Socceroos Stumble in Seattle - Game 2 Review of the 2026 World Cup

0:00 Foreign. Welcome back to the Aussie football passport where the mood is a little bit low after the result yesterday. The soccer is going down 2 nil to the host nation USA in Seattle. So we'll try and pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off to do this episode. But I am joined yet again by Adam and Scott from the Brisbane Football Review. How are you, Scott? I'm good, Alex. Popping result yesterday. How are you? Yeah, look, it was a rough day yesterday, fair to say. I think. And no doubt you share the same thoughts, Adam.

0:46 Yeah, I've sort of Alex and Scott and yeah, look, I sort of question my choice of why I got up at 5 in the morning. But we, we do that for the Socceroos even though win, lose or draw. But look, it's a little disappointing, but I, I don't know if, if they're all hope is lost. I think we learned a few things not only about Socceroos, but I think as well that I think the, the US team also might have proved a little bit better than what I think we gave him credit for. Yeah, I think you're probably right in a lot of senses there and we'll go into that in a little bit more depth. But before we do, Adam, I'll throw to you to plug the Brisbane Football Review. You can find us on Facebook at the Raw Review or Brisbane Football Review on Twixball threads and Instagram.

1:31 Brisbane Football Review or lowercase. You can drop us an email brisbane football reviewmail.com and you can find us on podcasting platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Brilliant. Thank you very much for that, Adam. Really appreciate that. Go check out the Brisbane Football Review if you are in need of a fix of the mpl Queensland or Brisbane Raw is your club side in the A league because Adam and Scott and Kurt do a wonderful job of covering that. Now, today's episode. So we're going to have a look at the other game from the group here, Paraguay versus Turkey. We're going to preview the Paraguay game, get the general thoughts on the World cup from Adam and Scott and myself. But we will start with a review of the USA game.

2:19 And look, we, we praise Tony Popovic for his starting 11 last week, even though it was very surprising. This week, though, I think it might have backfired a little bit as he turned, as he turned to Nishan Valuple and Matthew Leckie to replace the two goal scorers from the last game, Nestery Iron Kunda and Connor Metcalfe. So a little bit interesting there, Scott what, what did you think? Yeah, oh look, I said on the show last week leading into the USA game, I wouldn't be shocked if he changed that front third in terms of a pressing perspective, but I don't think any of us thought that Nishan Vluplay or Matthew Lecky were going to start a game in this World cup and certainly not start this game here against the United States. And they just didn't have the impact that we were all hoping for in terms of what they could bring in terms of a creative aspect because they never got the ball and never got the chance to show any of that near the chant. The changes just didn't work today in terms of having those two guys in there. They weren't able to link the play as well as players who came on in the second half. They weren't able to put the pressure on the United States in the way that we were able to in the first game. Just across the board. It just didn't work and it was probably the wrong move in hindsight to make those changes. Yeah, definitely the, the link, particularly Connor Metcalfe, I think he's the real key to linking the midfield to the front, the front third and that's really what we lacked. You know, the threat of Nestery, Aaron Kunda of course is, is crucial as well and I think that's what worked so well against Turkey. You've got the dual threat,

3:52 I should say, of Nestor Yaron Kunder and Motore with their pace in behind Colin Metcalfe sort of linking the midfield to those two and I mean that's a pretty good recipe to play that counter attacking football that Tony Popovic wants to play. So speaking of Matthew Lucky, we saw an injury to Matthew like he, Adam is. I mean that potentially we, we don't know the severity, do we of of that injury for a start. But is that the last we see of Matthew Lecky at a World Cup? At a World Cup, I definitely think so. I think of the hamstring injury. Even if, even if the, at the best case scenario, I guess a realistic best case scenario which takes out to about July 10th or so. I don't think he, I don't think he recovers from that. So unfortunately we see the last of him as far as in this World cup and I dare say I don't think he'd be going to the, the next one either in 2030. So it decap. It's, it's sad in a way.

4:58 Look, I, I've got to be honest, I had questions on what his selection to begin with because of. Not only because of his injuries sort of being plagued now, he has. He has been battling injuries, various injuries for the last couple of years, especially for Melbourn. And I'll surprise. We got picked. I understood that, but yeah, it's unfortunate, but it is. Yeah, it is what it is. Yeah, definitely. I'd like to pick up on your point there about the sad way that, you know, Matthew Lecky goes out here because he's been incredible for the Socceroos. It took him a while to get going in front of goal, which, you know, as an attacking player, that's what we expect from him. But once that floodgate opened, I mean, he wasn't prolific, but he scored one of the most important goals in socceros history at that last World cup against Denmark. And I still jump up and cheer when I see that one because it's an absolute beauty. So if you haven't seen it, make sure you go and check that one out. It's an all time favorite of the Socceroos.

5:58 But moving on, I guess if we're to break the game down, would you say is pretty fair that we were outplayed out thought, particularly in that first half. You know, tactically, I thought that the Alessandro Chicati and Karen Burgess were sort of pulled away from Harry Sutar and it created those channels for the rotating attacking midfielders to play in Scott, is that how you saw it? That's a big part of what I saw. You know, two things I saw the United States did really, really well, and that's one of them. I'll go on that one. First, it was their. Their movement and their ability to move the Australian in a way that Turkey never were able to do so. And it came down to their two midfielders, Tillman and McKinney, and the way they. Their movement in the runs that they made along with Dest on one side, Robinson on the other, it just. They just moved Australia all around the field and opened them up.

