The World Game with Stefan MaukFrom the A-Leagues to the EPL, Adelaide United star Stefan Mauk brings you the latest results, news and analysis from the World Game.
This is the World Game with Stephan mork thanks to Football Essay bringing South Australian communities together.
Great.
Now have you company tonight as we get stuck into the World Game at seven minutes after six, proceed up to a six thousand dollars bonus on a Motor E five at Southern Cherry morph Vale for Cherry's second Australian Anniverse three. I'm Sam Tugwell with me of course, is the man who runs this show between six and six thirty on a Thursday night, Stephan Moore from our Reds.
Stephan, good evening, Good evening. I don't know if I run it on my own. You're a pretty good co host.
No, you are the man, You are the star, and you are a guiding light on this program. We of course come to you for everything expert analysis when it comes to the World Game, and we are looking forward to a lot tonight. The Soccero's inaction in about an hour and a half, so we're looking forward to that. We'll talk about that a bit later. Local football, of course in the NPL to chat about our women's team in the Reds have a home game coming up soon at Cooper's which we're looking forward to, but let's start with your mob at Adelaide.
You're not I have to go here.
I know it's international break, but I'm still going to investigate what in the world is going on with our Adelaide United reads Because we have won one game in the last eight matches. We were second, We're now on the precipice of dropping out of the finals race.
I'm worried, Steffan. You've got to fill me with some hope. Brother.
It's yeah, you know, when you put it like that, it doesn't look great. But if I'm being completely honest, I think the game on Friday night was the result was obviously terrible, losing at home, losing to MacArthur, who had also been struggling as a disaster, But I think the reaction and what Cole wanted from us, and even as the playing group, like, we watched the video back and there's still so.
Much we can improve on.
A lot of the goals were individual mistakes and that's actually really hard to coach, and it's really hard like as a team to kind of fix that because it's just it's a moment here or there, you know, you lose the ball in an area you don't defend properly, you know, individual brilliance from the free kick from Bratton, like that's that stuff that you can't really control as a team. You know, you can prepare for it, and mistakes are going to happen, and the way we want to play, we are going to make mistakes, and those mistakes were happening early in the season. We just probably didn't get punished for him, or you know, we regrouped, or we made those mistakes in different positions. But as a group we watched the game back. We should have killed killed the match off. At the end of the first half, Chi Goodwin had a really good chance on the counter. We had a really good chance with Zach Cloth breaking through past it to a Ubi was another one at Ub I think could have passed it to me on the edge of the box and I would have put.
A top corner for sure.
And then you know we go in at halftime, we're flying two nil down to three two up.
It was so positive. Cole was wrapped with us.
He was so proud.
He said that last half hour, hitting into half time, when then you scored, you gotta put us that kind of that felt like the wave of red.
Yeah, it was back in control. This is Reid's footy.
Yeah it was, and like too nil down it was.
I'm sure anyone watching the game, even live, you could hear the groans.
Honestly, as a player when that's happening, you think we inside ten minutest, I've got.
To dig a hole here and either jump in it or we have to turn this around because it got on either one of two ways here and we turn We did turn.
It around, and whole game in front of it as well.
I think that's the most upsetting thing, Like realistically, I just upsetting as a player because we did turn it around to down.
It's hard to come back from. We did it.
We were free too, could have been. As I said, four two five two. Started the second half brilliantly. Seven minutes in we had a few chances.
We were looking good. Their first attack, we get it.
They it goes out for a goalkick and I'm thinking, okay, we're in a good position here, no worries. Then you know, unfortunately we lose the ball. Deli enough tries to play verreens they they score from that three to three. Yeah, then four to three minutes later it was just a bit of a killer, you know, mentally, and we're still in it.
You know.
We got back to four four, thinking all right, we can get the winner here, and then again we're playing out from the back.
We give it away, they go forward, get a free kick. Bratton scores.
But then we can we uh, we had to equalize it, which we thought five to five. And I was standing next to Luca, who scored, and I said, you know what, we're going to get sick.
We're going to get the six on here. You assist me, for sure? And he said I don't. I don't care. I'll assist you. You assist me.
Let's just score.
Yeah, And then it gets ruled out by Johnny Yule's studs.
And this is a I get by the letter of the law.
It was offside, but come there was no advantage to the attacker in that position. He's running back towards his defensive goal to get the ball. I think the rule is going to get changed by Arsen Venger, the Arsenal coach who's now part of FEF. He has spoken about this, whether.
They change it.
As long as any part of your body is on side, then you're on side, you know.
So for instances like that, then people are going to complain as well.
