I would be starting McGree in midfield next game, and play Silvera and Bos as clearly we looked much better when they came on. (As mentioned our wingers in the first half our wingers cant beat a player 1v1 and the later two can)
The midfield in the first half was unconvincing so its important that part improves as the tournament goes on, we missed a trick with no Luongo or Mooy from retirement but we could have used a Genreau or Robertson as better ball players too.

Also Bruno was a decent focal point too, much better touch and technique than hard working Duke too.

Hopefully we improvement as the tournament goes on.

One down side of arnie-ball is just like our golden gen he has set up a team that is better without the ball than with it, so it isn't pretty to watch us against weaker teams

In the end we won and kept the clean sheet so job done

I'm reserving judgement until I see the rest of the tournament

we might end up rotating players, or having a team set up to be good enough to win ugly enough against minnows but challenge top teams. So too early to tell how we are doing

I don't think the 2-3-5 worked because the front 5, until McGree came on, were essentially in a straight line. So we had an attack of 3 midfielders (Baccus plus the two fullbacks) and a front 5 with no one getting between India's defensive lines. Consequently we couldn't get any penetration through the middle of the field, but were relying on pass-flick movements which went nowhere.

McGree, Bos and O'Neill need to start the next game. The full backs tonight were awful and it was annoyingly predictable given selections. Miller and Bos could come in, or Burgess to free up Rowles and let Bos play higher. Goodwin got so much space but his decision making was slow and he had no impact. Fornaroli looked dangerous.

The benefits of inverted fullback is to add more number in the midfield just like Ange did beautifully for Yokahoma F marinos in J league if do it right.

My side for Syria

                     Ryan 
Atkinson Souttar Burgess Rowles 
                 O'Neill
  Silvera  McGree Irvine Bos
                 Fornaroli
          

I dont mind the structure, it allows for progressive football against deep block defences but you need the right personal to pull it off.

It worked a bit better with McGree and the different front 3 who can excel in tight areas.

Perhaps Baccus starting as a right back and then being inverted is an idea. He's got speed and I think and overlap whipped cross that's alright.

I think today Jones and Behich just stood there and laid the ball off and didn't drive forward to help link up. 

Our best play kept coming from more conventional stuff and breaking through or getting around them.

How many times in the second half did Irvine Behich and Goodwin stuff any kind of triangle work! Just kept going back to Rowles. 

Please let's play our technical best and then we'll know more. 

I agree, it can work well with the right players to unlock a deep defence. It starting working a bit when McGree came on, as he looked to drift around including getting between the lines, and also with Bos and Silvera because they provided more movement laterally and vertically as well.

https://youtu.be/vxbsGlSetuQ?si=RyZKx241UvdBDdDE

The second goal is definitely a route we can take against the vast majority of Asian teams. 

I'd like to see our press against Syria and Uzbekistan. Be relentless. As they're more likely to go forward, we should see more space. 

Being the 3rd game, Uzbekistan's game plan will be about the potential outcomes. Personally I hope they need at least a draw so we can see more space play out for ourselves. 

China just had a goal scratched after a VAR review. Couldn't follow the commentary here but I think it was that the player on the line was in an offside position and obstructing the defender.

China Tajikistan ends goalless 

I'll have to wait for replay or highlights to see the disallowed China goal. No rewind on Paramount for non A League games.

Big game next Syria vs Uzbekistan. 

https://youtu.be/8o9Ng00ztjU?si=_0gwpq49riLXxaLP

Longer highlights here 

https://youtu.be/cDRldNNqavs?si=sw0n8o6iGVAuk_mY

Arnold press conference post game.

https://youtu.be/dw1nvlXeSG0?si=7NOzw9KuAb-Wll6i

Irvine part

Syrian have tapped into the diaspora with a number of Swedish and South American based players. Uzbekistan unsurprisingly have a cohort of players from the successful youth teams. It appears Shomuradov is out for he tournament which is a massive blow. 

Uzbekistan Syria ends goalless. Uzbeks very well drilled but a bit shy on goal today. Syria were fairly organised and had a late goal ruled correctly offside.

O'Neill as a 6 then McGree and Metcalfe with instructions to play it on the floor

100 % this. 

couldnt watch the game last night as I was at a wedding.