6:49 And that was something that we just did not have an answer to in that first half. In addition to their superior speed and just power and strength and everything they had in that physical, physicality sense as well, all of those things combined made life really, really difficult from an Australian perspective. And you look at the way both sides played in their first games, everything the US did well against Paraguay, they replicated in that first half against last. They moved. They moved Paraguay around and opened them up. They did that to us as well. Baligan up front was a handful against, against Paraguay was the same for us as well. The only thing that was different was that they had Pulisic in the first game and he was sat on the sideline basically having his feet up and having a nice day off in the end. So that was the only real change to the United States. Look, Pepe coming in and kind of being a dual number nine alongside Baligan as well, that really did provide a different look as well. Maybe that different look along with those things working for the US really meant that it was a much more different that Australia were potentially planning for. And Australia, everything we did well in the first game, none of it was there, was it?

7:51 In terms of our. Our ability to hold our shape was not there in that first half. Our ability to have the composure when we got the ball wasn't there. Our press was nowhere near as strong. So everything we did well to get the result against Turkey, the Americans found a way to nullify and break down. And we said on the show in the preview that it would be a very different game if the U.S. could score early and they were able to do that and they were able to go on with it. And you have to say the game was pretty much over at halftime and we can be pretty lucky it was only two because if it was three or four at halftime we would have been disappointed. But you couldn't really complain given the dominance that they had. They were very impressive, the U.S. you have to say. Yeah, very much so. Scott, I can't disagree with anything that, that you brought up there.

8:34 And I mean I don't want to say they were impressive, but they've annoyed us for seven months with their, with their confidence. But you have to say it was well founded. Yeah, it was definitely. And I think that was a point you wanted to touch on as well, Adam, that we. We potentially not underestimated, but maybe we not played down, but we just didn't expect this level of performance from, from the usa, would you say? I think the most satisfying thing if you are Morino, is that when you do something so well in the first game to go and replicate against second time I thought was. Was I think probably the big. The biggest thing as well, especially against a different style of opponent and it's sort of different shape and formation and Scott's right that basically what they did well against Paraguay, they did, they did to us and we really did not have the answers. In fact, we probably even by.

9:23 By the changes that were made probably also pretty much played into the hands of the Americans because simply as well by Putting in blue pill and Lecky in there. Wasn't that dot that that threat of the fast counter attack because they're not as quick as a Conor Metcalfe as a, as a destler And Akunda Motoro seems to be played even though he also stuck his Tokyo he is more of that hold up style, style striker. So again there's no, there's no visible foot, there's no press saw in the second half and I know we'll get to shortly when the socceros actually started to press from the front all of a sudden things happened and they put the American defense and playing out under pressure. So it's again I think it's a big L in the end of tactical wise. And look Tony Popovic, we praised him for his bold changes in game one. He's just going to take the L in game two and say hey, I got it wrong and we move on because the second half as we talked about was a lot better.

10:27 Before we do that Alex, we should mention we said team profits did get it wrong but for two years he's probably been building Nishan Vlu play up to play that role as a connector who can link play and run in behind for this very particular game. All these circumstances in this particular game, we saw it in the World cup qualifying and it was relatively effective but you have to say it just didn't work in this game. It was proven that well, he was effective in that role in Asian World cup qualifying and able to get the old goal here and there and do that job. He was not able to do that against a physically stronger United States side and that was a big part of the problem that Adam pointed out. Once we did get the ball back and it was rare between Lecky and V play the link just wasn't there and that was a big problem as well. Yeah. And I mean for all the I guess positivity that Tony Popovich said or positive things I should say that, that Tony Pavic said about Nishan V play prior to the game, you know, his ability to, to track back you need to offer more than that. And I understand that he scored what, three goals in six caps in. I think two of those goals were in an Asian cup qualification campaign and one came in one of the friendlies. But on the world stage it's a different level and we saw that he was very much exposed and speaking of exposing and probably playing into the mindset the, the change. Well, I mean for Luplay and Lecky I definitely think played into us's hands really? Because they've got a 38 year old center back who's playing in the MLS who is on

11:59 the decline and who was found out in the game against Germany I believe where the U.S. the Germans drove straight at him and got past him and tailor made for Nestery Erin Kunda from the first whistle of that game. The flip side is did Tony Popovic not playing because of the hot headedness that we know that Nestori has? Potentially that was his thinking. But I just think surely that's where you should have went. Even a mobile Alex with his speed compared to that someone with some pace to run out running at the two center backs. That was the week. So I completely agree they needed more speed. And Motor worked hard in that first half but had no service. And I do wonder if he's genuinely carrying an injury because he was nowhere near as sharp as he was in the first game either. Yeah, and Andy came off at halftime as well, which you know, probably adds a little bit of fuel to that fire. Even though Jackson Irvine has come out with his famous quote saying that he's not a doctor mate to our good friend Vince Rigari. However. Yeah, I mean there's a, there's a genuine concern there perhaps. And you know, even leading into the first game there was all the sort of talk around Motore.