It's still one centimeter that you know you're off side, but if you're giving a lot more of a leeway, I think it makes it better because the rule was brought in so attackers don't get an unfair advantage from the defenders.
If you're one centimeter off side, that's not unfair. Like that literally was. The players were in the same line.
It was just Johnny Yule's leg was a little bit further back and his studs like that. There's no advantage. But we only have ourselves to blame. We're not I'm not blaming the referees. I'm not blaming anyone. But to go five to five, that would have been. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen in World football five or five game. I'm sure there's some Insteitisians out there that are going to say, listen, I found that, but it could have been six, five to seven five like that game was was was ridiculous.
Ryan Kiddo said it was the most chaotic game he's ever played.
Yeah, I would echo those thoughts. I think it was.
It was a lot of energy, a lot of intent from us, which was great, but maybe we were too frantic and that and those kind of caused the mistakes because we were.
Trying too hard. We've got caught up.
Yeah maybe potentially. I'm not saying like every player, but I think some players did. And and that's where we.
Need to become more mature as a group.
And the beauty of it is we've got six games to go. You look at the ladder now and where nine points off Auckland, and you look back at the results should have went our way and you think, you know what we could have been top? Like I know it's because we've got one in our last eight going back two months we played that that too, to draw with Auckland when they equalized last minute.
That was to go two points ahead on top of the league. That's how quickly football. But you need to change it back yourself.
No one's going to help us understand that six games we get maximum points eighteen points and you give yourselves a very good chance. You know, you go to forty nine points, you never know what could happen. Top two is to our ambitions. We want Champions League and we'll get that as long as auck can come top.
And you know, it's all up to us, so let's see how we go.
So the run home, we've got Melbourne victory in two weeks time here away sorry, so the original rif' already kick us back off.
For the run home.
Then Sydney FC at home, Perth away, Wellington at home, Brisbane away and then the final game away from home Melbourne City. So that'll round it out at the end of April. So look, this is a really important six week block for you guys.
I'm sure you know what.
I'm sure Carl's been drumming that in that you come back from this week off and really hit the ground running because it's all making break it's ahead of you now.
Oh exactly right.
And I think having the game against Melbourne victory away from home. Sometimes playing at home, as much as our fans that are unbelievable, sometimes it causes a little bit more pressure because that they can they expect you to win or they want you to win and they're trying to get on you. So sometimes going away from home can actually be an advantage because there's less pressure on you.
Maybe that's what we need right now. I'm not too sure.
But if you can't get motivated and up for a game against Melturn victory away and you shouldn't be putting on the red.
Jersey, and I know all players will be up for it.
It's also the Pride round and the Pride match, so a great it's a great round, it's a great game.
I'm very excited for it.
We're on the same points as Melbourn victory, so it really is a six point They've played an extra game than us, but still, you know, you win that game, potentially you go up to third all of a sudden.
So it's so tight.
And in the last six games we play three teams that are you know, fighting for the top six. We play three teams that are probably their seasons done. Sometimes they're dangerous game, but it's all up to us. We just need to focus on ourselves and if we do that then you know, I think we've got no issues with obviously making the top six, but we need to be pushing for that top two spot.
Yeah, I totally agree.
You're listening to the World Game with Stephen morc As we've been talking about Adelaide United, let's quickly talk about the women as well, who are in third position right now in the A League women's tables and have been playing so really well throughout this season.
Give us quick update around them. They've got a home game coming up.
Too, Yeah, they do.
It's I think this is the game from am at Adelaide Venue Management. I believe it is said that correctly. They've actually put this game on for the women, so great. It's a standalone game. We're playing Brisbane Raw Saturday Sunday, sorry, four thirty pm, and our NPL boys, which they got a game canceled a few weeks back because of the heat. They're actually playing before them, I believe, against Croydon. So if you're not doing anything this Sunday, head down watch the youth boys.
See the next generation, and then you'll be able to see the.
Women's in action against Brisbane Row, who are also fighting for you know, the final spot. So it's a massive game for them and I think, you know, they deserve this. They've been really good this season and the more games they can get at Cooper Stadium, the better it is for them and also for women's football and young girls because I understand, you know, the logistics and the cost of playing at Cooper's is quite expensive, so for our.
Girls to play there every week.
If it's a standalone game, it costs the club just too much money. It's not possible, not feasible for them. So when we can, obviously we play the double headers. A few weeks back, they you know, with a headline game International Women's Round, which was.
Great all week.
Sorry this week they've got their own game there, so if they win, they can potentially go ahead of Melton victory into second spot and yeah, get down there, support them, bring you know, if you've got kids, boys, go bring them down there.
