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Wouldn't mind seeing our A team face an Olyroo best line up but the time and perceived risk of injuring each other means it'll never happen.

Haha how did they lose

Interesting looking at the U23's there.

The only names I recognise (as Socceroos/national team players) are Didulica (for Croatia though? Am I correct in remembering that?) Zane, Sterjovski, Carle and Laybutt.

http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1999B.html

As part of the Socceroos buildup for the FIFA All Star game coach Raul Blanco took the opportunity to get some match practice both for the overseas stars and the Olympic team who were in camp at the same time.
Played : June				Venue : Marconi Stadium, Sydney
Australia Mark Bosnich (Zeljko Kalac), Kevin Muscat, Alex Tobin, Tony Popovic, Josip Skoko (Hayden Foxe), Tony Vidmar, Aurelio Vidmar, Ned Zelic (Vincent Grella), Mark Viduka (Brett Emerton), Steve Corica, Harry Kewell (Simon Colosimo)	0	-	1	Australian U23's Danny Milosevic (Joe Didiluca), Jacob Burns, Michael Garcia, Buddy Farah, Ivan Zelic, Stephen Laybutt, Michael Curcija, Kasey Wehrman, Clayton Zane, Zeljko Susa, Mile Sterjovski subs Dragi Nastevski, George Goutzoulis, Nick Carle, Nick Sabljak Goal : Wehrman

One of our golden boys, Danilo Treffiletti, has been picked for the u17 Italian team. Football Australia will want to keep close tabs on him, because he was the Joey's best player in the last camp. 

Deck balls that were first touched by a team mate in the pen area were as rare as hens teeth in the GG era. Its a stat I really focused on watching the old replays. 2 per match was pretty typical with most of them coming from viduka. While we have declined in terms of scoring and club success, this has been something that has consistently improved. We need a striker to come from no where

I'm very happy with the 0 - 0 draw with Saudi, as I accrued stats as I watched  the replay. The notable exception is scoring goals from chances presented. It is really poor across  all age groups in Socceroo men's  seniors, U23s and U20s!

I have recorded   how many balls were played into the penalty box.

Australia played 32 balls into the penalty box. Saudi played 21. 

I was surprised at this. It seemed a greater advantage to Aus. I think Saudi had a few balls quickly in succession, a couple of times in the match in a few minutes. Aus seemed to play balls into the pen box more  consistently.

Of balls repelled by the opposition having a player touching the ball, rather than a teammate of the team playing into the box touching it first, Aus  had 9 balls repelled, Saudi 11. The ball played into the box was first touched by a defender and usually cleared.

Of balls played into the the box, Australia played 22 on the ground. A couple were mid-level and the rest were aerial. Saudi  only had about 5 balls played on  the ground, but I might have been slacker recording this, hence more inaccurate. From discussion with others off forum, we've been interested knowing whether balls were played on the ground, mid-level or aerial, by the Socceroos.

Shots at goal: Aus 9, Saudi 4.

Shots on target: Aus 4, Saudi 1.

 Shots close to bar or post: Aus 1, Saudi 1.

Goalkeeper Save: Ryan 1, Saudi 4.

Goalkeeper Intercepts: Ryan 5, Saudi 3.

It helped the Aus game that Saudi played a higher line, and tried to play football, instead of a deep defensive block, with the onus on slowing the game down and frustrating Australia from playing.

I didn't record it, but Aus's build ups were usually patient and systematic, with a few opportunities for accelerated attacks, because there was more space between the Saudi lines (defensive, midfield and attacking) than most of the previous games.

Saudi played a lot of  long balls, hoping to win the second ball duels, as they had a big target striker, or, initially they interspersed  playing a few fast breaks on the counter. It wasn't until about the 40 mn mark, Saudi tried more systematic passing football sequences. Aus  completely dominated possession and territory. 

The worst thing about Aus is that  so few goals were scored against the other teams that Saudi beat easily.





  

It’s good we qualified but clearly they got some improvement in them, hopefully they bring in some wingers and proper fullbacks in the squad.

that last 2 minutes reminds me of that simpsons episode on soccer haha

2 minutes of the cbs passing to each other to ensure a draw (since both sides qualify with a draw)

oof they nearly land a sucker punch after taking two players out wide and cutting back from the by line

stats at senior level show they are as bad as us at finishing. I wonder if they suffer from the same fate in having their league have a lot of foreigners taking up attacking positions

really frustrating our lack of street smarts

the number of times we have fouled a player going no where that literally had no option but try and draw a foul....

need to finsh one of bodalatos chances!

