The main issue is lack of players playing in Europe which means less exposure. It does seem some teams are seeing value in scouting Asia, and i think over the next 10 years it will replace Africa as the go to place for young talent as  there will be better deals for clubs there. Ange has already started this with all his Japanese signings. 

Also, if you want to play for a big club, it seems a huge advantage to be born in europe somewhere. Some 2nd tier euro nations are packed with players who play in the big 5 yet would struggle to get through asia judging by the wc performances (looking at you poland). And denmark looked only slightly better than us (if that) last world cup. So looking at how teams are on paper needs to take that into context

I was going to start a thread on something like this topic. Thanks for doing it instead, Pasquali.

I'm out of the coaching loop now.  I think when I was still doing coaching courses in 2013 or 2014, often our coach educators from FFA/Football Australia, were constantly saying that  our Asian opposition were often far better technicians than us in Australia, but naive tactically.

The race was on for us to improve technically, because as our Asian opposition improved tactically, it would not be long before they would be too good for us they said. Of course it takes a lot longer to build technique than tactical nous.

Even though we didn't score today, I thought we had more scoring chances than Peru. I thought their ability defending set pieces and crosses was inferior to most of our recent Asian opposition.

Today's victory was not only fantastic for the Socceroos, but it demonstrated by the 5th ranked Asian team defeating the 5th ranked South American powerhouse Football Federation, generally recognised as second ranked in the world after Europe, the Asian Confederation has improved relative to the rest of the world.

Many Eurosnobs in Australia  perceive only Europe and South America as having any semblance of football quality. They also think we only won against Uruguay in 2005, because we had lots of players playing in big European leagues.

 Apart from Hrustic playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, mainly as a  sub, and Ryan as a reserve La Liga keeper, none of our other  Socceroos play in the European big five leagues ( England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) do they?

If that is the case, it also  demonstrates how much a better the Socceroo team unit is than the individuals who comprise that team.

Today's Socceroo victory refutes that notion Asa is a football backwater. I think every 5th ranked South American country has won every other intercontinental play off apart from us in 2005 and 2022?

The main issue is lack of players playing in Europe which means less exposure. It does seem some teams are seeing value in scouting Asia, and i think over the next 10 years it will replace Africa as the go to place for young talent as  there will be better deals for clubs there. Ange has already started this with all his Japanese signings. 

ON the whole, the record of Asian teams in the WC over the last half century borders on absolutely pathetic.

The last Roos v Japan game in Sydney showed real world class quality from Japan - who would have troubled many Euro/South American sides with the skillful tactics and techniques they showed that game- so yeah not close to Europe and South American levels overall but still worthy of respect here in Asia. 

The last Roos v Japan game in Sydney showed real world class quality from Japan - who would have troubled many Euro/South American sides with the skillful tactics and techniques they showed that game- so yeah not close to Europe and South American levels overall but still worthy of respect here in Asia. 

The main issue is lack of players playing in Europe which means less exposure. It does seem some teams are seeing value in scouting Asia, and i think over the next 10 years it will replace Africa as the go to place for young talent as  there will be better deals for clubs there. Ange has already started this with all his Japanese signings. 

The whole of Scotland is now on board

Also, if you want to play for a big club, it seems a huge advantage to be born in europe somewhere. Some 2nd tier euro nations are packed with players who play in the big 5 yet would struggle to get through asia judging by the wc performances (looking at you poland). And denmark looked only slightly better than us (if that) last world cup. So looking at how teams are on paper needs to take that into context

Outside the Glasgow Old Firm, I'm not sure Scotland is much better than the A  League other than a longer season?

Shocking weather for football too!

We can only speculate, but  where would Japan have placed in South American WCQs if they  had played in them? They were much tougher opposition than 5th placed Peru.

Also, if you want to play for a big club, it seems a huge advantage to be born in europe somewhere. Some 2nd tier euro nations are packed with players who play in the big 5 yet would struggle to get through asia judging by the wc performances (looking at you poland). And denmark looked only slightly better than us (if that) last world cup. So looking at how teams are on paper needs to take that into context

We can only speculate, but  where would Japan have placed in South American WCQs if they  had played in them? They were much tougher opposition than 5th placed Peru.

Also, if you want to play for a big club, it seems a huge advantage to be born in europe somewhere. Some 2nd tier euro nations are packed with players who play in the big 5 yet would struggle to get through asia judging by the wc performances (looking at you poland). And denmark looked only slightly better than us (if that) last world cup. So looking at how teams are on paper needs to take that into context

It's a winter sport soft arse.

Have you been in Northern Europe in winter?

Much better to play football in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Spain or Southern France, which tend to have milder winters like Melbourne, Adelaide or Tasmania.

Have i been in Northern Europe in winter ?
The fact i was born and raised in Scotland, then yes i have.
Christmas and New year football is brilliant and played where the game was founded, not some soft continental country for fairies.

Maybe the play much better football in South America than in the Middle-East? Good job for us we had so many days in camp