It'll be a great game.
And I think this is something that hopefully the more fans that come out and actually show up in numbers, it gives the club obviously a little bit more assurances that you know, if we put the game on, we're going to get enough numbers through the gates.
So they deserve it.
Women's football's only growing, and yeah, get down there on Sunday. And even the MPL youth boys, they're all buzzing for this because for them, they obviously, you know, they come watch us play. You know, they want to be part of Adelaide NUNA first team, so this is their chance. And I'm sure the Croydon Boys will be pretty pretty excited to step out on Cooper's as well.
Let's take a quick break here on the World Game at seventeen after six. Very soon on the other side of this, we're going to talk about the Soccer rus They take on Indonesia tonight.
And such an important game. If it isn't must win.
For the Reds, its must ring for the Soccer Ruos as well at the moment, so lots of pressure around this time of year.
Will take a quick break.
Come back next the World Game with Stephen Moore on five double A.
Certainly are and you can receive up to six thousand dollar bonus on a Motor E five at Southern Cherry mo Val for Cherry's second Australian Anniversary eight double two to three double O double. If you want to get involved with the show, always love your interaction. The Soccer Roos tonight, such an important matchup for them. They take on in their third round Asian World Cup qualifier against Indonesia. They're in Sydney. It's kick off at seven forty so you can watch on Channel ten and Paramount Plus. But if you want to call in and have your say on the Soccer Rous Gee they've been a little bit controversial, especially since they last played four months ago, so it's been a while, but there was a lot of heat on this Soccer Roos team back in November when they last played. They have pretty much squandered a whole bunch of opportunities against some average opponents times and they I think it's driven a lot of frustration throughout the football community in this country. Steffan, I'd love your thoughts around this and call in please if you've got an opinion eight double two to three double o double.
Oh yeah, no, I think it's I guess for me. I don't want to say too much. I guess around the squad because obviously I would love to be a part of it. And I think it's difficult because you know, you've got to coach. That's he's still new into the role, right, So he's come in his first qualifiers, he's done okay, he's got some okay results. I think it was the win against China and then the draw against Japan. Everyone was buzzing. You know, four points from those games. Couldn't have started really any better. Then you go to the next round of games. Saudi Arabia at home barh rain Away and you're probably looking at winning six points from these two games and unfortunately we got two points two draws.
Is it worse results? No, it's not the worst results.
But I guess you know when you're looking at obviously building on this and thinking, especially bah rain Away, we need to be winning that game, and I think he's probably thought, you know what, the results didn't go my way. I have a short period of time to work with these players. It's so different from club football, and he's thought, Okay, I've had four months off, haven't seen these players for four months realistically, haven't worked with them. Nothing really about tactics.
It's just really picking players he think can come in.
You know, they've played their club games on either a Saturday or a Sunday, whether they're in Europe.
Asia or Australia. They've flown in.
They've arrived either on a Sunday, a Monday, possibly a Tuesday.
You get two training.
Sessions if you're lucky with them before a game on Thursday. So he's thinking, how can I get a result? And I'm thinking when I see the squad, he's picked players essentially he's worked with before. Every player that's kind of new or back into the squad. You've got your Azani, you've got your Alex Grant, you've got Vlufala obviously back in as well, or he was in the last squad and got injured. But those players there that he's worked with before, Ryan Tigu from Melbourn Victory another one. I think he's picked these players because he knows all right, I've worked with him at club level. I know what their attitudes like, I know how to get them going. I know they trust stand yeah, and I kind of do understand it because his jobs he's on the line.
You know, he's the next on the line at the end of the day.
If we lose games, you know, Australia we need to qualify for a World Cup. If he's not good enough for the job, then you know, obviously James Johnson and FOOTBA Australia will make a decision. So he's thinking, well, what squad is going to give me the best chance. He's picked the players that obviously he thinks he can trust. And that's where we have to believe in him and we have to trust him because he's been employed because a Football Australia thought he was the best man for the job. I understand where fans are coming from, where they're thinking will vlue falle Aisani. They're not even starting every week for Melbourn victory. They're not really scoring many.
Goals, so why they picked the head of other players. So I do understand that as well.
