I agree it would be ideal if each player that played for Australia was Aussie born and bred, but the world is not like that these days.

Look at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. A Gabonese international, born in France to a Gabonese father (admittedly also a Gabonese international footballer) and Spanish mother. He apparently spent his childhood in Italy, and then started his career with AC Milan. I doubt he played any football in Gabon until he was an international player.

A lot of other African players would have a similar story (born in Europe and never played in the country they now represent), as well as for example players in the Jamaican national team born in England.

Yeah I am sure he will get time in all 3 unless we are in a position to get something out of the group in the 3rd game and want to lock it up with 20 to go instead

A man can dream

Back to Kuol. 

I don't expect him to start against France. I expect a front three of Leckie Duke and Goodwin (Boyle I think will be rested because of injury). In the second half I would expect to see Koul and Cummings to come on together. 

Against Tunisia I would like to see Kuol starting with Maclaren (or Cummings if the combination worked well in the first game) with Boyle on the left. We need to win that game. 

The game against Denmark will then depend on form/combinations/injuries from the first two games but I would expect Kuol to once again get game time.

Good to see that you are proud of the NT.Australian footballers do tend to fight for the ball and thus it is often difficult to play cohesive and beautiful football.Most of our teams at different levels cannot alter the tempo of games as the top European and South American teams do,especially the top club sides.However Australian sides often punch above their weight because of their "fightball" attitudes and let's hope we see that in the forthcoming games.

I'm picking France 2 Australia 3.

Good on you Droog C and welcome.
Yer it is amazing being in the WC even though we are minnows, always have been the underdog - agree as long as we leave everything on the field thats all we can ask of our fellas.

I am extremely proud of our lads. Especially for making it through to WC, in my first WC as an Aussie. But talent wise, Kuol is head and shoulder above everyone else in the squad. Great call by Arnie. I hope he gets to play more than just a late sub when it won't make much of an impact. At the same time, I realise he or us as a team might not be able to pull of wonders at least against France and Denmark. But we should really try to play ball. Its embarrassing or depressing to watch A League. Being a Sydneysider, I have tried to be a fan of either Sydney FC or Wanderers, but both of them play hoof the ball around, run, head chaotically with very rare displays of cohesive plays. Playing in Friday and Saturday leagues, I know that there is so much talent, skill and even physicality in our country. But for some reason, the A league coaches are not making the most of the available players. And maybe the players are also not exerting themselves the right way. Anyways, leave all that for later. Three games to leave everything on the field. I have no doubt, whoever gets to play will give their very best and then some. I am thrilled about the cup, first time supporting my own country in the WC !!! 

But you're the only one suggesting that and you're then getting wound up by it :hehe:

There's a difference between playing on the counter and not attempting to play anything at all. 

Nah. I use this forum to vent sometimes- cos football is often frustrating to follow! and after i post things I often question wtf i posted - not that sure of things at all at times?! Nobody knows everything- just like to talk about football whether I’m right or completely wrong.
was genuinely asking why you favor Duke starting over JMac and Cummings- and took lame guess as to what reason could be? that’s all

More?

I'm picking 5-0 France.

Same with the olympics

we needed to play devlin and baccus against spain if we are playing deep but we played the same team pretty much and had no gas game three

Literally 75% of the socceroo's play on the counter every single week at club level... most aren't in teams dominating... except for maybe Mooy. All of sudden you want them to out pass the technicians in the midfield of France? Watch the 2018 run again, France are absolutely devastating on the counter... if we even give them one or two chances on the break its game over Mbappe will put a hat trick away in the first half. Mbappe cant get in behind if our boys are sitting on the penalty box(for the first 60mins at least)

Sit deep and absorb pressure and frustrate the French. So we can counter(its our best strength). If we play out from the back we might as well just hand them a 5-0 win. This isn't not having a go, this is playing to our strengths we can try out pass the Tunisians if you really want to.

