We Are The Reds

Just thinking we should have pretty much played our U/23 squad against NZ here. Its more important that they are match fit then Lucas Neill or Kennedy. Plus we got the bonus of hopefully securing a few players with dual citizenship to Australia!

The Australia U23 played against the Japanese U23 around the same time as the NZ match

Just thinking we should have pretty much played our U/23 squad against NZ here. Its more important that they are match fit then Lucas Neill or Kennedy. Plus we got the bonus of hopefully securing a few players with dual citizenship to Australia!

The Australia U23 played against the Japanese U23 around the same time as the NZ match

I'm sure they could have played a few days later like the seniors did.

Some interesting results in the qualifiers:

UAE have put North Korea out of the tournament
Iraq have gone through at the expense of Iran
Oman have dumped China out

The draw for the next phase is on July 7th

The draw is out:
Group A: Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman.

Group B: Australia, Iraq, Uzbekistan, UAE.

Group C: Japan, Bahrain, Syria, Malaysia.

Some potential slip ups there, particularly UAE & Uzbekistan away, however it should achievable.

Japan should waltz through group C. Group A is probably the hardest as Oman's dispatching of China with some ease brings them into contention.

The draw is out:
Group A: Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman.

Group B: Australia, Iraq, Uzbekistan, UAE.

Group C: Japan, Bahrain, Syria, Malaysia.

Some potential slip ups there, particularly UAE & Uzbekistan away, however it should achievable.

Japan should waltz through group C. Group A is probably the hardest as Oman's dispatching of China with some ease brings them into contention.

Hardly the group of death as four four two were making out. It probably is the hardest, but if they don't make it thru there is definately something wrong!

Hardly the group of death as four four two were making out. It probably is the hardest, but if they don't make it thru there is definately something wrong!

This is the main point I guess. It is good to be challenged as when things go wrong a more focused assessment of what needs to be improved can be done incrementally. It's the only way to prepare properly for a tournament.

That said all the other sides in our group are also going to fancy their chances; and not without reason.