13:14 However, we digress and I mean for all us's dominance, the goals that they actually got, if you break them down at an individual level, I thought they were a little bit scrappy. I mean I'm being a little bit harsh there because you know, full credit to the us. They were very dominant in that first half and they would have got goals other ways if they didn't get the two goals. And the other point that I wanted to make was around Patrick Beach. We praised him in the first game for his saves. He did well. And this is probably being overly critical here, so you know, I'll put my hand up. But Lydia Williams made a point at halftime around the second goal in particular where he sort of, sort of went for the ball, made the save, but it opened up for the US and they, they poked at home. So Adam, I don't know if you share my thoughts if, if I'm potentially being a bit harsh, but do you think, you know, it's obviously a hypothetical but someone with Matt Ryan's experience in that situation, could he have done a little bit better and maybe it's only one nil. Yeah, look, it's, it's a difficult one because I did hear, I do hear the comments that Lydia Williams did make in the halftime show, she's not wrong. She's someone that, you know, is, you know, that has. I know the women's game is a little bit different, but still you, you respect the opinion of a world class goalkeeper. Look, I would look at it as a critique more than anything else that I think that the young label learned from that. And when he looks back, yes, he probably could have done better, maybe advanced out even more in the second goal.

14:46 There certainly was confusion as well whether Balagun was offside, was he interfering in offside position? We all thought for a moment there that Alex Freeman was also offside, but it got proven otherwise that, that he wasn't. So there is a. There is a bit of that on the first goal. Again, you know, just. Does he. Does he advance out outward to the near post and try and close that off or, you know, or was that unpreventable that the ball that came, that came through was unstoppable? And in the end it was. Karen Burgess, the unlucky one who's getting touched with Baligan was gonna probably tap home there. So look, again, you're not wrong in sort of saying that yes, he could have done better.

15:29 And I think, I think, as I said, I think it'd be more of a critique that he could probably look to. But I certainly wouldn't say, unfortunately, were blame for that at the end of the day. It broke down a long time before and I hope I'm not stealing Scott's done because we spoke about this yesterday. But what is lost in the second goal is not actually the incident with the header and all that, but it was actually the lead up to the player. The set piece routine. They had that sort of started that and the fact that the soccer group did not were to learn to. That is probably what contributed in the first place. Yeah, that's. That's so true. And I think I'll let Scott jump in there because this is his point really, isn't it? Well, it is actually.

16:11 I shouldn't have mentioned to Adam yesterday because he is good at stealing a lot of the points. It was a good. It was a really well worked set piece routine actually from the United States wasn't in the way that they were able to create something different from a set piece as opposed to just the. The cross in. That was a different way of doing things that did catch out the Australians. I don't think they saw that coming as well. And Freeman was certainly was in the right place to finish that off. And you can make your own mind up at home if Baligan was impeding Patrick beach or not. I think it's a bit like the South Korea goal the day before where Kim also came out looking for the ball and wasn't strong enough to be able to. To clear it to your point, Alex. And then they had a. A tap in there for Mexico. So I think it was maybe a case we could have been a little bit stronger. But Patrick beach has had two really good games for Australia. I don't think we should be too critical of him. And I'm not critical of Burgess either for the own goal. I know he's got a record of having them in the championship, but these things can happen. Yeah. And I mean, if anything, just picking up on Cameron Burgess before I go back to Patrick Page, you know, and maybe it's my very limited knowledge as a junior defender, but it shows that Cameron Burgess is at least picking up the right positions, obviously the body, technique and things like that. You could, if you're being overly critical like I was with Patrick beach, maybe you can say something there. But I mean, Cameron Bird just could not do anything there with that own goal. Let's be honest, as, as you said, Adam Baligan was right there next to him ready to tap in. So I don't think that, yeah, we can be overly critical of Cameron Burgess with that one. As for Patrick beach, yeah, I think you nailed it

17:43 there, Adam. It's a critique more than a criticism of Patrick Pa Wonderful young goalkeeper. And you do have to have these tough experiences like this to learn and, and this is only going to make him better. I mean, this, this is a guy that I listened to Thomas Sorenson talk on a podcast earlier last week saying that he'd recommended him to a few Danish sides. So I mean, this is clearly a guy that. That's going places and I, I think after this World cup there'll be a number of European clubs knocking on the door of Melbourne City to ask for him to join them. But before we leave, I guess this game, we should probably talk about the second half and the much better football that we played, particularly the substitutions, which again, I think the toure being replaced by Aaron Kunda is a bit puzzling. But Motore, probably to.

18:37 To your point, Scott maybe is carrying a bit of a knock and. And couldn't get through the 90. We. We also have to remember that this is being played at midday in Seattle, so the temperature would have been quite high, I'd imagine. And actually the hydration breaks were sensible. For this game compared to others. So you know, do you think. And when Metcalfe came on for Voluplay, you could see the connection there, couldn't you Adam? And, and a much more, a much more connected performance perhaps from, from front to back. I, I think so. I think immediately when you had the speed of Iran Kunda and sort of, I guess the linkage and, and whatnot from Connor Metcalf, you could tell immediately that they were starting to put pressure back on the us. The, that the, the back three, back five, back four, whatever you want. However you want to sort of describe what the US are playing. I think it was probably a back four.

19:35 They were all of a sudden under pressure and you can tell Matt Free, even though they starting to back past the Matt Freeze, he was starting to rush his, his passes and that's where things happen. And the soccerouge was starting to get turnovers in, in the US's half. That, that is, that was just basically simply having a player that was committed and willing to actually go down and chase down balls, which will not happen. First half, I do think a lot of tactics were in the first half, which I think also is very annoying in a way was just to try and settle, just keep them in their place and then second half to push forward. I just don't think you can do that at this level. I not against world class teams that are obviously themselves going out there. And the US as well, they've shown you out in two games that Pochettino's way is you go out hard, go put the game out of reach and then manage it inside the last 30. And look, you could argue if you're a one eyed American say oh, but they have the game under control.

