Subject: U20 Australia NT Discussion

Portugal forfeited (as I expected, they only have one player on their roster and have forfeited every game this season) so we pick up three valuable points in world cup qualifying:
soccer.powerplaymanager.c...

Next week, we have our last qualifier of the season, against Ukraine.

Great coaching mate

Interesting. But their captain plays actively. Why doesn't do the national team?

No idea but I'll happily take the points

Just one point outside a qualification spot now:
https://soccer.powerplaymanager.com/en/international-tournaments.html?data=1-24-2-0-2-regularseason

Yes, the 3 points are the most important

Unfortunately, we lost our final qualifier of the season 2-0 to Ukraine:
soccer.powerplaymanager.c...

The teams were evenly matched and went to the break level. However, the home ground advantage helped them edge in front, just after half time. We then attempted to beef up our midfield to create more opportunities but the weaker defence saw Ukraine grab another goal at the end of the game.

The result leaves us in fifth spot but with a four-point gap to fourth. I assume Portugal will be more competitive next season so we'll have a difficult job qualifying from here. But, hopefully, if we can fix up our lack of wing players next season, we will be more competitive too.

Only two points (a single win) to fourth place... While Portugal will pick up some steam (most likely), we had a difficult start to the season, and should get some stronger wins next season as well. Good luck!

I think, this line-up and this tactic was not so good. It is very attacking style, if the SD and SM players are pushed forward.

Thanks for the advice but I have a different philosophy. I don't believe in always playing defensively. Sometimes you've got to attack. Sometimes you've got to defend. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. That's how I roll.

Yeah, I miscounted, crediting CT with a win when it was a draw. A two-point margin is doable

Of course. I did not mean to offend. It was just a comment.

Australia and Belarus played out a 1-1 draw in the first game of the U20 Challenge Cup:
soccer.powerplaymanager.c...

The teams were evenly matched and I was hopeful that with a 1-0 lead at half-time and a home-ground advantage we would go on with it, but we had to settle for the single point.

Not so bad that.

Another 1-1 draw. This time we were down and got the late equaliser:
soccer.powerplaymanager.c...

The final game tonight is against Estonia, who are currently top of the group but look beatable. A win will definitely see us through. A loss will definitely see us knocked out. And another draw? Probably knocked out.

Tomorrow have to win. Go ahead!