Brazil beat Saudi 2:0. It was amazing how Brazil would do a back pass from the penalty spot with 2 Saudi players essentially on the keeper. The gulf in class was massive and I'm sad to say we'd have had similar issues in some areas. Despite the result, Saudi seemed technically sound and should do well at the Asian Cup. I wish we had a couple more practice games. I know ours are coming and our sessions must be good but i want that proof we can do it in match conditions.

Will be good for Aussie players this particularly if ties with the commonwealth countries are sought after by the uk post brexit. Aussie players will no longer be at a disadvantage to European players in getting a contract in UK 

Qatar beat Ecuador 4:3

Of all players in the current English NT, and all call ups in the last year, Sancho is literally the only player that is playing outside of England.

Sancho at Dortmund is one of few. Younger English players starting to dip their toes in the bundesliga. 

On balance, not so many. Although I think Chelsea and a few big clubs loan their guys out to continental sides.

But this is more a problem for non-Brits wanting to play in England and for the stability of the Premier League. The wealth and stability of the Premier League is so enmeshed in frictionless movement of people and capital into the UK from the continent.

how many prominent brits in europe anyway?

This is from goal.com - How Brexit will affect Premier League football (written by Ryan Kelly on 12 October, 2018)

After Brexit, it is possible that footballers from EU countries - Germany, France or Spain, say - who are wanted by the likes of Manchester United or Arsenal may be treated in the same way as non-EU or (European Economic Area (EEA) footballers currently are.

That means they will have to satisfy certain criteria or receive an exemption in order obtain a work permit, which would then allow them to work in the UK as employees of a football club.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/how-brexit-will-affect-premier-league-football/cwp6p3hhmuxx119cm1syhwyi2

Fancy that! Imagine having to jump through the same hoops as footballers from the rest of the world. Imagine not getting carte blanche to play without a work permit purely because you've got one of the 30 or so correct passports. Now, they'll understand how a lot of the Aussies feel.

Bitter though my post is and although I don't think Brexit's a good idea for the UK, there's a lot of discriminatory and unfair aspects about the EU that this stupid saga really does expose. Although it may not make things any better for an Aussie footballer with, say an Italian passport, wanting to play in the UK.


This was meant to be in AA, sorry.

Wow the Asian Dynasty begins.

Japan 3 Panama 0
South Korea 2 Uruguay 1

Few more games up tonight. Doubt the results will mean much though.

I don't see how playing Brazil will help Saudi Arabia

Kuwait beat Lebanon 1-0 as well. I found this result to be interesting. Tells me there’s not a lot separating them and that they are on fairly similar levels.
I would have thought Kuwait would be a fair bit better than them

As European national teams are set to contest the UEFA Nations league, Argentina will face Iraq in Riyadh as part of a tournament that also involves Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

Argentina currently leading Iraq 2:0. UAE drew 1:1 with Honduras. Japan to play Panama and South Korea play Uruguay. 

We got results which was most important. The opener in Kyrgyzstan was tricky despite the early goal. Behich was so high they constantly got around him. 

We lost 2:0 in Jordan to that terrible dive and a late goal after we'd pressed so high. Federici was in goal plus Elrich, Wright, Spiranovic and Davidson. I'd had a bad feeling about the game and nothing worked that day.

The Jordan home game was a nervous start but we murdered them in the end. This time around we might get Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Bahrain and Vietnam. The pot 2 opponent will be especially interesting. I'd much prefer East Asia this time. Imagine Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand in a group. Might just be possible with the pots. Anyways it'll be exciting. 

We really did well in qualifiers. Finished top of a 'weak' group with 29 goals and conceding only 4. I think that will keep us in good stead.

Maybe someone can help me figure out why it says we won 7 and lost 1. Can't seem to find out what game we lost as it clearly says we won them all? quite convincingly.

Our AFC Asian Cup group (B) contains Syria, Jordan and Palestine. I know Arnie won't take these games lightly, but they shouldn't be difficult to defend and get a result.

