Today's Talking Points
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1Australia reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup — their best ever result — by beating Denmark and then taking Argentina to penalties before going out. It was a remarkable run that genuinely surprised everyone.
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2Harry Souttar is their defensive lynchpin but has struggled with injuries — the squad's depth is thinner than in 2022, and how they cope without their best players is the main concern going in.
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3The Socceroos are in Group D with USA, Paraguay and Turkey — it's a tough group, getting out of which would represent a reasonable achievement, though their 2022 form means nothing can be ruled out.
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4Australian football sits in an odd space — the A-League has never quite taken hold as a major sport domestically, but the national team consistently produces players good enough for Europe's top leagues.
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5Manager Tony Popovic was only appointed in 2024 and has had limited time to put his mark on the team — this is effectively his first major tournament, and Australia's results will define how his tenure is judged.
🍺 Top Thing To Say Down The Pub
Australia beat Denmark and nearly beat Argentina at the last World Cup. People forget this every time and are then surprised when they cause an upset. Don't be that person.
🚫 Avoid Saying
"At least they qualified" — they've qualified for six consecutive World Cups and reached the last eight two years ago. The bar for Australia is higher than it used to be.