And I guess that's a very sitting on the fence point of view from it, and that's kind of the way it is. And even from you know, if I was the coach of Australia, I probably would do the same. I'd pick players that I know I can trust. Because I've got two days to work with them. I think we will get the job done tonight. I would love to have seen the lineups right now so we could talk about that, but they will probably be out in the next twenty or thirty minutes. Indonesia at home, it's not going to be an easy game. I'm sure they're going to have a big traveling support, whether they're based here in Australia or they've flown over from Indonesia. They love their football and we need three points tonight to then go to China, and you know what, you need three points there. But potentially if you win tonight, you might be able to take a drawer away to China depending on other results. And then you know, the final two games against Japan and Saudi Arabia, they're going to be tough.
Japan.
More than likely we'll qualify for the World Cup tonight, guaranteed through top spot. Second place gets the other guaranteed spot before then third and fourth go into a playoff.
So there's still a big chance if we don't come top two.
But you would love to be able to qualify because it means instead of playing these crucial qualifiers in the next round, we can start playing friendly games against you know, other nations that we're going to play at the World Cup. Potentially he can rotate the squads, he can look at different players, so it's difficult. I understand, you know, the uproar, and I understand everyone's you know, I actually look at it as a real positive when these squads get announced. When results go wrong, it's just because people care about the game. They care about football, they want what's best for it. And I'm sure a lot of these fans are thinking, oh, Australia to be at a World Cup again, because I want to go to the World Cup or I want to be cheering them on. Like the crowds that came up for the last World Cup were insane at you know, Federation Square in Melbourne.
Down here Adelaide.
Oval, they had it outside for the Australia Argentina game. I was actually there watching it. It's incredible what the country does when the World Cup's on, for the Women's World Cup and the men's World Cup.
I think this country are unites its best when our football team is actually playing at a world event. I think that's the I don't know if we can do that with any other team. The Australian Boomers and the basketball get a bit of love I think in the Australian women's cricket team and all that sort of stuff, but I think the Matilda's and the soccer rus comfortably get the best global united sort of Australia.
Yes, compared to any other sporting team. Yeah, I agree. Maybe I'm biased.
You're not biased, so it's actually it's good coming from you, not from me, But no, I think it's true because you look at like you know, I always talk about that participation rates, the amount of players, you know, kids, but also amateur football over forties, over fifties, whatever, is all types of football. The amount of players that play football in this country is the highest by a country mile. So what connects us the national team, that's the only thing. Because if you're playing a league, you're playing NPL, you're playing amateurs, you're playing over fifties.
You know, you've got kids playing it like that's not connected.
It's the same game, but it's not completely connected. This when Australia, the soccerrews, the Matildas are playing, we're completely connected. We don't want anyone else to win besides them. Yes, we've maybe got countries of heritage that we also support, you know, as your second team at a World Cup, but first and foremost it's Australia. We're so proud of how well they've done. And that's why I think people are so passionate about it because you saw what it did for the country, the Matilda's especially here. If we can keep creating those events, it unlocks, you know, potential money from the governments to keep thinking well. This game brings people together, it increases participation rates, it makes people.
Fall in love with the game.
Sport's great for young kids to stay out of trouble and you.
Know the health benefits of it.
We need to keep investing in this to help the country grow, to help the sport grow.
So we need, you know, as harsh as it is, we need the.
Soccerism matild us to keep creating these moments so we can keep growing the sport.
Really well said, let's hear from the coach Tony Popovic on tonight.
We drew with them away. The group is very tight, so there is no reason to underestimate Indonetia if their last result proves that against Saudi Arabia, So that hasn't crossed our minds. But the expectation of Eustrain and public, you know, they should expect their national team to produce, to play good football. We know the magnitude of the games and how important they are. But you know, we also know that we're in a position that we can retain our second spot. We know that what the expectation and pressures are of playing for the soccer US.
So there's the coach Tony Popovich, is such an important night for the soccer Rus this evening, and just to quickly before we go to the MPL because I do want to talk just a little bit more on the soccer ruses. If we don't make it to the World Cup, that's absolute dooms. But this would be the conversation we'd be having if things go really wrong in this next four games, if we don't make it, what's the consequence for this country.
Financially it's massive, it's obviously, I think it's one thing. Obviously it's potentially that next generation of kids. I'm sure they'll still watch the World Cup because they love him, but Pey, they love Harlan and course they love me, they love these other players, so they'll watch the game. But I think it's more financially and potentially, you know, the next group, maybe the parents that don't like football yet or they're not massive into it, but they only watch you when the World Cup's on. You know how the three or four year old kid that's running around, he's watching the game with his parents, he loves it. He goes and says, Mum, dad, I want to play football. That's kind of how you get that next group excited about wanting to play, join the local club, play school football, whatever it is. So I think it's financially for Football Australia. But it's then sponsorship money as well. It comes into it, I'm sure. And then the second thing is their participation rates. You know you're going to not have a drop off, but I think it's those four or five, six seven year old kids that are sitting on the fence, they're not sure what to do, despy the mat, and that does like that.
