Gosh this is so drab ti watch.

This team provides me with no excitement at the moment. Asian Cup scarred me.

I believe it's up to each confederation to use. FIFA allows it to be used at any stage, but generally confederations will only use it IF it can be used for EVERY game of that stage. Understanding on that means that there will be no VAR until the third round, at the very least

There is no var tonight. 

Thought Metcalfe has been below average tonight 

Like most games for Australia.

When Robertson is back I know who should be playing.

Have we even had a strike this half?

Deployed on left where he never plays. Really ad hoc overall tonight due to the injuries and changes.

At least 3, but they were all offside lolz

Hence my point. Why are we using it. Why are we paying for it. When fifa don’t require it for their own tournaments. It’s gotta be all in or nothing. A decision in a no var round could clearly affect a team who gets into a var enabled round. It makes not sense at international level. Are lights mandated? How about grass? A ball?

Passing to Baccus on front of box asking for trouble. Just go long.

Didn't you say we aren't using it?

It's not Australia's decision to use it, it's the AFC's. Since AFC can't guarantee them being able to provide it for every game across the second round, it's not being used.

Just get rid of it. Stop trying to keep it at the back. Someone, anyone needs to say just boot it long when we have goal kicks. We're tempting fate. 

Secondary balls yet again. Baccus and Rowles watching and the rest with the hand in the air gesturing. Switch on. Result fine. Performance needs big improvement. 

Omg. It’s not being used in this round of fifas own tournament. Do we use it. Yes. Do you not follow aleague? Sorry if I talk Spanglish 

difficult to switch the formation? holy jesus... the football brain in these boys really is tiny.

Result is good, we are through. Baccus and taggart need to lift a bit

Was happgmy with yengi metcalf and hrustic causing headaches in attack. 

Headaches for me you got that right.

Why does FIFA require grass lights goals a ball change rooms stands. I dunno what else? But it only requires var when? All teams can afford the infrastructure. Well fkn pay for it with your gazillions. Until fifa mandates it for their own tournaments , I go back to my question. Why are we using it. Not tonight.

Hrustic and Irvine looked good. Hrustic had some good splitting pass moments. Iredale looks like he has great potential, looked hungry. Need more smarts to unlock a defense to create more chances. Some really sloppy moments though in defense

I can't the recall the last good footballing performance the Socceroos have had with Arnie in charge, just so uninspiring to watch.

I know we played a different formation but the poor ability to keep possession and create decent chances is not good enough, only Hrustic is warranted to start next game based on what he did and as looked the only player functional in possession tonight,

And to think we could potentially have this for another 4 years? Oh boy.

Souttar looked well off yet Arnold said playing him will help his career to show what he can do ahead of this window. I don’t think that thought process worked. 

Next game

                                Gauci
          Deng   Souttar Burgess  Rowles
                          Irvine
                   Nisbet  Hrustic
              Silvera  Yengi  Goodwin


Shows how quickly a position can be thin, left back, if injuries strike albeit rare. Would it be bad to just put Atkinson or Jones there for one game? I doubt it. Just 1 shift and then done. Could even put Deng in at CB. Thinner in CM now with Baccus suspended, McGree injured and Metcalfe struggling. If Bos or McGree get an all clear tomorrow that could change things again.

Wish we'd gone with Iredale over Taggart all game. 

The WC were the last good moments. It's all very uninspired atm. It shouldn't be. We've got some decent players to work with. 

Well... APL can guarantee that it's provided at every ground for the A-League. AFC can't guarantee that for this round of the WCQ, simple as that.


FIFA does mandate it for their own tournaments, that's why it's at the World Cup Finals, and will most likely also be at the final Intercontinental Playoff Tournament. However the WCQ, still technically falls under that administration of the confederations (UEFA, AFC, etc). Sure, it's FIFA's competition regulations, but the organisation of that (referees, etc) falls under (for us) the AFC.

The get around for this is that it's provided as an optional requirement for a game in the Laws of the Game, whereas the ball doesn't fall under an optional requirement. Lighting, technically falls under the optional requirements - similar to FA having lighting requirements to host Australia Cup games.

I agree VAR is a blight on the game since it's generally over-used, but since it can't be implemented at every game from the grassroots up (hence there being a compulsory requirement for a ball, goalposts, corner flags and line markings), the 'optional' requirements were brought in so it can be used.

What's going on? World wide of sports with social media posts about the game. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer I guess. 

Not just tonight but 9 out of10. Nothing to surprise about his performance with wasting opportunities and no end product.

Also because they got greedy and expanded the world cup the qualification games are mostly boring matches 

Japan win 1 nil at home, south korea on track to draw

Syria losing to Myanmar