I just noticed that rather than playing Nepal away on MD1 then flying home just prior to hosting the Socceroos that Kuwait now has 2 games at home having flipped home and away games with Nepal (as have a few other teams but not the Aussies).

I hope that regardless of who is picked the Socceroos squad hits the ground running and that the first match in the 2022 qualifiers is a solid and successful start.

he's still the captain, so he will be picked and will start. 

It's extremely sad how as a nation we can't fast track someone in that natural DM position don't you think ? thoughts?

Yes and aside from friendlies you would think that when we are playing the likes of Kuwait, Nepal and Taiwan that that would be the next best time to give the next DM player in line some much needed experience playing for the national team in preparation for the harder games ahead. Mark Milligan can't play forever and he would be pretty close to thirty seven at the world cup in 2022.

I want to see some massive regeneration. No more Milligan or Kruse and get McGree and ensure Mabil and Ikon are in the squad. Borrello is a shoe in. 

The Kuwait game in September will be a tough gig.

It averages 44 degrees at that time of the year. I've lived there. Playing football will be torture.

I think the socceroos have played there before- they already know about this.

That's crazy hot 44 degrees

Any sports scientists on the forum here who can shed a light on how this might affect selections?

Does a player with regular match fitness in very cold climate adapt better to this heat (Like Iredale at Carlisle) than a player who is not as match fit but playing in warmer temperatures? I know this selection will also have many other factors like standard of the league, and how they go in training etc but just as a general rule.

Interesting topic, isn't it? I'd also be interested in how much playing matches affects fitness and fatigue vs training and getting shorter match time. Currently we've got a quite a few players who haven't played much football but will be fresh and aren't at risk of any high level of fatigue. 

Mooy, Luongo and Sainsbury are the 3 while Behich is a bit higher up. Taggart, Amini and Degenek are in full swing for their campaigns. 

That was a topic here in Sweden during the women’s WC. Because many players had not played in such heat before for 1 or 2 matches iirc. 

Anyway Sweden got the bronze. Matildas got to “suck on that one.”

But but we play in the heat all the time! They should have done a weather survey pre tournament. If only we'd known what the weather had known. 

And yeah -2c to 1c is generally worse than -5c to -10c. Because when it’s windy it’s horrible. 

FFA is running an internal audit to see who was in charge of the consultant who hire the consultant to track wunderground.com 

this was what i was thinking a few years back when holland started in midfield and was dead on his feet and pouring out sweat at half time. can't remember where is was but it was pretty warm 

he couldn't keep up with the match and didnt ever get much of a look in after - i think he went from the netherlands or austria into australia for the match.

i've never heard the issue bought up though

Not a sports scientist per se, but know biological processes to an extent. 

I rekn as long as the boys warm up a bit they be right.

There's actually a large body of research that supports not stretching before exercise, rather, during the exercise. 

Makes you wonder doesn't it , maybe we've got it all wrong. I think to an extent we have got it all wrong. (increase in tissue injury of recent times)

The whole muscle recovery alternating warm and icy water has been proven multiple times to speed up recovery and lessen muscle pain, however, does it actually increase the risk of tissue damage because of its complely uncharacteristic of the normal muscle recovery process?

Seriously, I think if we were cannibals , we would know this answer because we would notice the texture of the meat and how easily it is broken down. But do we know this already through our animal meat consumtpion ? This is what I mean, we truly have nfi what we are doing here, and players get submitted to these 'world class' processes everyday.

Mr. Universe competitors have better knowledge of these processes than 'Sports Scientists' when it comes to these things.

They have seriously deep knowledge when it comes to training muscle and tissue. 'Sports Scientists' are like the pissants of this area and fwiw usually are pisssants. 

Only 15 days to the next WCQ vs Kuwait. Thats only 15 days away, I wonder when they are going to name the squad?

I would assume it’s Thursday or Friday but I have no idea. 

It's Thursday.

Our XI based on players playing regularly with Bryan grant as the exception. 

                               Ryan 
Grant         Degenek     Souttar       Behich
                Milligan          Mooy
Mabil                    Irvine                  Leckie
                            Taggart 

in my opinion this has to be the team against Nepal. Other than grant all these guys are playing a good level and consistently. 

They have to give some emerging talent a run so I Luke your line up - not sure Mulligan should start though. 

You could argue borrello for mabil. I think you need Milligan or else there’s no experience in that side. 

Milligan playing in League 1 losing 5 games in a with his age its time to move on. Amani also playing every week in that position n in a good age. 

First game we play Kuwait away btw

I've always been a big fan of Milligan, but who else could captain the team?

Given League One football is relatively  poor and his advancing years, he should not be an option come Qatar.

Ryan would probably be a good option.

Whenever we have played Kuwait at that time of year, we've struggled.

The average daytime temperature in Kuwait is 43 - 46 degrees in early September. I've lived there.

To pontificate on playing in this heat,  it helps for one  to have experienced it.

It was even hotter in July and August, averaging 47 degrees. Just to walk a few hundred metres down street was exhausting. I did  this after 6 weeks acclimatisation  in Thailand too.

Even sitting outside at night after dark, it was really hot.

Will be interesting to see if we take a full strength squad. We can't possibly take Mooy and Ryan to the games against Nepal and Taiwan. It is actually in our best interest we start getting results while resting our best players.

Degenek seems to me like he would make a good captain also.

What were you doing in Kuwait? ( if you don't mind me asking ) Was this post or pre Gulf War version 1 ?