AIS was free I believe. The destruction of that was the downfall of young aussie talent. Only other mob that came close was the boys coming out of ECU joondalup.

I didn't realise how big of an achievement this was. To win it with that squad is phenomenal.

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/stoke-provide-harry-souttar-injury-update

He'll get there. Taking time but still many weeks to go. 

Hopefully he likes a vino so we can tempt him with Grange.

It's a dry argument for a Frenchman in Saudi...

Do you take deni juric to the World Cup? 

Yeah definitely worth making overtures to.

As for a non-union Mexican equivalent, haha, I dunno

Merci!

Transfermarkt says his contract is until 2027.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/herve-renard/profil/trainer/6480

Bugger. Maybe the Saudis flop at the WC and some sort of hissy-fit ensues. Renard and the Saudi team part ways and we can try to get him. The FFA may need some cashed up businessperson to chip in, though.

Based on his achievements and the style of football he coaches, he’s probably the best candidate the in world.

So regarding friendlies in the leadup for the world cup. Are the New Zealand games going ahead? Can't find tickets for the game in AUS. 

Also is there any other friendlies we can schedule before the World Cup? Or is it slim pickings and we'll have to make do with just a long training camp?

I think you get him in for the friendlies and see how he goes from that. But lets be honest, its Arnie. He isnt going to pick anyone he hasnt already 

According to the FIFA site, the September dates are the only sanctioned International Dates before the World Cup. So little likelihood of other friendlies. Only a seven day gap before the WC, so maybe one friendly there, played somewhere in the ME, against a similarly qualified team.

Now that NZ are out of the WC, maybe we are having second thoughts about playing them. I would be disappointed if that is the case. History is one of our main building blocks, and remembering the first game in 1922 is significant. 

Viduka points to the decline of the ais as a major issue

was it just ais which was free?

Arnold said best chance is playing two different teams vs NZ. We could also be a bit better organised by maybe allowing Hrustic, Ryan and some others to play in front of a home crowd and have them fly back to Europe and avoid NZ all together.

It's the calendar that's the issue. Nothing to do with disrespecting NZ at all. Yet the NZ is a Sunday and normally the second window international is a Tuesday. 

Arnie saying he reached out to Rogic but got no reply. 

“I am concerned about Tommy but I know the PFA are looking into it.”

Fuck I hope he's doing ok.

Yeah I'm sensing some massive bereavement or someone is unwell. PFA will check his welfare. He might just be exhausted from it all. Main thing is he's alright. 

Two games 3 and a half days apart would have been good prep for the rapid fire WC pace, except that travel between Brisbane and NZ is involved and the WC is obviously much closer between match venues.

More or less the best squad would be great given the lack of prep immediately before the WC even if the 2 XI's are very different.

If similar XI's are used then using vastly different tactics in the games may be worth considering to replicate the need to play aggressively for 3 points in the Tunisia match, as we can't rely on 0-0 and penalties as we did against Peru.

Honestly worried for Rogic, doesn't sound good. Especially since GA mentioned it to the press.

Will he be any chance of making it to Qatar? Sounds increasingly unlikely.

Honestly I'm going to say no. I have no idea what Tom is going through. I just hope whatever it is he ends up doing ok once it's dealt with.

I'm going to think he won't make the squad. So if he does end up being in it, it's a nice surprise. If he doesn't, well at least didn't get hope up.

You don't want him to be sick but hope this isn't some spit the dummy tantrum either. 

If it was, surely we'd have an inkling why.

Unless, he didn't really want to leave Celtic and Ange pushed him. But I doubt that...

I mean it's entirely possible he just doesn't have it in him anymore.
Never struck me as a super motivated athlete type.
Maybe doing a bit of a Lucas Neil where he just disappears and nobody knows the story
Didn't Viduka retire in a similar way too?

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-to-count-on-home-ground-advantage-at-qatar-world-cup-20220705-p5az61.html

Arnie making some interesting points.

The Socceroos will be banking on a form of home ground advantage at November’s World Cup, with the COVID-19 pandemic and a fluke of the draw giving coach Graham Arnold reason for confidence in Qatar.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson, meanwhile, has also confirmed Australia is in the hunt to host the next Asian Cup and, possibly, a men’s World Cup next decade.

Big risk reward for the world cup bid

didnt we blow tens of millions on it?

that money could be spent on a fully professional third division or a few hundred youth coaches. How much would the government pay for the bid?

i would like the asian cup thouvb

If the WC bid wasn't shared between us and NZ... does that mean they're looking at a bid shared with Indonesia and others?

Politically, probably a good idea, but a logistical nightmare. There are 48 teams split into 16 groups, with 16 cities involved in 2026 (US, Canada, Mexico). It wouldn't necessarily be the same for Oz/NZ or Oz/SE Asia, but if it was...

Seems a bit unfair having teams spread over such massive distances with such different conditions and then having to travel to play in different locations once the knockout rounds kick in.

Oz/NZ makes more sense and hopefully the dream of West Asia and East Asia (with Oceania) will have kicked in by then. We (and NZ) have cities big enough to host multiple groups so you'd think 4 venues for them (hosting six groups) and 8 for us (hosting ten). Final at Stadium Australia.

I can imagine the politics of this being a nightmare being across federations. Would both federations be banned from hosting next round? West Asia may support it with Qatar recently hosting.

I would have really enjoyed a Morrocco WC tbh.

A mate of mine travels a lot for his business in South America and speaks Spanish.

For years in Uruguay when the taxi drivers who have picked him up  realise he is an Aussie, they constantly refer to the loss to Australia in the WCQ in 2005. Many of them can name the entire 2005 Australian team!

Now the same is occurring in Peru during  his last trip a few weeks ago. 

 He doesn't  even follow football in Australia and is bored by the sport in  his homeland. But he is starting to become more interested in South America -  because of the incredible passion for football in South America.

That sounds like a real worry.

I actually think that could be spot on.  Rogic had  one of his best seasons last season, looked fitter and more motivated than he has been in a long time.  Definitely had another season in him at Celtic. 

Then out of the blue he leaves and has no club to go to, by his own choice.  Makes no sense

If you're doubting it because you think Postecoglou isn't the type that would push a player out like this, then you haven't watched him closely enough.

Update on Rogic
Had been spotted judging in the Sydney CBD with a trainer 
Rumours that he may sign for Sydney FC