People don't realize how.
Big the World Cup is until the Women's World Cup came here, and not disrespecting the Women's World Cup, but you know they haven't had the money, they haven't had the exposure like the Men's World Cup has had. So the men's World Cups had a massive advantage in that aspect. It's five ten times bigger. So if we someday get a Men's World Cup here, people here will.
Be blown away.
And we need to keep making these events to probably get FIFA on our side one day to have this. And you heard the comments from Tony Paolovic. We should expect the national team to perform. There shouldn't be a dropping of standards. We should expect to win, We should expect to play good football. That's his job, that's what he's obviously.
Trying to do.
Fingers crossed tonight you know what will it be probably nine forty Adelaide time. We're all celebrating the win and we can relax a little bit until we play a way to China on Tuesday night.
Well let's go. Well you can get this again.
We can watch on Channel teen or'll be on ten plus and sorry teen Bold and ten play as well as Paramitt Plus. But if you want to get local for the next couple of minutes, we are excited for a National Premier League in the essay to roll on into round four, a couple of games to look at ahead of tomorrow night.
There's a handful of Friday night games.
Actually, yeah there is, and I think you know, just before we even get to that that for me, the biggest, well probably two talking points are Playford City.
You know, they've just got promoted. It's been a long time coming.
I spoke to their coach at the launch of the npoessay and.
He was very, very excited about the season ahead.
But he also spoke about how long it took to actually get to that point and it probably was a few more years longer than he expected to get promoted back to the top division, and spoke about how hard it is to get up. They've just smashed Campbelltown City four nil.
Wow.
And Campbelltown City who are the Oh you know, they're a powerhouse. They won it last year, they won the Grand Final.
They're always up there.
Dan Mullen, who we had on the show, it's his first year coaching, and he said, how much is enjoying it? You know, it's a tough gig because you're three games in, they haven't won yet.
You've just been smashed four nil, you know at home.
I believe it was as well to play for it. Who have been promoted. It's not a good start for him, and I'm sure he will turn it around obviously. You know, he seems like a really good coach the way he spoke about it. But it's a transition from you know what. It's one thing to think, all right, this is what I'm going to try and do. How can you implement it?
Though?
And I you know, I'm easy because I'm sitting on the fence here and I'm able to actually just talk about it from a player's perspective, But when you're in the coaching booth it's very different. And then the other side of it. Para Hills, who a lot of the boys actually that I know in the leagues. I was speaking to them and they said they think they'll really struggle this year. They'll be lucky to win a game. So if they're listening, they can use this.
As a bit of five.
I'm not going to say the names that said it, but they beat Mod Bridgett's one nil, so for them that's a good result. And then the last one is Metro Stars, who the other coach, Danny Grace, then we had on and he spoke about wanting to win everything, compete and everything. Five to one against Raiders, they're absolutely flying Metro Stars. I think that takes them to two three wins, sorry, and they've had a pretty tough start, so they're definitely the favorites.
I would say it's a big game.
They play White City Bergrad who it's a you know, it's a difficult game. I wouldn't say White City are probably one of the top teams. But you know, Metro Stars win that, they go four on the bounce and then you know, you start to build that momentum and Friday Nights games, as you said, there's a few Raiders, viverclor Modbury against Campbelltown.
Which is probably going to be a fiery one.
I'm sure both sets of players will want to go out there and kind of rectify last weekend's results.
And then Comets v.
Para Hills nights, so it's yeah, it's exciting. And then as I spoke about early, Adelaide United against Croydon Kings is the curtain raiser for the women, so it's it's a great round of MPL football ahead. And as I said, you know, we've spoken about the A League, We've spoken about the Soccer US, We've spoken about a lot of football, and.
This is your local football.
So if you're not doing anything this weekend, get out to a game, support it.
If not, watch it on YouTube. Football's never been more accessible.
Totally well said, and I suppose it is the best time to start getting out there and supporting those local teams. We have run a pretty well run ship tonight, Stefan, because you are in charge and you do a brilliant job of getting us across everything in the world game. So thank you very much for coming in once again tonight. We do have to get going though, because coming up next Thursday night footy at the MCG there is a lot of rain around. There's a few lightning worries as well in terms of storm so Hawthorne and Carlton in about twenty six minutes time the bounce. You hear that live on five double A straight after this break. But once again, thanks for your company tonight. We'll be back next Thursday from six o'clock. Go the Soccer rus
