We Are The Reds

The final group match but hopefully not the final match of the World Cup for the Socceroos.

To progress we need to beat Peru and France to beat Denmark, both certainly more than possible.

Nabbout injured so it will be interesting who replaces him. I expect Juric as he replaced Nabbout, but Maclaren and Cahill are two other options. Perhaps Leckie as a long shot option which would allow Arzani and Kruse play on the wings.

I would go with

Ryan
Risdon - Sainsbury - Milligan - Behich
Mooy - Jedinak
Leckie - Rogic - Arzani
Juric

I would be looking at Petratos as an option to come on if we need a goal as he has a better shot than Kruse. Irvine seems to be the preferred option as a substitute ahead of Luongo, but I would not mind seeing Luongo given a shot. Cahill to come on up front ahead of Maclaren

If we beat Peru and France beat Denmark then it will come down to tie breaks. I think we are in a decent position.

Tiebreakers
The top two teams after the round-robin is completed in each group are determined as follows (regulations Article 32.5):[33]

1. points obtained in all group matches;
2. goal difference in all group matches;
3. number of goals scored in all group matches;

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings are determined as follows:

4. points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
5. goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned;
6.number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
7.fair play points
-first yellow card: minus 1 point;
-indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
-direct red card: minus 4 points;
-yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;
(only one of these deductions shall be applied to a player in a single match)
8 .drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

2. we go through if either game has a two goal or more margin
3. we go through if we score more goals than Denmark
4-6. equal because of 1-1 draw.
7. We have 3 yellow cards, Denmark have 4 yellow cards so we have the advantage but a red card would be a disaster.
8. Lets hope it does not come to this.

This is going to be a brutal game, strong challenges i think.

Arzani needs to start and we need goals! Perfect match!

Juric should lead the line and cahill to come on.

The key is getting the ball to rogic abd allowing both leckie abd arzani who are playing well create

I'd love to see Arzani start. Kruse is such a no-hoper Literally every decision he made on the was the wrong on. He needs to be benched or take a leaf out of George Costanza's book on reverse thinking. Ignore every instinct you have and do the opposite!
But I think Kruse is generally a safer option as far as offering the defence support. Although start Arzani and he creates a goal early the defence isn't under as much pressure!

I think the biggest risk I see for us progressing is if the French and Danish are happy to go easy on each other to play out a cruisey draw. Which makes the result against the Danish more disappointing as we should have take more opportunities than we did.

I understand some of the criticism Kruse gets but it is going way over the top. Calling him a no-hoper is far too harsh, he still did some good things against Denmark and France.

Agreed. I'd start Kruse ahead of Arzani, but (depending on the state of the game) look to bring Arzani on at half time if goals are needed. If not, 20 minutes for Arzani will keep him fresh (and probably still an unknown quantity for the opposition) for the next stage.

Some of the starting XI selections will come down to fitness. Jedi has been great but looked utterly knackered at the end of the Denmark game. I am not sure how well he and Robbie Kruse will be pulling up as they both have worked very hard (as has Leckie, but he is a machine). Hence the Arzani & Mass starting option may be more due to fitness levels rather than any tactical move.

My main concern is Mooy who has also been working exceptionally hard but whom we cannot afford to replace. Hopefully he is still feeling good.

I reckon Arzani and Juric will start (for Kruse and Nabbout,) also think Van Marwijk won't hesitate to make attacking substitutions.

I fear the damage was already done by the lack of ambition in the previous matches (Vs France particularly.)

I would like to see more of Arzani.
The kid is fearless.

I reckon Arzani and Juric will start (for Kruse and Nabbout,) also think Van Marwijk won't hesitate to make attacking substitutions.

I fear the damage was already done by the lack of ambition in the previous matches (Vs France particularly.)

I 100% agree with that!

Our midfield has been highly underated, sure its not world class but up until recently jedinak was one of the best true defensive minded dm’s in the prem, while both Mooy and rogic are constantly talked about moving to top 8 epl clubs.

Our back 4 particularly trent sainbury are also severely underated.

I feel like if the manager sharpened the end of our attack, particularly givng our striker the mandate to attack rather than press we may have 4 points right now

I reckon Arzani and Juric will start (for Kruse and Nabbout,) also think Van Marwijk won't hesitate to make attacking substitutions.

I fear the damage was already done by the lack of ambition in the previous matches (Vs France particularly.)

I 100% agree with that!

Our midfield has been highly underated, sure its not world class but up until recently jedinak was one of the best true defensive minded dm’s in the prem, while both Mooy and rogic are constantly talked about moving to top 8 epl clubs.

Our back 4 particularly trent sainbury are also severely underated.

I feel like if the manager sharpened the end of our attack, particularly givng our striker the mandate to attack rather than press we may have 4 points right now

I wasn't too fussed about the Denmark result. I thought against France there was a marked soft around 75 minutes from playing a moderately defensive strategy to just hanging on, which ultimately cost any chance of getting anything out of the game and set the stage for no margin of error in the last two games.

Also everyone had been ranting about Cahill not being used vs Denmark. When he would have been more useful vs France instead of 5 minutes of Arzani.

Cahill has played 65 minutes of club football in the last 6 months. He is very lucky to be in the squad ( although his selection is justified imo )

People still think he is banging in goals for everton, imo he should be thought of as a very specialist tool for a unique situation.

There were 5 minutes to go vs France when the final substitution was made. Not enough time for Arzani or a similar player to get into the game, but more than enough for a set piece or two for Cahill to get on the end of.

There were 5 minutes to go vs France when the final substitution was made. Not enough time for Arzani or a similar player to get into the game, but more than enough for a set piece or two for Cahill to get on the end of.

Yeah i can see parallels between hiddink and van marwijk in that they set us up well, compact and organised in a defensive dutch style yet were both were reluctant to control the game when the chance arrived.

Hiddink was probably a bigger culprit of this against italy with a man advantage given the relative quality of Australian players at his desposal.

We are sadly going home.
It will be a courageous Aussie troop with too little, too late.

Unless, we give Arzani his first start and the kid goes on and writes WC history by scoring a first half hat trick!
(Left foot, right foot and his head!)



Only day dreaming...


COME ON AUSTRALIA!!!