20:32 They were probably throttling down a little bit, but at least the soccer has made a game for it. And if they hadn't gotten a goal then you could really say wow, you know, you know it was, it was a, it was a chance. But look, I, I think that the second half, I think in isolation for the soccers was a lot better. You saw a lot more. And I think what comes down to is Conor McCarth has to start. I think Iran Kunda or someone of, of speed as well. So like I said, Scott mentioned our mobile as well. He may need to, he also needs to probably start just, just to keep that pressure on because again, I don't think this is too many times now in the Popovich regime that the team has started so slowly to a point where they're in neutral and they're trying to win games in 45 minutes rather than 90. And it's just again, you can get away with that against the minnows of Asia. And there's no, and no one will question the fact that Tory Poppich knows Asian football and that's why he had the relative success. But against better nations or higher ranked nations, you just can't do that. I mean, even against some of those Mino nations that park the bus for to, to use the, the parlance of modern football, you can't do it. And, and I can't believe I'm going to do this, but Wayne Rooney actually made a point.

21:53 I can't believe I'm doing this. I really can't, I can't stand. Wayne Rooney was a smart man. Yeah, I didn't think so. But he, he said you got to play your best players from the start. And he's right. And, and that's, and, and that sort of leads me to my next point because Christian Volpado comes on and oh my Lord, we have a player, don't we lads? I mean this, this guy. I don't, you know, obviously we didn't score so, you know, we have to take that. But the quality on the ball, the set piece, quality of the delivery. Speaking of another guy that's got to start, I think you got to find a way to start him, don't you, Scott? We'll come on to start against Paraguay in a moment. To Adam's point, I said that Mobile might have been a better option to start against newest than Lecky. I don't want to start him against Paraguay. I think the second half.

22:39 There's two things can be true here, Alex. The first is, yes, the US did really throttle down. Their intensity dropped off significantly and they did just manage the game out. But if that offends the Australian team, go out there and score a goal and make them, make them pick it up again. We weren't quite able to do that and we did look better in the second half. And the three changes made at halftime help with that, as did the introduction of Volpatto. And we were all really excited to see what he could do in a green and gold shirt after so long waiting to see what he was going to do. And his first impact off the bench in the World cup. He did look very, very handy. And you've got to remember he's only been in camp with these players two weeks. He's still building those combinations and understanding the way that Tony Poppins wants the team to play the movement of players in the front third and how he fits into that. So to go out there in the first half, in the, in his first appearance and just be able to make things happen in terms of, be able to at least create half openings and opportunities in the front which unfortunately we didn't take, that was really encouraging.

23:37 I also like his fearlessness on the ball as well. When he got the ball, he showed no hesitation in what he wanted to do. He wanted to, to take players on and get the ball into the box. And I like the fact he had that instinct of, no, I know exactly what I'm going to do. I'm just going to go and do it and then the US can deal with it. I thought he made a real impact off the bench. That was encouraging. It is worth keeping in mind those positives in the second half. They were there and we did play a lot better. We looked, we looked a lot more in the game than we did in the first half. But in truth, the game was over in the first half. So you do have to remember both those things are true. Yeah, that's, that's a very good point. Series of points here, Scott. You know, we've got to build on the, the second half, so to speak, and, and use the lessons from the first half.

24:20 As also you mentioned Adam around the, the slow starts under Tony Popovich. He really needs to rectify that. We saw that even in the friendlies, you know, before the tournament. So it's a, it's a trait of the Tony Popovich socceroos unfortunately that he really needs to find how to solve in the next. What we got five days before the game against Paraguay, before we preview Australia. Oh, sorry. Yeah, go. Sorry, Alex. I was just going to say that point as well about, about that is I think sometimes Tony Popovich, I think he's, I think he's guilty of trying to out think the opposing coach. Now thinking that and look, Wayne Rooney is right and agreeance is that, agree with him is that you've just got to start your best 11 and trust your best 11 and make the adjustments inside the game itself. Because the problem is, is that so change trying to, trying to play as horses for courses in tournament football. It's, it's different in league football.

25:15 I, I get that. I'm, I'm a big proponent of that. But in tournament football you need to Trust your best 11 players can be, can be adaptable to any situation and then you go from there. And I think that's the problem that the bit of naivety from Tony Popovich. Now I think he might have learned the lesson at this World World cup, especially facing a coach like Mauricio Pochettino, is that you just cannot go on the side and play and sort of go make changes. That the classic example I think I'm almost thinking that Scott might bring this up is 2006 that where goose hitting tried to get a little bit cute with. With his selections around the goalkeeper and that nearly backfired on us as well. So I just think at this level when you're playing top nations, you gotta play your best 11 and you adapt to the situation as it presents itself. You don't try and make wholesale changes to adapt unless the situation's under control. Almost all my pointing out I'm not quite what's going back to 2006 also 2005 bus hitting was also one to bring players off of the bench in terms of having.

26:20 Having players up his sleeve. In that case, I wonder if Tony Popovich kind of looked at the way he was hitting did things having Harry KE on the bench against Uruguay in the second leg. Of course he was the player who made way for Kiel in that game. So. And then you think about the game against Japan where he bought Tim Cahill off of the bench as well. So he. I do wonder if in some ways Tony Pop, which is thinking back to that and taking the mindset of the finishing 11 is more important than the starting 11. But that's. That can be true. But you still got to get to the point where you can introduce those players where you're still in the game when you're 2 nil down, it's a very different situation. So I do do think he just might maybe slightly overthought that in the US game. Yeah, definitely. And it's something.