Easily could have had 2 with better finishing!

Probably our most impressive match so far

i normally complain about our central players being forced wide during development (volpato, segecic, bernando etc) but bodalato is a real gun on the wing

bodalato absolutely tearing them apart!

Still that last shot or pass not sticking at the moment...

reminds me of the game v peru

to my surprise we have more ball and look slightly more dangerous

so far we are quite safe playing through a high press compared to previous years

Thanks. 

after todays early results the situation is now clear

a draw gaurantees progression as does a win of course

a loss and we miss the asian cup

It’s no coincidence that Youlley has been our best so far, he’s also playing in Europe so that might explain why he looks a class above out there.

I do feel that being in pre season these games have have come too early for these players, their is some talented players in this group but when your not in prime fitness level whilst playing every two days it will always be a challenge for these players.

Im curious how we will go today against Saudi Arabia, but I feel what could have been for the youth teams if they are in-season, another reason why the seasons should be more aligned and the a-league should also start earlier.

I thought finishing was a weakness of the gg compared to players from other countries playing at a similar level (culina and grella were particularly weak!)
However we have declined remarkably and i think it became apparent in underage teams in 2018 which saw the end of the ntc. Really hope the new exercizes are good. If not we need to promote some shooting excercizes

Some times players do ok for club and poor for youth teams. Not sure why. Villupilay couldnt score for mv but was actually ok for the olyroos pre tournament, so it goes both ways

Not strife. A draw probably gets us through but not gauranteed i believe

No worries

It seems arnie ball was to
1)cut out counter attacking. We were brilliant at this! Cant remember any team looking dangerous on the counter against us!
2) rely on the law of large numbers working in our favour by visiting dangerous areas as often as possible. When a goal scored it looked chaotic, but sheer weight of numbers meant we were likely to score anywau even if an own goal or a pen

Im skeptical there is a bit strategy right now....

There apparently was a recent rewrite. Im curious what the new curriculum says. I could use some scoring exercizes.

At the moment my go to is to have 2 phases 1) shooting from a standing position without a backlift using the bone (i dont bother teaching side footing the ball early on want to get the muscle reflexes right. I also not south american player learn to shoot without a backlift early. Since it is a muscle reflex thing i think it should be taught young) 2) an exercize where the only way to score is to get the shot away instantly and accurately which means no backlift. 2 players duel in a 10mx10m area and the goal is between a 3rd players legs. The 3rd player runs around to avoid a goal being score with the only restriction that they have to keep their legs open and they have to face the other 2. 

1 in 4 of those who break into a first team in a 2nd tier league by u24 go on to be regulars in either a champions league club or a big 5 club. So even if they break through im cautious and look at numbers rather than individuals. 

I've despaired at all the goal scoring chances not being converted that have been created by the U20s. However, late in the game against Palestine, when we went 2-1 up, I saw some of the  fastest passing and moving sequences in tight spaces  and limited time on the ball, I've see  ever seen from any age group at  Aus national team level. 

Youlley was involved in all of them, the catalyst and probably touched the ball multiple times in the 5-10 pass sequences, but also Delios the number 6 who played as sole DM in the attacking mid triangle?  Plus others who I'm not sure of their identity, who played in advanced positions? It is very difficult   for opponents to break up this  rapidfire ball movement and speedy ball circulation.


I have been  disappointed in Di Pizio, considering how  well he played for senior CCM in the AL Grand Final. Also, I've expected Waddingham to score more goals, considering how effective he has been for senior Roar at times in the AL. 

Apart from his superb winning goal against Palestine, I think Badalato, who I must  have seen play for WSW seniors in the AL, has underperformed too.

So even if we draw tonight, are we in strife re U20 WCQ?

As Asia is improving immeasurably, the bonus is, if we qualify for WCs, we will be far more battle hardened by playing qualifiers against forever tougher Asian opposition, in tough conditions.

Salutary stats.

Thanks for posting them Grazor!