Joey Lynch
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joeylynchy.bsky.social
Joey Lynch
@joeylynchy.bsky.social
Sardonic Freelance Sports Journo | Write for ESPN Australia and ESPN FC, The Guardian, AAP Sport, Optus Sport and more | Commentate Australia Cup & NPL Victoria | Former Canteen Australia Board | AYA Cancer Advocate
In logging a full game for Melbourne Victory tonight, Juan Mata played a full 90 minutes for the first time since a Türkiye Kupasi game against Ofspor while with Galatasaray -- three years ago to the day

It's his first full 90 in a league game since he was with Manchester United
November 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM
New from me;

Tony Popovic has swung the changes for November friendlies with Venezuela and Colombia - Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, and Craig Goodwin headlining the eleven additions made to the #Socceroos squad.

🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/irvine-goo... .
Irvine, Goodwin, and Mcgree return in overhauled Socceroo squad
Tony Popovic has swung the changes for November friendlies with Venezuela and Colombia; Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, and Craig Goodwin headlining the eleven additions made to the penultimate unit the...
www.jdlmedia.com.au
November 6, 2025 at 11:44 PM
In @espnaustralia.bsky.social

It was a real treat to sit down with Juan Mata this week ahead of the Melbourne Derby.

He's done a lot in his career. 𝘈 𝘭𝘰𝘵. But he still loves to play the game. And no matter what happens, he's not going to let that change.

🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .
From Chelsea and Man Utd, to Japan and Australia: Why Juan Mata can't quit soccer
At 37, Juan Mata has won just about everything you can in the soccer world. So why is he still chasing minutes in the far-flung Australian A-League?
www.espn.com.au
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 PM
In @espnaustralia.bsky.social;

With just two more international windows to go until Tony Popovic names his squad for the FIFA World Cup, the ESPN Sokkahroos Depth Chart is back.

Venezuela and Colombia await amidst a wave of injuries on the flanks.

🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .
Socceroos Depth Chart: Rowles choice? Australia's left back dilemma
With injury clouds hanging over Jordy Bos, Aziz Behich and Jacob Italiano, is Kye Rowles the man to fill-in at left back for the Socceroos? Joey Lynch takes a look at who Tony Popovic should consider ...
www.espn.com.au
November 5, 2025 at 1:47 AM
For @australia.theguardian.com;

“One day, Australia will go very far in the World Cup. And why not this group?

“Why do we have to wait two or three World Cups, when I’m sitting back watching… Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”

🔗: www.theguardian.com/football/202... .
‘Why do we have to wait?’: Tony Popovic puts no limits on what Socceroos can achieve | Joey Lynch
The Australia head coach insists the time is now for the emerging side to rise above expectations and ‘go very far’ at a men’s World Cup
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:38 AM
In JDL Media;

With his recondite absence from the Socceroos ended, coach boss Tony Popovic says that adding a player such as Alex Robertson to his potential World Cup options ‘excites him’.

🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/popovic-al... .
Popovic: Alex Robertson 'wants to be there' with the Socceroos
With his recondite absence from the Socceroos ended, coach boss Tony Popovic says that adding a player such as Alex Robertson to his potential World Cup options ‘excites him’.
www.jdlmedia.com.au
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 AM
In JDL Media;

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic says he won’t allow a potential place in pot two of the FIFA World Cup draw to affect how he coaches in upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia.

Also an update on World Cup squad sizes.

🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/pot-watch-... .
Pot watch won't govern Popovic's thinking in Venezuela and Colombia friendlies
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic says he won’t allow a potential place in pot two of the FIFA World Cup draw to affect how he coaches in upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia.
www.jdlmedia.com.au
October 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The new, FIFA backed OFC Pro League — featuring A-League Men side Auckland FC and Australian outfit South Melbourne will open on January 17 at Eden Park.

@espnausnz.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by Joey Lynch
Defeat to England exposes Matildas’ race against time ahead of Asian Cup | Joey Lynch
Defeat to England exposes Matildas’ race against time ahead of Asian Cup | Joey Lynch
After more than a year of treading water the scale of the challenge facing Australia coach Joe Montemurro has been laid bare There were plenty of themes to the Matildas’ 3-0 defeat to England, a reverse in which the margin perhaps flattered the control the hosts demonstrated at Pride Park, and few of the narratives on the night were positive for Australia. The Lionesses hardly got out of third gear but still looked like they were largely toying with their opponents, who struggled to get the ball out of their own half even before Alanna Kennedy received a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity in just the 19th minute. Kennedy’s lapse in judgement and resulting sacrifice was punished when Lucy Bronze redirected the rebound of Aggie Beever-Jones’s resulting free kick back to the Chelsea forward, who lasered an effort into the top corner. A deserved two-goal margin (three or potentially even more would not have been all that unreasonable) was delivered just before half-time when Bronze used the one-player advantage to ghost into a mile of space and comfortably dispatch a through ball beyond Mackenzie Arnold, ending a move in which England ripped through their Australian backline with a casual ease. Adding some salt to wounds, late VAR intervention awarded England a 98th-minute penalty for a Katrina Gorry foul, one easily dispatched by Georgia Stanway. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
In @espnaustralia.bsky.social;

Alex Badolato 📈
Max Caputo 📈
Filip Kurto 📈
Perth Glory 📉
Three shots on target across two weeks 📉

The ESPN A-Liga Men’s stock up and stock down is back for week two of the campaign.