27:03 Yeah. So let's see if he changes it for. For Paraguay. You could even. Just off the examples you. You both gave. You could even go back to 2010, the opening game against Germany with Pim the baselection of Richard Garcia up front. But yeah let's. Let's not before Scott and Adam and I all have to relive that nightmare along with you. Listening to this so quickly. Paraguay, Turkey. Did I review Cat Shack game? Because I mean that was a real scrap I thought from. From watching it what the second half of it. We were over at Heath park watching the MPL double header. I was watching the second half on. On the laptop screen it looked a lot like the Australia game versus here. They had all of the ball and had no idea what to do with it. They kept trying the same thing thinking it didn't work the first 999 times. Of course the thousands will be the time it comes off and it didn't. And look, Paraguay or scored almost the same way as Australia did. So I think there's lessons there that Turkey need to take away that they are just. You can't keep playing the same way I thought Paraguay did. Okay. The second half looked like prime South American time wasting extraordinaire tactics. So I'd watch that if I was Australia. I wouldn't want to be got 1 nil down against this team because they're going to be hard to call black.

28:21 But no Alma on I think that's going to be a quite a big, big loss and I've. So I've completely forgot that rule was in effect until I saw the VAR thing happen. I did gone straight away so I forgot that rule was in effect but I didn't think it was going to catch anyone out. But there you go. Yeah, so. And that's why it's been brought in. Obviously there was that high profile incident in the last season of the Champions League. Gianni pressed Yani, I think for Benfica covering his mouth and saying something to Vinnie Jr. And hence why FIFA brought it in. And I'm not opposed to it. And yes, you'd think that the players would. Would have learned or would have known or been cognizant of that rule but obviously the heat of the moment gets to you and Miguel Moron becomes the first victim of that.

29:05 Adam, did. Did you have any thoughts or do you want to just jump straight into previewing Australia vers Paraguay I look, I think Scott covered it. I think at the end Dale wise games that existed and especially when two teams had a lot in the line and Takia go home. Paraguay live to fight another day as far as the group goes. Yes. And to Scott's point, let's get into the Socceroos vs. Paraguay preview. But Miguel Almiron, that's going to be a massive loss for Paraguay. One of their most creative players, their most capped players, their biggest threat in attack potentially alongside Julian and Ciso and Diego Gomez, of course it's a big loss and Adam, do you think that will change the way that they.

29:55 Well, we know how they're going to defend is going to be a solid compact performance, not too dissimilar to what we do. But the way they attack. Do you think Miguel Almiron being absent changes the way that they attack? Oh, Absolutely. Almiron's deadly, man. We know how, we know how threatening and Ciso is, how much he's relied on. You take. I think that's a simple game plan for the Socceroos. You take away the supply path and you put pressure on whoever the player that comes in to place Almaron. And I think that's the key to victory for the Socceroos. I think you can't. You cut the supply line off and then you go. You go for broke and you. And. And basically it's there. You win the midfield, you're going to win the game. So I, I think it's simple, it's.

30:40 It's sounds simplistic but Soccero still have to do it. I think they've got the cattle. I actually think perhaps thinking of maybe even going a third midfielder, a third sort of midfield. So even the possibility of, you know, Paul o', Connensler, Aiden o' Neill and Jackson Irvine somehow maybe discard one of the three center backs for it. Just, just a really box in that midfield of, of Paraguay, really make it work from. Maybe then go to the back five once the game is under control. But I think that's, I think that moment, I think might be at least for Paraguay might be a very, very costly one in that fracar. You say against a kia?

31:22 Yeah, definitely. And, and I think probably to add to that point and, and I'll get your thoughts on this, Scott. The pressure now really comes down to Diego Gomez and Julian Enciso. So they're the, they're the two main creative outlets. They changed strikers in between. Antonio Sanabria started the first game. I can't recall who the striker came from, who the striker was that came in to replace him in yesterday's game, but there's, I guess there's, you know, not a nailed on starter up front and then you've got, you know, Enciso and Gomez in behind who are going to be the creative outlets. So do. Does Tony Popovich make those midfield changes that Adam talks about or. I mean I think Connor Metcalfe's got to start and I think that's. That's a point.

32:09 Does it mean that he goes into sort of a number 10 role perhaps or a floating role behind two strikers in front of him and, and O' Neill and Angsler. Oak on Angsler are behind him perhaps. What are your thoughts, Scott? First it was, it was Isidro Peter, the guy who came on. Thank you very much for them. I do agree that Almiron's the player they could not afford to lose their link, man, he said a huge loss to them and they played for the. Played for the 1 nil after he went off. And I suspect they will be quietly happy with taking in a nil or draw if they could get it in this game. From the Australian perspective, I agree with what you're both saying about taking out a center back and pushing an extra body into the midfield. I just don't think he's going to do that. I think he's too far down the path now if he wants this.

32:51 This structure and system, he's built it from day one. I think it's something he really does believe in that suits the way the Australian players we have at the moment. So I think we are going to stick with the shape. The interesting thing will be does he stick with this E11 who started the second half? Because that actually worked quite well with Gary in the back three in place of Burgess. That worked a lot better. Although I still like to see Lucas Harrington come in in place of Gary. But we can argue about that if you like. I wonder if he'll fresh up the midfield because those two guys have played twice 90 minutes and maybe they might need a different body in there. But the front third's the one everyone's talking about. I think it's going to be three up front and it's a bit like 2006 where you had to try and fit Bresciano, Cahill, Keel and Verduka into the same team and did it twice. He did it off the bench against Uruguay after half an hour in the second leg. He did it for 20 minutes off the bench against Croatia, both times chasing goals to get back into the game. So I don't think you can fit Volpato, Metcalfe, Turen, Kunde into the same 11. Not the way he plays. There's no way you can fit those four in and it's.

