Japan on the ropes ahead of Socceroos clash

 
Mike Tuckerman Columnist

By , 3 Feb 2009 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert

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The Australian Socceroos' Mark Viduka kicks the ball in the Australia v Japan opening Group F match at the Soccer World Cup in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Monday, June 12, 2006. This is Australia's first World Cup finals appearance in 32 years. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Backed into a corner, a shaken Muhammed Ali was desperate to avoid Joe Frazier’s crushing left hook. Fifteen rounds of brutal boxing had left Ali on the ropes, and a venomous Frazier was circling his older opponent with the smell of victory in his nostrils.

Suddenly Frazier launched a thunderous left hook that sent Ali crashing to the canvas.

Ali staggered to his feet, but the damage had been done. Joe Frazier was the undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.

It may not be a repeat of the “Fight Of The Century,” but Japan are already on the ropes going into their World Cup qualifier with Australia in Yokohama.

The blow that left Japan dazed and confused was a 1-0 Asian Cup qualifying defeat to Bahrain in Manama that has once again ramped up the pressure on coach Takeshi Okada.

Okada was already unpopular with large sections of the Japanese media, but Japan’s second defeat to Bahrain in seven fixtures has prompted many outlets to call for his head.

If Japan lose to Australia in Yokohama, Takeshi Okada could be out of a job.

A friend of mine is a youth team coach at a prominent J. League club, and last week I had an illuminating conversation with him about the pressures of his job.

He made the interesting point that Japanese fans are sometimes quick to dismiss poor results as long as they can see that a system is being formulated.

That’s why Japan’s former coach Ivica Osim was so popular in his adopted homeland.

The trouble for Takeshi Okada is that he has no system in place.

His much-vaunted midfield – which relies heavily on retaining possession in the centre of the park – is misfiring badly.

Up front the Blue Samurai are crying out for a striker who can score goals on a regular basis.

It all bodes well for Pim Verbeek and his team as Australia prepares to run out in cauldron-like atmosphere at Yokohama International Stadium.

Verbeek will do well to ward off any complacency, but he shouldn’t have too many problems. All the pressure is on Japan.

With one of the world’s largest and most vociferous media industries often itching to talk up their team’s chances, Japan haven’t had much to celebrate since their first-round World Cup exit in 2006.

Hailing from a fiercely proud nation, Okada will be desperate for a decent showing when the Blue Samurai take on Finland in a friendly at the National Stadium in Tokyo a week before the Socceroos hit town.

He has added four more European-based stars to his squad, while Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Junichi Inamoto remains the only overseas-based player from the side that lost to Bahrain.

Worryingly for Japan, their two most experienced goalkeepers are both injured, meaning that 25-year-old Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima will start between the posts.

Kawashima is rated the best young goalkeeper in Japan, but the absence of veteran number one Seigo Narazaki is an undoubted blow, while the error-prone Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi is also sidelined.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yasuhito Endo are not fully fit, and although both are expected to start in Yokohama, the Japanese are far from tip-top shape.

It’s not quite a title fight, and nor will the fate of both nation’s World Cup chances hinge on the outcome in Yokohama.

Pim Verbeek, in particular, can afford to lose.

He won’t want to, of course, but much like a certain Muhammed Ali, it has been Japan doing most of the talking in the build-up to this clash.

With so much pride at stake, Australia are standing over Japan like a snarling Joe Frazier – looking to land a hammer blow.

If the Socceroos manage to take three points, Takeshi Okada can expect to cop it squarely on the chin.

Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
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