It's not taught well within the system here, if we look at the a-league and how it's played is mostly through transitional moments via mistakes or good individual play which this current team has but there little to no effort in teaching sustained possession and being patient and using the space to break defences down.

As I mentioned Ange was the last Australian coach who knew to play this way and what was needed, there should be effort to educate the next generation of coaches in effective possession especially when breaking down deep block defences and learn from the likes of Spain, Japan etc who do it very effectively. 
Alot of coaches here prioritise too much in transitional moments.

Can't believe Trewin hasn't played a single minute?!!! He had a great season for the Roar & imo is a better player than Courtney- Perkins anyway. We desperately need Yengi back & I want to see Hammond get a decent run 

Uzbekistan vs Iraq now in full stadium. This will be good.

Uzbek keeper catches and runs towards an Iraqi trying to block his path and he's forearm him in the jaw. VAR checking it now. It's a strike so it's get to be red elbow or not. 

So as it was indeed in the box. It's a penalty to Iraq and a red card. 

We need to play Yengi up front, Kuol has not given enough.
Wood has looked good when he has come on, can he start out wide?
Brook and Peupion have not given enough on the wings.

Looked too shakey once they decided to attack, but their shooting was terrible, fortunately for us.

7min or the 12 gone have surely been lost due to lying down etc so far. FIFA must bring in a stop clock rule and we may see some data on how bloody long Asian games time to finish if they keep this up. Projectiles on pitch now. 

Ref stalling due to things on pitch but I think the sooner the penalty is done and the game can continue the fans will hopefully be more into willing Uzbekistan on.

Iraq score. Little things fly at their players yet amazingly none of them have gone to ground like they've been shot. You'd think they'd milk a forfeiture now.

From the foul to kick off it took about 9 and a half minutes.

Uzbekistan take ages to set up a trick wall. Great free smacks the welded corner. 25 gone I reckon about 12 would've gone if the clocked stopped. 

12min added now VAR checking possible Uzbekistan penalty. Hands are in the back but he's felt it and fallen. Decisions stands and it's 1:1. The shot rolled so slowly that should be counted as play stopped :D

I have now seen what the goalkeeper did. Total brain fade there

Utter insanity. Uzbekistan player with a complete stomp on the ankle of opponent. Ref checks VAR and nothing. Yengi's by comparison was completely accidental. 

https://youtu.be/iJYxY3kJ10M

Highlights 

It's finally over after 3 hours. Uzbekistan win on penalties. Somewhat telling for Iraq having had an extra man for 110 mins and also a very long time against Australia. 

I would love Australia to host this tournament. 

I agree, it was clearly worse than Yengi's accident.

Pretty soothing to think that Tilio, Metcalfe, Genreau, King and Atkinson are eligible for this tournament. Hell, even Arzani is of age. I wish we'd picked John Iredale for this. Maybe his jaw is still healing.

Going through the list it's part of it that players like Duncan and Pasquali have fallen away completely.

Stensness and Souttar just miss the cut. 

Interesting is how young some of the better performers are namely Bos, D'Arrigo and JCP.

Hope Vietnam win 

genuinely surprised people didn't see this coming, Asian teams been doing this since we joined AFC.

Its the number one issue world wide is breaking down packed defenses that's why pep is so highly regarded.

And Folami. Also Circati and Volpato

Agree. Would be awesome and with our multicultural communities I reckon we’d get bigger crowds than most host countries. 

Uzbekistan vs Australia final would be epic. 

The 01/02/03/04 age group are the ones to watch, they are the ones fighting to make the paris Olympics.

Bilokapic
Perkins
Trewin
Bos
Rawlins
Farrell
Darrigo
Yazbek
Oliveira
Peupion
Brook
Hammond
Wood
Kuol


14 from this current group possible but in 2 years I think maybe only half will be around in 2024.

Saudi Arabia leading Vietnam 2:0 after 65. They've not conceded a goal this tournament. They've been able to play a lot together. Many in this squad were tried at the Arab cup in place of the regulars. It'll be a tough game. 

Saudis are going to be a tough opponent. I’d start yenghi for this one 

Good that these last two u23 teams have done pretty well in Asia and Olympics. Gives us something to look forward to in the future 

Bump

As much as I want to stay up for this I'm wrecked after this morning. Would love a win though. 

We play the Saudis at 11pm AEST tomorrow night (Wednesday) - not tonight.

Just in case you got the day wrong (or I have).

I think Kusini has to start tomorrow. Alou doesn't get a lot of ball and has always been great as an impact player off the bench.