33:54 So it's one of them has to sit out. And I find it really interesting. I think that it's a case of it's Erin, Kunda or Volpato because Metcalfe has to play. You saw his link up play when he came on in the US game. He makes such a huge difference and I feel like they really do need that link up player against a really strong South American side who will be really good on the press. We can guarantee they will take a lot of what the US did and try and enforce that themselves. I think they need Motore's ability as a pure number nine to Run in behind. So it's a case of do you go with the same three that worked against Turkey or do you bring Volpato in for potentially here in Kunda? That to me is the choice. I don't think you can fit all, all four of them in. So it's a lovely thought. See how you would do it and maybe a different system you could, but the way Tony Popovich has gone down the path the last three years, you can't fit all four of those guys in the three positions. So I'll be intrigued to see who does miss out. I guess the only alternative would be if you were to play Metcalf Depot as one of the to sort of central midfield players in that system. But his left footedness means that, that means Oakland Engsler comes out and the way that he's played, I see it's very difficult. But to your point Scott, maybe he wants to freshen up that midfield and you could see a partnership of Metcalfe and Irvine like work that. It's very lighthorn in terms of defensive strength. So you are opening yourself up so you can do it. It'd be super attacking and I'd love to see it, but I just don't think it's going to happen. It doesn't. No. It doesn't feel like a Tony Popovich move, does it? No, no. It feels much more an Ange

35:26 postecoglou type of move rather than a Tony Popovich move. To. To be quite honest, I guess the. Maybe to your point, Scott, around the back three. Harrington coming in. Obviously I've got two of two very biased people here in terms of Lucas Harrington to start but let's make the case for Lucas Harrington. I'll start with you, Adam. What do you think? Do you think he just comes straight in for Cameron Burgess and. And why should he? Oh well, I think definitely Kevin Burgess. Not. Not again. Not because anything he's done wrong, I just think it's. It's a mobility issue that again you've got. You've got the one sheet anchor in Harry Sutar.

36:08 Ducati is very. Is very mobile. You mobility on the other side. Look, I think Lucas Harrington, I think familiarity as far as a lot of these suppliers do that play in the MLS as well as sort of if Colorado gets where they want and he's still there, that's this conjecture about that but that potentially go down the road, you know, in a Champions League. Look it's. He probably. It's probably more hometown bench but I think to be honest, I don't think it's Lucas's time just yet. Seeing what's going on. I think that the hand that to Pop has shown is that if you're going to make changes to that, that back three of Burgess, Sutar and Gutati, I think he prefers Jason Garia and I seem to lean towards that as well. I think that Gerria probably fits that profile better than Lucas Harrington. As much as I'd love to see him play, I think Adam misunderstood the assignment, Alex. It was to make the case for Lucas Harrington. I will make the case.

37:13 I think Ali Chakate is better on the right hand side of the back three. So I think that automatically means that you're looking for somebody on that left hand side. And again, it's nothing against Cam Burgess. It's just that the United States showed that you can drag him out of position and really capitalize upon that. And you have to imagine that Paraguay will try and do the exact same thing. And Tony Poppins is a big believer in Lucas Harrington. Every single game he has played he has looked incredibly comfortable in that side. And you have to think he's been picked for a reason over someone like a Kyle Rolls. He's not just there because he's an 18 year old defender playing in the MLS. He's there because Tony Popovich believes he can do a job in this team more than what Ky Rawls can do. And you have to imagine it could be in this game as that left side center back. So I think if there's going to be a change, that would be the one I would go with. Okay, if you insist. I've got to make a case for. I also, I'm just following the host rules. You're just. No, no, no, no. Please don't fight, gentlemen. I will add an addendum to that and what I do believe in Lucas Harrington as well, what I also think he brings, I think he is a. He's a very, very good passer.

38:17 I think that his passing range is a lot better than I believe in Harry Sutar. Definitely better than Cameron Burgess. No disrespect to either of them. So again, if they're trying to play quicker ball out and trying to hit, trying to hit Paraguay on the counter, especially if they've got him boxed in. I think Luke's Terrence is probably the better. It's a better range of passing to get that quick mobility and that then brings in the front three. So that's also probably if you have one advantage, how he compares to Jason Garrier in that regard, look, I still think that Harrington probably naturally has got a better pass on him. Yeah, I tend to agree. And I think the other point that I'd like to add here is the ability that Lucas Harrington has in stepping into midfield to potentially create that third midfielder when we have the ball. That could be a really crucial element to the game plan of Tony Popovic. You know, you know, Ducati and Sutar sort of slide across and Harrington steps into that midfield to create that third midfielder. It could be a great way for Australia to attack. And as you said, Adam box out that Paraguayan midfield. So that's probably the case for Lucas Harrington. In terms of other changes, would you go with, I mean, Cameron Devlin?

39:37 We've not seen anywhere near enough of him, in my biased opinion, under Tony Popovich. Is he someone you throw straight into the central center of midfield or are we going to go Jackson Irvine potentially over Aidan o' Neill to pair up with Ocon Angsler? I don't think we're going to see Ken Devlin playing in this tournament. Unfortunately for you, Alex, I think if there's going to be a midfielder coming, it will be the experience of Jackson Irvine. I actually don't think there'll be too many changes until the team. There'll be one at the back in terms of starting lineup. It would be probably for me to be Harrington in for Burgess and then in the front third, there will actually be three changes because I take out both Lecky and Voluple and then I bring in Metcalf and. And Aaron Kundas.

