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Asunto: National Team
This weekend we play the USA. They are ranked 8 places ahead of us, however both teams pull fairly similar rating so this is a good opportunity for us. Midfielder Preston Hammond is fit again after an injury layoff, however in bad news our stud striker Tim Alagich will miss another week or two.
USA 2:3 Australia
A strong result against a higher ranked side. 59% possession and 55% field position was pleasing but we should've generated more shots on goal. Either way, can't complain with a win.
A strong result against a higher ranked side. 59% possession and 55% field position was pleasing but we should've generated more shots on goal. Either way, can't complain with a win.
Australia - : - Chile
This week we face a stern test against Chile who currently sit 16 places above us in the rankings. A big relief will be the return of striker Tim Alagich who is back from injury. It's a position where we lack depth and Alagich is top class. Sianidis may miss with injury, but apart from that we should be able to put our best team+bench on the park for the first time in recent memory.
REMINDER: Voting is open for the Nat Manager and U21 Manager.
Australia 0:5 Chile
Well, that was a mixed bag, and while we deserved the loss against a strong opponent, the scoreline was a bit out of whack. We won the possession battle and managed 4 shots (to their 12) so felt like the score could've been a bit closer. Might be time to start tweaking the solo striker tactics in an effort to generate some more shots... although it's a position we lack depth in.
This week it's another friendly before the WC preliminaries commence: Australia - : - Belarus. We'll go into this game as favourites with Belarus ranked 16 places below us however this will be tricky. They have a good starting lineup and their match ratings are close to ours.
Well, that was a mixed bag, and while we deserved the loss against a strong opponent, the scoreline was a bit out of whack. We won the possession battle and managed 4 shots (to their 12) so felt like the score could've been a bit closer. Might be time to start tweaking the solo striker tactics in an effort to generate some more shots... although it's a position we lack depth in.
This week it's another friendly before the WC preliminaries commence: Australia - : - Belarus. We'll go into this game as favourites with Belarus ranked 16 places below us however this will be tricky. They have a good starting lineup and their match ratings are close to ours.
Hello all,
We start the season ranked 49th with 1560 ranking points. This is the baseline to judge the season against. The aim (obviously) is to take this in the direction of the top 32, however the reality is that getting that high in the rankings with our user base will be extremely difficult if not impossible.
So whilst we took a decent hit this season, it hasn't affected our world cup 4th pool spot. With a season experience, I look forward to seeing what you have learned and maybe get 3rd in the group if we do really well.
You will be starting from the current position;
Rank: 56
Points: 1441.37
I do expect this to go down as we normally lose rating points in WC seasons
We start the season ranked 49th with 1560 ranking points. This is the baseline to judge the season against. The aim (obviously) is to take this in the direction of the top 32, however the reality is that getting that high in the rankings with our user base will be extremely difficult if not impossible.
So whilst we took a decent hit this season, it hasn't affected our world cup 4th pool spot. With a season experience, I look forward to seeing what you have learned and maybe get 3rd in the group if we do really well.
You will be starting from the current position;
Rank: 56
Points: 1441.37
I do expect this to go down as we normally lose rating points in WC seasons
Australia 5:0 Belarus
Against a lower ranked opponent it was a game we should've won, and we did. With 70% territory and eighteen shots to two it was a dominant performance. A little bit wasteful up front with our lone striker scoring four from seventeen shots.
Against a lower ranked opponent it was a game we should've won, and we did. With 70% territory and eighteen shots to two it was a dominant performance. A little bit wasteful up front with our lone striker scoring four from seventeen shots.
World Cup Preliminaries
GROUP E (rank)
Poland (4)
Uruguay (16)
Slovenija (45)
Australia (56)
Belarus (74)
as-Saʻūdiyya (94)
We start as the 4th ranked side in our group with only the top two progressing. With two strong sides in the group, progression would be an incredible feat, but very unlikely. Fourth will be a par performance and third would be a great result. The first game up is critical, a win against Slovenija would start us in a fantastic position in the group.
Round 1:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Belarus
Australia - Slovenija
Uruguay - Polska
Round 2:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Australia
Belarus - Uruguay
Slovenija - Polska
Round 3:
Slovenija - as-Saʻūdiyya
Polska - Belarus
Australia - Uruguay
Round 4:
Uruguay - as-Saʻūdiyya
Belarus - Slovenija
Polska - Australia
Round 5:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Polska
Australia - Belarus
Slovenija - Uruguay
Round 6:
Polska - as-Saʻūdiyya
Belarus - Australia
Uruguay - Slovenija
Round 7:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Uruguay
Slovenija - Belarus
Australia - Polska
Round 8:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Slovenija
Belarus - Polska
Uruguay - Australia
Round 9:
Australia - as-Saʻūdiyya
Uruguay - Belarus
Polska - Slovenija
Round 10:
Belarus - as-Saʻūdiyya
Slovenija - Australia
Polska - Uruguay
Yeah pretty unlucky with the top 2, but given we were never really in with a shot, it's not that bad.