🔗: www.espn.com.au/soccer/story... .
Stocks up, stocks down: Australia's latest wonderkid Alex Badolato
Garang Kuol, Nestory Irankunda and now Alex Badolato? Four goals in two games will do that to your A-League stocks...
www.espn.com.au
October 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
In @australia.theguardian.com;

There were plenty of themes to the Matildas’ 3-0 defeat to England, a result in which the margin perhaps flattered the control the hosts demonstrated, and few of the narratives on the night were positive for Australia.

🔗: www.theguardian.com/football/blo... .
Defeat to England exposes Matildas’ race against time ahead of Asian Cup | Joey Lynch
After more than a year of treading water the scale of the challenge facing Australia coach Joe Montemurro has been laid bare
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Alongside the great @marissalordanic.bsky.social in @espnaustralia.bsky.social;

Viva la Dub. The A-Liga Femenina is back for another year and the Worldwide Leader is here to help you out with a team-by-team breakdown of all eleven sides.

🔗: www.espn.com.au/soccer/story... .
ESPN's must-read A-League Women 2025-26 team-by-team season preview
ESPN has run the rule of all 11 teams in this year's A-League Women to see what the future may bring for your favourite side.
www.espn.com.au
October 28, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Large Angelos to make his return is the obvious storyline.

Funniest storyline is if it's Kevin Muscat.
BREAKING: Brendan Rodgers RESIGNS from Celtic as Scottish football left stunned
Brendan Rodgers LEAVES Celtic
www.thescottishsun.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 10:07 PM
That is a hell of a finish.

#WALvAUS
October 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Boom.

#WALvAUS
October 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
In JDL Media;

Can just the second game of a new season go down as a box-ticking exercise?

🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/melbourne-... .
Melbourne City cruise, but still put four past Perth Glory
Can just the second game of a new season go down as a box-ticking exercise?
www.jdlmedia.com.au
October 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
In @espnaustralia.bsky.social;

Observations from Montréal and Denver on the Sokkahroos' preparations for the FIFA World Cup - with words from Paul Okon and Hayden Foxe on squad selection and some of the logic behind it.

🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .
Road to World Cup 2026: What the Socceroos learned in North America
A win, a loss, and a massive amount of intelligence gathered. Joey Lynch has the inside word on what impact the October window had on the Socceroos' World Cup plans.
www.espn.com.au
October 24, 2025 at 1:34 AM
In @espnaustralia.bsky.social;

The West Australian government remains adamant that Perth will host a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como next year, despite the cancellation of a planned fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in the United States.

Link: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .
WA bullish Serie A game in Australia will proceed
The WA government remains adamant that Perth will host a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como next year, despite the cancellation of a planned fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in the United...
www.espn.com.au
October 23, 2025 at 5:57 AM
In JDL Media;

With an U20 World Cup and Socceroo training camp under his belt, Sebastian Esposito wasn't bereft of experience when he made his senior club debut for Melbourne Victory.

But the 20-year-old defender knows there's plenty to come.

Link: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/after-a-so... .
After a Socceroo training camp, U20 World Cup, and senior debut -- Esposito targets further opportunity
With an U20 World Cup and Socceroo training camp under his belt, Sebastian Esposito wasn't bereft of experience when he debuted for Melbourne Victory. But the defender knows there's plenty to come.
www.jdlmedia.com.au
October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
In JDL Media;

Melbourne Victory may have been the third stoutest defence in the A-Liga last season, but Arthur Diles is demanding an even stouter bulwark.

Potential reinforcements for this Friday's clash with the Jets, however, are unlikely.

🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/undermanne... .
Undermanned Victory targets further defensive growth against Jets
Melbourne Victory may have been the third stoutest defence in the A-League Men last season, but coach Arthur Diles is demanding an even stouter bulwark in 2024-25.
www.jdlmedia.com.au
October 22, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Of Melbourne Victory’s injured contingent, coach Arthur Diles indicated that skipper Roderick Miranda is “touch and go” for Friday’s meeting with Newcastle. Decision made after training tomorrow.

Josh Rawlins is set to return from suspension.
October 22, 2025 at 3:19 AM
In JDL Media;

They left it very late, but Melbourne City’s return to Asian football may yet have some life in it.

🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/city-leave... .
City leave it late against Buriram, breath new life into ACLE campaign
And so, Melbourne City’s return to Asian football may yet have life in it, the A-League Men’s representatives in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite storming back to secure a 2-1 over Thai Powers...
www.jdlmedia.com.au
October 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Melbourne City hit the training track ahead of their Asian Champions League Elite meeting with Buriram United tomorrow evening.

Aurelio Vidmar says there’s a few bumps and bruises from the weekend’s draw with WSW but didn’t rule anyone out.
October 20, 2025 at 8:39 AM
In @espnaustralia.bsky.social'

Week one of the A-Liga Hombres is in the books and, new in 2025-26, that means week one of the Worldwide Leader's 📈Stocks Up📈 and 📉Stocks Down📉 watch is also in - looking at the highs and lows of all twelve teams across the week.

🔗: www.espn.com.au/soccer/story... .
Stocks up, stocks down: Mariners start the season with a thriller
Sunday's F3 Derby produced one of the most stunning finishes in A-League history, while Ufuk Talay could already be in a bit of strife. Here's what you might have missed over the opening weekend.
www.espn.com.au
October 20, 2025 at 2:18 AM