as I said the choice is much more likely to be McGree/Hrustic not Goodwin/Hrustic in this current formation barring injury or fatigue.

Join the club. I am so nervous I am almost at the stage where I can't watch (same happened for second leg against Uruguay in 02)

Plus I have covid, so it's a shit show at the moment :D :D 

I keep thinking how I'd actually be so much LESS nervous if we needed to win or nothing

Knowing a draw will likely suffice somehow makes this almost unbearable. 

there's no way it doesn't change the psychology of the team no matter how much Arnie or the players say it won't

Bugger
I was almost jealous of my mate being home with covid and being able to watch more games aha
Hope you don't have it too bad at least

Was good until the 9pm games stopped, yeah all g ta, just typical blocked nose, tired etc 

Yep so cruel.

So crazy that we stress about results. Let the FA, players and coaching staff that are PAID to stress do the stressing! Just enjoy that our Roos are even playing at the WCup and have already scored from open play and even won a match 😎 if Roos are good enough they will make 2nd round

There was some crazy stat where I don't think Italy went out in a major tournament in normal time (ie not extra time, golden goal or penalties) in that whole era.

It probably wasn't every single tournament but I do remember it was a ridiculous stat. If I'm bored later I'll try work it out aha

The two goals from open play have for sure been a highlight

I had to sorry guys

If I didn’t list it Italy didn’t qualify or make it out the group basically.
This is insane

World Cups
1990 – penalties SF
1994 – penalties GF
1998 – penalties QF
2002 – Extra Time Rd16 (piss off)
2006 – Penalties (winners though)

Euros
2000 – Golden Goal GF
2008 – Penalties QF
2012 – smashed in the GF in normal time
2016 – penalties QF
2020 – penalties (winner though)

Australia were only knocked out of a major tournament in normal time once in that era, and that was to Italy!

aha good point!!!

Golden Goal was such a bad rule, made worse in that game by France's equaliser in the last minute of added time!

Fun fact: We were the first country to win a game by the Golden Goal rule at the 1993 youth (U20?) cup, against Paraguay in Brisbane.

Ha! I had no idea, thanks for that!

I'm starting to think Hrustic is going to start and play 60 in place of McGree.
I honestly think that's going to be the only change 

I think McGree has been pretty good but I think he would be tired and we will need Hrustic's ability to hold the ball and get in pockets.

We are going to need an outlet ball who isn't just a deep winger.

Hrustic is a frustrating player at times who can lose the ball too easily but he knows big games as well as anyone and just hearing him talk I have this feeling tonight will be his moment. He's going to score a free kick. 

Anyway boys and girls, probably won't be posting again today till the game and some incident or other occurs.
8.5 hours to get through. 
Positive vibes only from all of you coz I'll worry enough for the rest of us.

I didn't expect to be in with a positive chance of getting through the group. So pleased to see the team's accolades from other observers. All positive for Australia and the A League.

Go you good things!

Newsflash! We're gonna be doing a lot of defending - and Goodwin is far better at that than Hrustic. Hrustic hasn't been great for Oz in recent matches anyway - Goodwin is confident and doing well. No contest in my view.

As for dropping McGree... no farking way. He's been good and going to be a key player over the next eight years. As few changes as possible thanks with Kuol, Cummings and Tilio to come on if we're chasing a goal.

One thing is Denmark won't think it will be a walkover, which obviously has happened a lot in the past. They will be up for it.

Yep, they have to be. 

If we can get to half time still nil/nil the Danes will start to panic. A result will be so down to our defence - I have confidence in most of them but the Danes will target Karacic for sure. I'd love Devlin or Baccus to start to help screen but Arnie won't be dropping either of Irvine or Mooy, unless one of them has a niggle.

In my more confident daydreams I see us score first, concede late, but hang on for a truly famous result.

Then Tunisia beat France...

We'll be going a pretty similar 11. On the one hand the battle hardened group know what to do. If we started with Baccus or Devlin that extra energy in the first half might just see the balance spread out over a longer period of time.

Focus on ourselves but hopefully France get two goals in the first half against Tunisia. 

Chores are a decent distraction in the build up and it gets things done. The first 30min with give is a fair indication how the team is in the head for today's game. 

I have video conference calls scheduled at the start of the match and I'm scratching my head for excuses to be camera/mic off

Technical difficulties?

the video isnt working for some reason. Oh well we will make do?

Geez it'd be a real shame if that router was to be pulled out of the socket.

Hrustic was awful when he came on. Slow very slow. I got scared everytime he touched the ball.

Just hoping Arnie learns from the Olympics and rotates his squad. Regardless of who is his "best" 11, they need to be fresh enough, or we'll see another game like Egypt where our guys were dead on their legs and a fresh Devlin never saw even a minute of game time (having not played the previous two games). Arnie really revealed his shortcomings that day not just with man management and squad rotation, but with our desperate tactics which basically consisted of hoofing the ball to our CB (JRB) who was playing as a makeshift striker.

I am really worried that Arnie will trot out pretty much the same 11 again aside from the RB and number 10 roles perhaps. I'd rather a fully fit Devlin/Baccus than Irvine/Mooy at 70%. And if we were to win, he'd no doubt do it again for the R16. We have a 26 man squad and he needs to be prepared to back the players and start more than just the same 13 or so players. 

Really pumped for this game, and very nervous. Come on boys!!! 

Hrustic ?! U should rewatch the way he ran when he came on.  U put him on he will turn the ball over for Denmark.

Lineups in 90min. Not really fired up yet. Pre game dip for now.