40:18 That'd be the three changes I'll make to the team they started against the US I'd like to change the two in the middle of midfield, but they played so well in there and clearly they trust Paul o' Conning quite a lot to do, do that job and he's doing pretty well in the first two games. I don't know there's anybody else who could come in and do that job. I think Jackson Irving's a different sort of player who just gets forward and gets in the penalty area. So I think I'd be bringing in Harrington at the back for Birds. Just. I'll be changing the two wingers. That's the changes I'd make. What about for you, Adam? Would. Would you do anything differently to Scott? No, you know, I. I tend to agree with him and say I think they're the three changes that need to be made. The only. The only sort of sidebar I'd say is that if there's any game that you want to see a different player say like a Cam Devlin or something like that. Given the relative stakes in this game. While they are high, they're not, they're not, you know the end of the road as long as you don't get absolutely smashed. So that might be it. But again it just make a total contradiction what we're saying before about playing his best 11 every game and at the moment I think that those players are probably the best 11 that strike have got. Two other quick things. Alex. We haven't mentioned Adrian Fustic yet and you have to think he's been taken for a particular purpose as well.

41:35 So who knows if, if this game is in mind for that delapoint. Adamax is a really good one about the stakes of this game. Yes, it's important. It's the final group stage game in the US have wrapped up top spot in group D convertation to them and all the rest of it. But there is a, there is a bit on the line here but there's a pretty good chance both of these two sides, unless there's a heavy defeat for either of them, we'll get through as at worst one of the best third place sides. So well, it is all to play for in terms of that second spot in group D. I think there is a good chance both will get through anyway. So while it is a notionally high stakes game, there is that fallback for both and I do wonder how both sides will look at this game going, going ahead with that in mind. Yeah, that's a good point that you raised, Scott. And if we look at both sides, Socceroos and Paraguay, we've, we've watched two games each from them both. It's fair to say that the coaches are on the conservative side with the way that they play. Everything in me says it's going to be an ill or draw. Everything. I don't know if you disagree with that gentleman. I hate making predictions and I take it right now though, wouldn't you? Yeah, oh 100% because we, we would get ahead as a second place team if my understanding is correct.

42:49 So I mean. Yeah, and Paraguay wouldn't be disappointed with getting through. I mean they, they did a similar sort of thing in the 2010 World cup from memory and backed it up again in the 2011 Copper America where they were just a defensively solid side that ground teams down and wore them down, took them to penalties or nick the late goal to progress with with one nil victories. So that's really, I don't Think this team's very much different from that previous Paraguay generation that we saw. Especially with the force change now. No, no, I'm around as well. I think that may, they may go back into history and do that. You look, you're right. I do think Paraguay will try and at some point try and win the game. But I think there'll be. They'll come a point to say you know what preservation might be the best as. As we're starting to see with a lot of these other groups. It looks like that four points will be more than enough to fish those top eight third place guys. This gives some points potentially that two points might add a good and a good enough goal difference might get.

43:52 Get you there. So I think certainly yeah, going out or like must win. I don't think is entered into this, this conversation as far as this, this game. Yeah, fair enough. Yeah. I, I don't think they're just going to be. Yeah. It's hard to see it being a. A score draw of more than you know, two goals really. It's, it's everything. I think that's generous. I think one all is probably the most likely score to be honest with you. Yeah, it's, it's. It's going to be a nil or a one all. It's hard to see it playing out any other way than that. The under, the under two and a half goals might be the special of the World cup on this game. Yeah. Can we get James's thoughts from.

44:33 From Ned's or on that one, whatever you do. Yes, that's right. Yeah. Think what you can do with your money. Other than that, I think that's the, the plug. Right. Anyway, whilst we're still talking World cup what do you the general thoughts been so far in this tournament? Adam, have you have anything sort of stuck out to you other than these God awful hydration breaks, any teams you want to big up or any general thoughts. Look for all the discourse and all the chatter and everything like that and the predictions of doom, this has been a very good World cup which in a way, in a way there's a part of me that says oh I wish it wasn't because it means that 48 teams was a good idea. But then again you see scenes like this morning with Kurikao the Caba Verde raw against the. The might of Spain and the emotion that you see on the even our good mates Qatar and their, their last bit ditches Switzerland draw and you see the emotion. This is, this is what the World cup is all about the, we have to say with the Australia cup that did the magic of the couple, the magic of the World cup is that it's a tournament that you see emotion from all parts from the players to the coaches to the fans and all that. And you see this in America and it's a shame in a way that there's been this is backdrop of it being in Trump's America. Less of the better about that part of things.

46:01 But I think on the pitch I think it's been a fantastic tournament. And look, to be honest, I thought the hydration breaks actually would have a marked effect. But I think after, after what are we down? I think 20 something games in, I'm not really seeing much, much change on that. So look all as well made this tournament long continue and have some great moments. They are junk, Alex. The hydration breaks. They are having an impact though. If you look at the way teams are coming out of them, the momentum shift is quite strong. In a number of games, including the Australia game, we've been able to, to maximize those to our effect. I think the way teams are handling them, the teams that are doing it the best are actually the ones who are benefiting from them at the moment. I do agree with that and the tournament itself has been really fun. The everyone now, including Kurosaw, has had their moment in this tournament. All the, all the newcomers have actually held their own for the most part. I know it was a bit very fortunate that Curacao got the draw today against Ecuador. Very fortunate Cabo Verde against Spain. But they were able to, to get a result which those countries will talk about for decades to come long after we've all forgotten anything about this World Cup. So I think they have been quite good. It's a very wide open tournament as well. I'm not sure anyone's necessarily really flagged themselves as a clear cup favorite to this point. There's a few traditional teams who are traditionally in the contender range who aren't necessarily playing at their absolute best. There's a few teams who are in that secondary bracket like a Japan or Colombia or Mexico who are going quite well at the moment.