Watched the replay this morning. I just don't understand what we trying to do? win free kicks and corners against India? really?

Both fullbacks clearly dont know how to invert and make those runs.... pointless...

Why isnt Maty further up the field forcing the Chetri to press him? I'd rather see Maty at the halfway line like Alisson does pinging balls around... Maty has a better passing range than most of the team. Draw them out and we will cut them to pieces... just need an actual baller in that midfield not just workhorses...

Different game when Bos and McGree got on.

Need alot of improvement from that display. Both fullbacks under . Getlin Jones very average not impressed one bit same with Behic. I think we got alot better fullbacks on the bench. Arnie got the midfield balance totally wrong no creativity in the first half we we're playing India. Bos and McGree and even Tilio give us that X factor and Aiden O'Neil should be starting. Duke was pedestrian like Bruno looked alot better.

This is about right I reckon. Metcalfe for Irvine is another possible variation. 

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Arnold keep the same starting eleven for next game. I suspect he thinks that is his best 11.

That game felt like a UNICEF commercial

“Every 15 minutes, an Indian concedes a goal. But as an Australian, you can assist by shanking your shots and standing around with the ball. You could even send your crosses into outer space.”

Yep pretty on it above.
Dour game period hope this is worst we see by our guys.
It no matter Arnie getting it wrong in selections point for me is we should have run over that mob the full 90 3 up at least no matter who’s on the pitch.
Ryan as captain needs to engage alot more and inspire good point but it’s not his nature.
I called Bos to be best Roo this Cup long may he prove it.

Not a popular position, I know, but my view is still that Arnold is a mediocre coach who had a once in a lifetime purple steak at the World Cup.
His selections are often bewildering and tactically his head is still in the A League. It is difficult to avoid the impression that some players are selected based more on their long term relationship with the coach rather than ability. Duke and Irvine are immediate examples.

It is unfortunate that we seem to have Arnold locked in for as long as he sees fit, because our national team football will never develop while he is in charge. 

Add Tilio (28 minutes of football in 6 months 😂) Metcalfe (helped by being club teammate of Irvine) and Behich - or Mister pass it backwards and attempt ridiculous long-range goals - to that list 

We have a pretty average squad I think his done the best he can with them 

I think you could be right, it was also a mid season WC which meant guys like Goodwin, Leckie and the a-league guys were all in form and had been playing and scoring, We usually dont have that at WC's as the a-league boys have been off a few months by then. Also Souttar had an unbelievable tournament. All this together and Arnie kinda of turning them into a gritty team helped but we got a lot of luck.

I'll be really interested to see the other big teams against bus parkers. They also take some time to score and always get there.

They're friendlies so a bit hard to gauge but I also think Ecuador and Mexico underestimated us and didn't defend as much as they needed too. This led to all the good space and our better players were also out there. 

Thankfully we saw massive improvement with our better players on and hadn't had McGree on for significant time since Mexico. If we can get Atkinson in he'll link up more with Boyle. Iredale, Yengi and Fornaroli also need to feature at some point. 

You look at Uzbekistan 2019 and games against the rest of the mid level AFC. They're good at packing the defence because they know and fear Australia as a big team. We just can't cope with that. The selections for such situations are often horribly wrong.

If Arnold wants to insist on inverted fullbacks to add to the midfield then Baccus is perfect for the right and Rowles can cover the left nicely. In turn you can drop Behich, Jones and Miller and add Irankunda, Teague and Arzani to address the packed defence issue for example. If Irvine is going to go at a snail's pace then Nisbet can come in right away and show him what transition is. 

I think things can only get better as the opponent level improves gradually in the tournament. Still, Syria and Uzbekistan have a much better balance in positioning us out of the game compared to what the big opponent friendlies did last year. I get the impression big nations take the risk of spreading their players way out with the trust their one on one ability to defend against our players will suffice. I'm referring to space afforded to us by Japan in Sydney, Mexico and Ecuador certainly allowed us a number of opportunities. 

Just done my look at the knockout bracket - and assuming favourites / whatever Groups A and B are at after 1 match - This is the path to the final:

Round of 16 - Tajikistan / Palestine / Vietnam
Quarter Finals - Saudi Arabia
Semi Finals - Japan
Final - Korea / Iran / Qatar (they are the 'favourite group winners on the other side of the draw)