeboah have moved overseas, the weakest spot potentially is RB for mine.

[Axe Man]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

At LB we are weak but you could also consider Zullo in the future

What are our chances of convincing Brad Smith from Liverpool to pull on the green and gold?

[Rocco Jones]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Oar isn't really a defensive midfielder, he either plays off a wing or in the central attacking mid role Rogic would occupy. I think Leckie is more of a striker than Kruse atm also.

Yep I agree. I was more putting together 11 players than a formation.

[whythelongface]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Was the Van Persie challenge on Jedinak worthy of a 2nd yellow - I thought he, quite clearly, got his foot to the ball first and then split seconds later came into contact with Jedinak's leg. Didn't think that there was anything it. Was there a free given?


The writer also mentions that Matt Mckay was responsible for the cross to Leckie where he chested down to the Dutch keeper - thought that was Tommy Oar who made the pass.

"So there we were. One of the great World Cup group games. And as if to cement it for posterity, two of its main protagonists will miss the next game. Van Persie was lucky to stay on the pitch after a crunching challenge on Jedinak, having already seen yellow for a raised arm on Spiranovic".

http://www.smh.com.au/fifa-world-cup-2014/australia-2014/socceroos-and-dutch-are-both-winners-after-world-cup-classic-20140619-zsegu.html

[LostDoggy]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Was the Van Persie challenge on Jedinak worthy of a 2nd yellow - I thought he, quite clearly, got his foot to the ball first and then split seconds later came into contact with Jedinak's leg. Didn't think that there was anything it. Was there a free given?


The writer also mentions that Matt Mckay was responsible for the cross to Leckie where he chested down to the Dutch keeper - thought that was Tommy Oar who made the pass.

"So there we were. One of the great World Cup group games. And as if to cement it for posterity, two of its main protagonists will miss the next game. Van Persie was lucky to stay on the pitch after a crunching challenge on Jedinak, having already seen yellow for a raised arm on Spiranovic".

http://www.smh.com.au/fifa-world-cup...619-zsegu.html

Preety sure it was a foul, just another missed call to go with Cahills shirt being pulled (big crack down) was really annoyed he made the scoresheet in the end. He got completely out worked bigtime such a down hill skier!

It was Tommy Oar who was the deer in the headlights, easy for me to say but he had RVP beat and all he had to do was run square to the goals a couple of steps and we go 3-2 up. Of course they go straight down and score, truly heartbreaking stuff.

[Eastdog]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Firstly I want to just say how proud I am to be an Australian, what an absolute herculean effort and what a game!

I am so disappointed for the boy's they absolutely deserved to win that game, the chances they created was incredible. The Dutch were completely rattled they played like they truly believed we are inferior and we shook the absolute shit out of them! The goals they got were from our making not their brilliance.

Timmy Cahill for mine is simply the best soccer player we have ever produced, the amount of work he did was incredible and that goal under that pressure running back and hit it that sweet with his wrong foot was amazing. So sad for him that its all over for him. He has had to do it all alone up front just inspirational.

Some of our boys have been amazing Leckie, Davidson were huge. Brescha has been huge at his age.

It's another World Cup that ends in a what could've been. For the team to play this well without nearly our best side on the pitch is massive.

To be without Rogic, Kruse, Williams and Kennedy was just Cruel they can seriously play and we would be in a completely different position then on top of that losing Milligan and Franjic left us with a completely different side, one who is completely out of their depth. But one who just played the game of their lives and all of Australia should congratulate because they were brilliant. Must say Ange is one hell of a Coach.

But Seriously with them boys all playing I have no doubt we would be going through to the next stage and as usual shock the whole world.

Already looking forward to next world cup and this one hasn't finished because we have a very bright future.

Great summary there rooner17 especially for those who didn't get up to watch it. I'm glad now that despite the loss I stayed up and watched it last night.

[Eastdog]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

End of an era for Spain.

A big shock that the last World Cup champions are eliminated already from the World Cup. For us its not a surprise but the surprise is our performances which many didn't expect considering the tough group we have so in that regard we should be very satisfied with ourselves.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Amazing performance, very unlucky in that in our two games we've been punished for some rookie errors. Otherwise, we've been a genuine delight to watch. I think everybody is surprised at how fluent and attacking we've played - it's not been a 'grind' as our sides have been in the past.

How old is Leckie? Absolute star, huge future.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Amazing performance, very unlucky in that in our two games we've been punished for some rookie errors. Otherwise, we've been a genuine delight to watch. I think everybody is surprised at how fluent and attacking we've played - it's not been a 'grind' as our sides have been in the past.

How old is Leckie? Absolute star, huge future.

Doesn't turn 24 till early next year, plays in the Bundesliga.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Want to add that I have been impressed with Leckie across both the games. Good to see unheralded players performing well at the WC. The boys should be proud. They have played good attractive football against 2 top 20 sides and who should both reach the quarters of the WC.

Lessons learnt are that you can NEVER switch off.

[whythelongface]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Ouch England beaten by the smallest nation at the WC. Mind you Uruguay are a very good footballing nation.

Wonder what the reaction will be for Suarez when the PL kicks off.

[chef]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Suarez reaction will be no different to normal, Pool fans will love him and the rest of the league will hate him.

This really is a very interesting group and the Italy/Uruguay game will be a cracker with everything riding on it.

[whythelongface]

Re: The World Cup Thread.

Suarez reaction will be no different to normal, Pool fans will love him and the rest of the league will hate him.

This really is a very interesting group and the Italy/Uruguay game will be a cracker with everything riding on it.

True. My comment was more tongue-in-cheek - should have put a smiley next to it.

England still have a chance to qualify but will need to beat Costa Rica by at least 2 to 3 goals and hope to hell that Italy beat both Costa Rica and Uruguay (tough ask to win all your group games but suppose Italy would be favoured to do so).