But we got very lucky (rank wise, haven't looked at ratings) with the 3rd pot. Given a few seasons ago we were hovering 48/49 we are definitely in with a shot at getting 3rd.
But as you say, par is 4th, 3rd is great, and 5th shouldn't happen
But we got very lucky (rank wise, haven't looked at ratings) with the 3rd pot. Given a few seasons ago we were hovering 48/49 we are definitely in with a shot at getting 3rd.
But as you say, par is 4th, 3rd is great, and 5th shouldn't happen
World Cup Prelim Round 1
Australia 2-2 Slovenija
I am filthy with this result. We deserved the win. It was a foulathon from our opponents. 9 fouls to 1. 5 cards to 0. Brooks with a 12 day injury, Hammond injured but ok. Numerous one on ones against the keeper and not converted. So frustrating.
Australia 2-2 Slovenija
I am filthy with this result. We deserved the win. It was a foulathon from our opponents. 9 fouls to 1. 5 cards to 0. Brooks with a 12 day injury, Hammond injured but ok. Numerous one on ones against the keeper and not converted. So frustrating.
Very frustrating not to take out the win, definitely deserved. But still, nice work on the draw being the underdogs. Means we are in a decent spot to take out 3rd
Yeah I picked which tactic they would play, and tried to expose their central defender. I’m 80% happy with the way the tactic worked. Generally speaking, I think my first season I had ‘little man’ syndrome and played too conservatively. This was a much better tactic and really took it to them.
World Cup Prelims R1
as-Saʻūdiyya 2-7 Belarus
Australia 2-2 Slovenija
Uruguay 1-6 Polska
The other results went largely as expected. Belarus picked up some handy goal difference. Poland seriously demonstrated their power.
Next round:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Australia
Belarus - Uruguay
Slovenija - Polska
This is a must win for Australia. Anything other than 3pts will be terrible. A reshuffle up front will be necessary given the injury sustained in the last match. We don’t have depth in this position but we have enough.
as-Saʻūdiyya 2-7 Belarus
Australia 2-2 Slovenija
Uruguay 1-6 Polska
The other results went largely as expected. Belarus picked up some handy goal difference. Poland seriously demonstrated their power.
Next round:
as-Saʻūdiyya - Australia
Belarus - Uruguay
Slovenija - Polska
This is a must win for Australia. Anything other than 3pts will be terrible. A reshuffle up front will be necessary given the injury sustained in the last match. We don’t have depth in this position but we have enough.
World Cup Prelims R2
as-Saʻūdiyya 0:8 Australia
Belarus 2:8 Uruguay
Slovenija 0:4 Polska
A game we should've won, and we did. A dominant performance and a nice boost to goal difference. With Brooks injured, the Alagich brothers were paired up front and did a reasonable job. My tactic left them a little more crowded in the centre than I had hoped for, but it's hard to be a downer on this result. Butera a clear man of the match with five goal assists.
Next round (in 2 weeks):
Slovenija - as-Saʻūdiyya
Polska - Belarus
Australia - Uruguay
This is a big test for Australia against the second seed in the group. A point would be a fantastic result and would keep us in the race for a top three finish. Prior to that, we have a week off from the qualifiers so we play a match against 47th ranked Peru.
(editado)
as-Saʻūdiyya 0:8 Australia
Belarus 2:8 Uruguay
Slovenija 0:4 Polska
A game we should've won, and we did. A dominant performance and a nice boost to goal difference. With Brooks injured, the Alagich brothers were paired up front and did a reasonable job. My tactic left them a little more crowded in the centre than I had hoped for, but it's hard to be a downer on this result. Butera a clear man of the match with five goal assists.
Next round (in 2 weeks):
Slovenija - as-Saʻūdiyya
Polska - Belarus
Australia - Uruguay
This is a big test for Australia against the second seed in the group. A point would be a fantastic result and would keep us in the race for a top three finish. Prior to that, we have a week off from the qualifiers so we play a match against 47th ranked Peru.
(editado)
Team Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals Points
1. Polska 2 2 0 0 10-1 6
2. Australia 2 1 1 0 10-2 4
3. Uruguay 2 1 0 1 9-8 3
4. Belarus 2 1 0 1 9-10 3
5. Slovenija 2 0 1 1 2-6 1
6. as-Saʻūdiyya 2 0 0 2 2-15 0
Disaster... our best midfielder Craig Butera has picked up a 30day injury playing for his club midweek. He will miss today's friendly, and then the next three World Cup qualifiers.