2 more games where wins are an absolute must! When are they not? The same squad should probably be the same though Nabbout for Goodwin might be something. Chinese Taipei away should be too hard but we need to be wary. Ideally we could even allow one or two players to skip this one for a rest. Perhaps Ryan? 

The Nepal game

                      Langerak 
Grant    Souttar  Degenek Smith
                       Mooy 
                      Luongo    
  Mabil                              Borrello 
              Giannou Taggart 
 

2-2 draw at best.

hope arzani plays in this one 

Nepal absolute bolter in this group

Anything less than a combined GD of about +15 from these two games will put us in real danger of not getting a top 4 runner up spot in the likely event of us losing away in Jordan.

Road trip to Taipei ?

are there direct flights to Taiwan ?

any word on where the June home qualifiers will be held?

Why do we have to win by that much? Even a combined gd of +6 would be more than enough (will probably get +8-10). You assume that everyone will thrash their minnows in the other groups, but it just doesn’t work like that. Second placed teams will mostly be minnows themselves.

I also have no idea why you keep thinking of Jordan as this massive threat. They barely beat Taiwan the other day.

We do need those goals. Thankfully so far the other groups appear more even limiting the number of points the 2nf placed teams can get. Hopefully they keep drawing more and more. 

Mclaren and Taggart to be played in a 2 up front to help them break their hoodoos. Hrustic and souttar to be capped to lock them in.
Diamond 4.4.2

                  Ryan
Deng  sains Soutar  Smith 
                  Jeggo 
            Mass    Amini 
                  Hrustic 
        Mclaren      taggart 

We have to be certain of being clear of the other runners up as we have no second chances with a playoff etc. There is every likelihood that Jordan could get maximum points from all their non-Australia games, so any slip ups in any game and it's out of our hands.

A "massive threat" is a bit of hyperbole on your part, but only a fool would look at our record in the Middle East against Jordan (three games, three losses) and assume we're in for an easy ride.

Hoping for that! We'll get a better picture of who's likely to take those runner up spots after the next set of matchdays, but a few likely runners up have started strong.

Bit like how Kuwait were "firm favourites" last night? 

God you are boring

It certainly looks like an easy ride. We'll beat Jordan here like we've always done and that should be enough. But I would also be surprised if they beat us over there again. Winning streaks always come to an end and it feels like it's Jordan's turn now. They seem unsteady this time, only winning 2-1 against Taiwan. It will take something very unusual for us not to finish first.

And even if we don't, 5 second-placed teams will qualify, not 4. You're forgetting that Qatar has already qualified and won't play next round, so that if they win their group (which they will), it will have to be 7 first place and 5 second place teams going through..

We almost definitely have the easiest/least competitive group and GD won't come into the equation if we come second.

I'd like to see us experiment in these two games play some younger players give them some experience even try some different systems. I'd be happy with Ryan and Mooy sitting out of both games completely. 

I predict we'll win 6-0 against Nepal with an early goal and 4-0 against Taiwan.

You're talking about things that aren't in our hands working out the way we hope and "she'll be right".

I'm talking about doing all we can and not putting ourselves in a position to worry about it.

Yes we are the strongest team in the group, but were clearly coming at this with differing philosophies.

Speaking of streaks coming to an end, we're up to 4 world cups in a row now...

And long may it continue. I love that streak. If we can just squeeze through to Qatar, we should be able to keep it going indefinitely after it goes to 48 teams. 

If u want Maclaren and Taggart to score they will need 
quality passes from Mooy. I would never leave him on the bench

Big time. Hopefully both nepal and taiwan games. Arnold will surely play him if fit enough

Almost forgot about Arzani.

Would loveeee him to make his return against these kinds of teams and slot a few goals in.

Caltex Socceroos v Nepal | FIFA World Cup Qatar™ 2022 Qualifier will take place at 8pm AEDT.

Forget Maclaren. Only scores the odd goal in internationals. Time for Giannou.

I’ll be at the Nepal match. I’d be happy to see Giannou start.

Maclaren can score at club level while Giannou’s record over the last 2-3 years has been abysmal.

Like it

Start Mabil , get Rogic into it. We could win this with a second string side though. 

I feel these games should be used for our strikers to get some mental headspace by putting a few away. It's be good to have that extra confidence ahead of Jordan away. 

Squad announcement Friday: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1179243835312021504

Rogic won't be part of the squad, as he's getting married.

anyone know if these games will be on FTA?