47:27 So it's very open as well. It could very much be anybody's tournament. Yeah, I tend to agree with you there, Scott. And the other surprise upset that I just want to throw in there is the Congolese against Portugal. Wow. Won all that. That's a big one. That was really good. Great to see for, for the demo. Democratic Republic of Congo or Dr. Congo as it's been called. Cup Fever by Ed Cavalier and Santo Chillaro. But yeah, look, it is wide open. I guess the, the one team that looks a little bit scary and that. But we all know that there's an implosion. Probably not far around the corner is France. That, that 31 winner over Senegal was pretty impressive. And Buffet looks like he's got some pent up anger to take out after a difficult season in for Real Madrid where he scored, you know, 40 goals in 40 games or something like that. You know, difficult season for him, whatever. So you know that, that's a scary thought but you know, Spain's draw, Portugal's draw against teams that they were expected to beat. Wow. I mean, does that, does that reign them in or does that propel them on? I don't know. It's open. Germany, I didn't, I don't have high expectations for them and nothing that I've seen suggests otherwise. I thought Cote d', Ivoire, Ivory coast could have, could have beaten them and probably should have. They look traditional German, don't they, in terms of the way they're playing. They've got, you can tell they've got quality, but they're not necessarily that absolute high end of opponent.

48:57 Yeah, there's a player, he looks a real good player. Yeah, he does. But you know, I've heard whispers that him and Julian Nagelsmann don't get on. So I mean, you know, your best striker, I mean, obviously Kai Hovertz is a great player but you know, you play him as a false nine or whatever. But if you've got a finisher like that in your team and you've got the creative outlets that Germany have, surely you starting. But again, that just goes back into our debate about the Socceroos and their best 11. So I guess just before you wrap up, like speaking about the debate around the national team, I'm looking forward to this week being actually about the football again because the last week's been about one particular pundit and his arrogant, condescending remarks around the Australian team. And I'm very much looking forward to the discourse in this country getting back to being about us as opposed to what one particular American thinks. I think that'd be shift.

49:51 I just want to add to that point and not, not by, want to regurgitate any of what he said because look, look, give, give the man his credit in a way that in his arrogant, brash way he did call it to happen. That, that's great. But I just hope now that with his new ill gotten fame that he actually then starts also speaking a bit positivity for the game. Yeah. Look, if he's going to be parochial about the US as well, having them win the group, they've got a very, very nice run that could take them all away to at least the last eight. I just hope that he uses this new platform to actually speak. Good. Because at the end of the day, the. The whole legacy for the United States is to get more people at. At the, at the, in that sport, in that country to play the game, because we know it's not the primary game.

50:36 So the fact that he. He used Australia to basically become, you know, this, this mega sir pundit, and he got it right. Pray to him. I just hope now that he uses that to spread a bit of positivity, even if it's that American parochial way, to then, you know, start rallying against some traditional sports, professional sports like the NFL and all that, to ensure that football has a place of. Soccer has a place in the US beyond the World cup and that. That the US national team does go on to be a top 10 nation and whatnot, rather than him just, you know, trying to get some cheap clicks and being a clickbait artist, and they're disappearing for the next four years. I'm not sure positivities in his repertoire given what we've seen of him in the last seven months, but I'm just glad from our perspective, Alex, we don't have to hear about it because the game is in the past. And I have to say, the circus of the last week has actually made me more and more think leading into the game. I can't wait for the game to be over. And now that it is over, we can forget about him and not worry about him anymore. That's so true and well said, Adam. I really, I really agree with what you said there.

51:40 I think you absolutely nailed it because ultimately, USA face a similar position to us here in Australia with their football or soccer, as they call it, or some people here do as well. And to your point, Scott. Yeah, done and dusted. I don't want to see that bloke ever again. Please just stay over there in your country and enjoy someone else. Yeah, exactly. Go and trash talk someone else and we're fine. The circus is over. We can talk for New Zealand if he. If they happen to play them in the knock. Oh, dear Lord. Yeah, yeah, they're in the path, so. Oh, God. Okay. Yeah, good luck. Yeah. Look, football. Football is back on the agenda. We've got a South American team that we play. We know that we've got a poor record against South American teams, but it's a World Cup. Anything can happen and both teams really don't need to push for a result.

52:34 It's just who wants to finish second and how highly they value that. And I think that's where we will leave it for this week. So thank you very much, gentlemen. Before we go though, I will get you to do another plug for the Brisbane football Review. Please, Adam, you can find us on our Facebook, the Raw Review or Football View on Twix at bne football threads and Instagram prison for four of you. Drop us an email brazil4ofyoumail.com and find this show and many other of ours on podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Brilliant. Thank you very much, Adam. Thank you very much, Scott, for your time this afternoon. As we record this and the dust has settled, we move on to Paraguay and hopefully we bring you some positive news in the next episode which we will bring out after that last group game against Paraguay. Hopefully we progress to the knockout stages.

53:31 Thank you very much for listening to the Aussie football passport, joined here by Adam and Scott. Really appreciate it and we'll talk to you next week. Goodbye for now.