These games shouldn't be too worrying, so I doubt we'll be stressed or worried about too much. 

If he’s any good he’ll play for Aus, Macedonia is a dead career move.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/meet-the-aussie-defender-who-could-be-lost-to-macedonia

Due to the 2022 WC being in December the qualifiers are pushed back slightly from 2018 qualification cycle

http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-competitions-calendar-2019
The AFC calendar shown as PR1.1 and PR1.2 in June and PR 2.1 and PR 2.2 in September (with PR2.9 and PR2.10 in June 2020)

For me we need to be careful not to burn out. We've been on the go for so long with all the travel and tournaments. Chile were definitely affected with 4 tournaments in 4 years. 

This is AFC's calendar for 2019.
http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-competitions-calendar-2019
We have to look forward to
Asian Cup -January
U-23 Championship 2020 Olympic Qualifiers.-March ..Arnie will have the boys for that
FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019-June
U17 World Cup Peru - October
FIFA dates in Oct,Nov so i wouldn't be surprised to see a Socceroo training camp and friendly then.
As much as i love watching the national team it would best best to give the boys a good long break and proper pre-season with their clubs to be ready for a tough Qualifying campaign to come.
There's enough going on next year to keep me satisfied. 

If it's the same as last time I'd say round one for the minnows in the March window and the group stage would kick off June 3rd to 11th.

Probably time for some friendly games in June if no qualifiers are on. We had Greece in June 16 then started round 3 in September. 

Ty Glh37 and johnszasz 🙏

That quiet period after the Asian Cup is my least favourite Socceroos period where you go so long without seeing the national team play.

Maybe September 2019 will be the first AFC date? 

Me neither. No Wikipedia articles have been set up for 2022 qualifications for any confederation yet.

From memory we started June 2015 in Bishkek. If the format is the same then surely we'll be starting mid next year for round 2 AFC. We were close to missing out as a top 2nd placed side in round 2 last time. That last Jordan game was crucial. They missed out. It's going to be bloody hard. I find round 2 is tricky then round 3 we should be able to avoid the mishaps of last time. Found this online.

The qualification process for the 2022 World Cup has not yet been announced. All FIFA member associations, of which there are currently 211, are eligible to enter qualification. Qatar, as hosts, qualified automatically for the tournament. However, Qatar is obliged by the AFC to participate in the Asian qualifying stage as the first two rounds also act as qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. If they reach the final stage, their choice on whether to continue with World Cup qualifying is subject to FIFA approval. If the hosts choose not to compete, the next-ranked team will advance instead.^[24]For the first time after the initial two tournaments of 1930 and 1934, the World Cup will be hosted by a country whose national team has never played a finals match before.^[25] The reigning World Cup championsFrance will also go through qualifying stages as normal.^[26]The allocation of slots for each confederation was discussed by the FIFA Executive Committee on 30 May 2015 in Zürich after the FIFA Congress.^[27] The committee decided that the same allocation as 2006 would be kept for the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments:^[28]

• CAF (Africa): 5
• AFC (Asia): 4.5 (not including host nation)
• UEFA (Europe): 13
• CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean): 3.5
• OFC (Oceania): 0.5
• CONMEBOL (South America): 4.5

The qualifying draw is scheduled to take place in July 2019.^[29]

http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-competitions-calendar-2019
http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-competitions-calendar-2020

AFC Minnows knockout round in June 2019 before the 1st Group Stage runs from September 2019 to June 2020.

So 2019 will start off with AC in Jan then Friendlies in March and June.

So after the Asian Cup, what happens throughout the rest of 2019 for the Socceroos? When does WC qualification kick off? I haven’t been able to find any dates 🤔

Martin Bolye born in UK . Make him a RB

agree. smith should not be getting a look in until he has played more games for his club than the NT.  he needs a full season.

Squad to be announced tomorrow and will include Martin Boyle from Hibs - source