Australia's Tim Cahill wins the ball against Abe Yuki of Japan, during their final match of the Asia Qualifiers round for the 2010 World Cup, in Melbourne, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Australia beat Japan 2-1, with both countries having already qualified for next year's World Cup in South Africa. AAP Image/Joe Castro
“First team to qualify, first team to go home” was the joke doing the rounds of the local press after Japan confirmed their place at the World Cup finals. And it was Australia who did just enough to suggest that they might be able to advance beyond the group stages after a 2-1 win over the Japanese at the MCG last night.
It was the curse of Tim Cahill yet again for Japan, as the Everton midfielder reprised his role in Germany to score twice from set pieces.
Following a drama-charged build-up that included allegations of a drunken night out, an emotional Cahill refused to talk to reporters outside the ground after his Man-of-the-Match performance.
Fortunately for Australian fans he let his football do the talking, and it was a gritty performance all round from a Socceroos outfit that conceded for the first time in the final round of qualifiers..
“Typically Australian,” was how tenacious midfielder Vinnie Grella summed up the hard-fought victory, with Grella himself turning in a characteristically understated performance.
After a bright opening, Australia soon succumbed to a Japanese side hoping for Kengo Nakamura to shine in the absence of fellow creative talents Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo.
It was Nakamura’s in-swinging corner that the talismanic Marcus Tulio Tanaka powered home just before half-time to hand Japan the lead at the break.
Yuto Nagatomo’s fascinating duel with Rhys Williams had resulted in the Middlesbrough defender conceding a corner five minutes before the interval, and the powerful Tulio timed his run to perfection to beat marker Cahill to the ball.
It was no surprise to discover that Tulio’s battle with Cahill was one of the most fiercely contested of the night, as the two unflinchingly patriotic players went at each other hammer and tongs.
Cahill returned the favour when he arrowed a header into the top corner from a Vinnie Grella free-kick on the hour mark, although television replays suggest that the first contact actually came from Tulio’s head.
It was Cahill again who saved the best for last, profiting as Japan keeper Seigo Narazaki flapped at a Nicky Carle corner to bundle home the winner.
“Of course they must be disappointed and at the same time they want us to be stronger,” was how Takeshi Okada predicted Japan fans might react to their team finishing second in the group.
There was no such disappointment from Pim Verbeek, who won his duel with former Kyoto Sanga sparring partner Daisuke Matsui, whom Okada excused from a relatively ineffective performance by claiming that Matsui had picked up a knock.
Highly-regarded Shimizu S-Pulse striker Shinji Okazaki also failed to stamp any influence on the game, although strike partner and dead-ball expert Keiji Tamada did have one curling free-kick cleared off the line.
A procession of foul throws prompted gasps in the press box, but anyone that has witnessed a J. League game will be well aware that throw-ins are one aspect of the game that the Japanese are yet to perfect.
Nevertheless there was plenty of technical skill on show, and it was nice to see some of it displayed by our very own Nicky Carle.
The Crystal Palace man has become a cause célèbre for his inability to crack the starting eleven, but if the gifted midfielder’s commitment has come into question in the past, surely a performance that saw him track back and defend as doggedly as anyone dispells such notions.
Humble in the extreme, Carle told me after the match that he was happy to do “whatever the team needs” when quizzed on his preferred role for the Socceroos.
It was that kind of game for Australia – with all involved simply pleased to drink in the big-match atmosphere generated by the 69,238 fans in attendance.
Whether the Socceroos advance to the knock-out stages of the World Cup finals depends heavily on the draw, and there are plenty of kinks in the team still to be ironed out.
But if it’s mental toughness that could ultimately see the Socceroos crawl over the line, then Pim Verbeek’s outfit have got it in spades.
Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
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MVDave said | June 18th 2009 @ 7:07am | Report comment
Was there in a group of 12. Freezing cold. Great crowd of 70,000 and an terrific 2nd half. The first half was poor from the Socceroos and it was a real chess match. Once Japan scored the game changed for the better. All credit to the J League Japanese team who certainly moved the ball well and had excellent ball control.
Tim Cahill is the one match winner in the side and lets hope he gets through the next EPLseason injury free and on form. Kennedy struggled up front on his own and in the first half it was disappointing to see the Socceroos with just one striker playing their last game at home. Carle did have some nice touches and will make the WC squad no doubt. He probably needs to have a more central role. Remember the Socceroos had some young up and comers with the 2 fullbacks in particular. Add Kewell, Bresciano, Emerton, Chipperfield etc and this team may do well in SA next year. Lets just hope they dont have to go a goal down before they start to play.