Yeah 2018 was frustrating how exhausted we were come game 3. We've got to use the squad.

just got this feeling hes going to come off the bench and tear it up like Timmy did against Japan in 06.

I think arnie really needs to rotate. There isnt much difference between our best 11 and our second 11 and we cant be exhausted come the third game

Hannover away in Bremen is always better in the stadium :D Yeah, he just didn't have support that day. Isolated.

@johnszasz I was at the ground that day and thought Nabbout had a blinder - constantly outjumping the French defence and winning headers - albeit to no-one as he was unsupported.

I get that the game can look awfully different on TV (and I was close to the fence so didn't have much of a helicopter view) but I thought Nabbout was really effective that day (in a Duke type role) and have since been mystified by the criticism he's had.

We all see the game differently.

The point is to get out of the group.  It is not to entertain or "have a go" and get the pat on the head from the winning opposition about "how hard we made it for them". 

Lets stop being so naive at this level.  France is not the important match. They will likely beat everyone and challenge for the title.  We just have to ensure they don't beat us by more than they beat the other 2.

And I said nothing about the any of the other 2 teams.  They are the two games we can-and have to- let loose on.

Not sure, but my wife has a photo (we were there) of the two defenders climbing all over Jedi.

The fact the ref's no pen call for the Risdon tackle was overturned and the Jedi foul not even looked at was the reason I walked out of Kazan screaming. That and Kazan being an absolute shit hole where Russian officials went out of their way to destroy our experience...

@Cleansheets. Was that where Jedinak got knocked as he shifted the ball on to Arzani for the final shot? I've still got the game recorded and will need to check that. I'm just glad Hernandez survived all the sniper bullets. His brother has been selected too. The carrying on is an utter shambles. Hope we get a Scottish or Kiwi ref who are typically no nonsense.

Sainsbury had Griezmann and Dembele in his pocket that day. I mean in hindsight to that game, which I've watched many times, the cautious approach kept us in it long enough yet watching Nabbout makes me wish we'd started with Juric or even Maclaren who had good form at Hibs. This is where I wonder if a battering ram of Duke and Leckie up front to press is right this time or we go all out and start the better ones who can score. 

If we go to rough approach and hold on until 55 by just one goal down, I'll be excited to flip it up but if we're down by 3 like some of those FA Cup games then it just becomes a scrambled rush forward to no avail.

Mind games require no formation.....or shirt number.

That's what people said last time but we mostly outplayed France and were very unlucky to lose. Mooy bossed the midfield against Kante and Pogba and Sainsbury and Milligan were giants at the back.

They needed a dodgy VAR penalty for Risdon's tackle and then a cruel deflection that went to the only possible place Ryan couldn't save to beat us. Even then we should've had a penalty in the dying minutes when two of their defenders were holding down Jedinak at a corner - one had him by the arm ad the other had both arms around him. How the fuck does that not get seen?

Point is - I suspect we have a slightly better side this time and France are notoriously slow starters in tournaments. They're not used to Qatar conditions either. An upset (or at least a draw) is on the cards if Arnie plays the right team. Kuol and Cummings to start!!!

Socceroos have their own Mbappe but there's no Australian striker that comes close to Cummings - FTBL | The home of football in Australia

Because Duke is ‘more ‘Australian’? JMac then over Cummings too?

I feel I have to say it out loud at some point.

I can't help but feel I'd rather lose with Duke than win with Cummings, Souttar and even Boyle

BUT i know if one of them score and we get a point I'll forget I ever said this (for at least a few weeks)

In 2018, Nabbout was ‘striker’ vs France and barely had a touch (but at least Nabbout was playing 1st division football in Japan!)

When did GA coach Duke the Nuke ? I don't seen to recall this, corrected CCM.

Sure I'd give Canine woof a go might I add but Nuke could be a thorn (at least he covers ground) and won't be unlocking France but get in a position to poke his foot in or his head by the unlocking or a quality release from the mid support fingers crossed OR gain a pen.
socceroosrsdg our levels that you mention, reality.

Well said