Aussies need faith in the group of death

I like the concept of a result being "the most impossible" -- once we accept the notion of degrees of impossibility, we can be more open to the idea of Australia winning the World Cup this year.

I think we have a well-justified reputation as players who go in hard, without a lot of finesse. I think referees are always willing to protect big-name players (consciously or subconsciously), "knowing" that Australia can't match it with better-known opponents (consciously or subconsciously). I don't know about Chile, but there's no shortage of players for Spain or the Netherlands who can (a) take a dive (b) score a goal from set pieces (c) break down play in the midfield by questionable tackling, with a smile and pat on the back to the victim while their defence gets organised and slows any impetus the Australians might have.

@ Professor Rosseforp: Hehehehe! No worries, mate! ;-) As for the red-cards, I'm tipping we're able to score 2 goals during the course of all 3 matches so we'll have to have some real brain explosions for the red-card count to be higher if my tip comes in - but I guess you're not expecting an Aussie goal at all?! ;-)

Point well made and conceded, Arto! You have caught me well and truly offside. But I stand by my prediction that we will have more red cards than goals!

It's the "Group of Death" way to Glory !!!!!! Lorrrrddyyyyyy !!!!! ;-)

You've seen Postecoglou's team play right ?

Johan in the 7 World Cup matches that Australia has played in the last two tournaments we have been "humbled" once,not sure what tournaments you were watching.As far as Asia being weak,2 of the 4 Asian qualifiers from 2010 made the knock out phases and if it wasn't for our diabolical display against Germany 3 out of 4 would have gone through.Compared to the always overhyped African sides who only had Ghana representing them after the group stages from 5 teams at the finals and they only got through on goal difference!

Scrubbit I understand where you are coming from now . My apologies for seeing it a different way. Enjoy the site mate.

I don't follow the afl much but I'm pretty sure every code has funny names. I just notice them a lot more in football. And to be honest I'm not sure if there is a player named Clancy. There's fui fui, jharal, tohu just to name a few league players. Anyway it wasn't a criticism I just like listening to football games and hearing some of the names. Sorry if it came across as a race thing.

No body gave Denmark a chance when they got into the eurpean cup after croatia were kicked out and they went on to a win over Germany in the Final. Any Australian team that goes out and gives it best is a chance of an upset. Just imagine if we jag a win in our first game, wed be on a roll and the other teams would then be feeling the pressure to beat us which would play into our hands. Wishful thinking i know but stranger things have happened.

Scrubbit Footballs a very diverse game culturally in Australia its not like these domestic games AFL to name one where every players name is either Jack ,Tom or Clancy,white .

I'll tell you what I think is a failure. It's a failure to qualify like we have, and then not play to win. There's nothing worse than when teams play for a draw or play to limit the losing margin. I'm more than happy we've qualified and I don't expect much, but I at least expect them to play to win. Not to play negative "damage control" football, and I, like many others will be cheering for the awfully (yet somewhat comically) named socceroos not hoping for a draw or a "respectable loss" but to win. Then when they get eliminated (you never REALLY know though) ill go back to my normal life of ignoring the national team completely other than the odd "are you sure that guys australian?" And my favourite " Look at this blokes silly name!"

I hate it when people bring up NZs World Cup. They parked the bus and drew all their matches. Not good football, and last time I checked despite our "diabolical" 2010 WC we finished on 4 points and NZ finished as the only undefeated team.... On 3 points and exiting at the group stage as well... Not what any team should aspire to no matter how low. You go to a World Cup you go to win matches. Australia aren't going to do much but they should still try to actually win rather than just try not to lose too badly. Id be happy losing 5-0 if they actually played football rather than drawing nil all by parking the bus and praying for an opportunity.

@ Daniel Guerinoni: I think Postecoglu will set up Aus to our strengths, which is going forward. We're not a team that is comfortable defending for long periods of time - especially so against the calibre of teams we face in this Group - so I can't see us sitting back and simply playing on the counter. Of course, we will try to be as compact as possible and most likely have the least amount of posession of any teams in the tournament, but we're simply not a team that is good at dominating posession regardless of opposition - we tend to play a more direct style where we aim straight away to release our speedy wingers or hit our target men upfront before playing in behind the opposition's back-4. The likes of Oar, Leckie, Cahill & Rogic will need to be playing their career best football for us to have any chance at causing a surprise as a lot of our play will go through them. We don't have either the very top or depth in talent at the back to hold out aginst any of these teams, so it'll be imperative that Cahill, Rogic, Bresciano, & jedinak can keep hold of the ball under pressure to allow our midfield & defenders to push up and keep play away from our penalty area. I'm tipping that against all our opponents (Spain in particular; less so against Chile) we'll try to flood the centre of the park & across the midfield in order to frustrate their (many) attempts to play through us. Chile's threats are definitely down the flanks (although Vidal can play in the centre), whilst the Netherlands are a 'middle-ground' between Spain & Chile. My tips for what they're worth: Game 1: vs Chile 1-3 (A Sth American WC will advantage teams from that region, so I see Chile starting off well) Game 2: vs the Netherlands 1-2 or possibly even 1-1 (After a narrow 2-1 loss to Spain, the Netherlands will fight their way to a win here, although the conditions may help Aus to a draw if we ride our luck and play more to our potential than them) Game 3: vs Spain 0-4 (With all 3 opponents now needing a win to go through and all wanting to avoid Brazil if they do, Spain will turn the screws in an effort to top the group, whilst Chile will edge out the Netherlands 2-1) With a Group B Table final standings as follows: Spain 2W 1D 0L GF 8 GA 3 7pts Chile 2W 1D 0L GF 6 GA 3 7pts The Netherlands 1W 0D 2L GF 4 GA 5 3pts Australia 0W 0D 3L GF 2 GF 9 0pts To me that wouldn't be a very bad effort if we can learn from the experience and apply the lessons learnt in the Asian Cup 7mths later...

@ Batou: +1! @ Professor Rosseforp: "Anybody still wondering about what will happen in the first round doesn’t understand that the big teams have already sewn it up to make sure there are no teams like Australia getting through." How many times have we seen a big team eliminated in the Group Stage??!! It was Italy & France in the last WC (2010), Croatia in 2006, France (again), Portugal, Croatia (again) & Argentina in 2002, and Spain in 1998 to name just the past 4 tournaments! Not sure I agree with your 'understanding' of how the WC works...

This was the ill-fated strategy of the 1970 Socceroos -- 10 men on the goal-line kicking the ball to one forward. It didn't work then and it won't work now. Our defence is not solid enough to hold out attacking teams, nor is it quick enough to beat the speed of many forwards.

Sydney.

Which A League club do you support you've not mentioned it before.

I disagree - if we can play a high pressing possession game and our boys don't give it away cheaply then we have every chance at competing. If Spain don't have the ball then they can't score. The real question is, can we keep it from them for 90 minutes so they cannot score? No.