All in all well done to the players, coaches and FFA for this qualifying series. To finish top, unbeaten and conceding just one goal was fantastic.
whiskeymac said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment
to finish 5 points ahead of Japan is very satisfying. to come back from 1-0 down is testament to the teams resolve. mind you even though we had players missing so did the Japanese. the squads on show were not the srting 11′s – but did highlight the depth from each country. I would also think that the perfomace would shunt those suggestions of cracks appearing in the squad away.
Am glad Pim gave Williams a good run. I think his skill and ability and value are only set to rise as he secures a team spot at Boro. IMO his age (20 i think) suggests he will be a regular for the future. unless someone else pops up via NYL etc
Vidosic didnt have much time to shine, but with more games between now and WC there’s hope he and some of the young fringe players get more of a run (n burns was touted recently and there’s hope for troisi and djite and ruka too i guess but you wld think the squad is settling) and although they might not go to RSA they will be getting a solid grounding for the next lot of tournaments in Asia and beyond.
Tom said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Carle’s inability to crack the starting 11 was last night matched by his inability to hit a teammate with a pass.
As much as I’d love to see more of that wonderful trick past two Japanese defenders in the second half, there’s no way we can keep possession for any significant period if he’s on the pitch and playing like he did last night.
Its great that he works hard and tracks back, and he played a couple of good set pieces, one of which created the goal (fairly poor defending mind you) but he didn’t look like he belonged.
I was more impressed with Williams, who I thought did an excellent job of closing down the space on the Japanese left, even if he got caught out occasionally by some longer balls.
Pippinu said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Mike
good point about mental toughness, there’s no doubting that Australia has shown it the whole campaign, and you definitely need it in big comps like the WC – where the prize goes to the last man standing – and not necessarily to the best team (as might be ajudged by the fans and critics).
The throw-in situation is bizarre, and you mention about Japanese football is even more bizarre!!
Worse still, it was one of our blokes that finally got picked up at the 70th (Stefanutto), after it had been happening all night!
Honestly, some of those Japanese throws were worse than I’ve seen from school children – they were atrocious!!
GeneralAshnak said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Well everyone who wanted to see what Pim would do when we were 1 nil down at half time have got there wish. He is going to back the boys and re-enforce positional orders before he changes the players. That is exactly what I want to see. I did want to see Bruce come on for Josh though, was disapointed it didn’t happen. Shame that Williams had to come off because of cramp as we may have seen Bruce if not for that forced sub.
Brian said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Agree that Williams was impressive and a good crowd given that it was freezing. It was good atmosphere in the second half too. I don’t think Carle did enough, and in fact I have to agree with Pim’s general assertion that we have no depth beyond the starting XI. Look carefully at our equaliser Grella crossing and Cahill finishing. Having qualified I would have liked to see McDonald playing up front – hopefully he can score soon. If we can get our starting XI fit and firing for South Africa anything can happen but if we are left to play Carle, Burns, Milligan, North, Kennedy, Carney etc. the talent does not appear to be there.
Viscount Crouchback said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Worst anthem in the world, bar none.
whiskeymac said | June 18th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Tom “Carle’s inability to crack the starting 11 was last night matched by his inability to hit a teammate with a pass” – well he did OK. His shot got the corner, his corner got the goal. not bad if not the messiah like performance he now has to produce to convince some of his worth. His performance was certainly no worse than his supposed main rival Holman’s have been. Neither players are the game breakers that Messi or Cahill are and many seem to unrealistically demand, but Carle at least showed his game isn’t that far off the mark, especially when consideration is given to how many games he as had to prove himself and he was playing out of position. I would certianly like to see him get more games now. not least so cahill, bresc and kewell dont burn out.
Certainly agree with you on Williams. first senior international against a very talented and tricksy opposition, big crowds etc. the 20yr old did well.
Pippinu said | June 18th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
One thing I can say, both Macca, and Carle to a lesser extent, struggle to keep the weight off.
whiskeymac said | June 18th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
oh well. could be worse Pip, some of the best players have been tubby – romario, maradonut, gazza. If our gutbusters can replicate some of their predecessors form I’d be happy.