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Japan will be the tournament favourites in January’s Asian Cup, regardless of Australia’s home advantage.
They have the players, the tactics and the movement that is vastly superior to anything else in the continent. Javier Aguirre has been brought on with the mission to retain the Asian Cup.
There was plenty to be heartened with in the Socceroos’ first half performance. Yet in equal measure, plenty was in display in the second period to suggest an Australian victory at Stadium Australia on January 31 is best described as fanciful.
Finally, do not underestimate the pressure now on Ange Postecoglou. It is now eight losses from 11. That’s the statistic. Save for either victory or admirable progression to the final in January, his job may be well called for time come the end of the Asian Cup. You’ve heard it here, so quote me.
FINAL SCORE:
Japan 2-1 Australia
It is the final hitout for Ange Postecoglou and the Socceroos before the Asian Cup, as Australia face rivals Japan on away territory. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 9:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday evening.
Pitting this game as a friendly encounter does little justice to the recent history of this fixture.
Matches between Japan and Australia have come laden with big moments. Who could forget Tim Cahill’s double-strike in Germany 2006 setting the Socceroos on their way to paths untrodden, or the moment Tadanari Lee slotted home in extra time in the 2011 Asian Cup to deny Australia their first piece of Asian silverware?
The point is – don’t be fooled by the game’s friendly tag. There is little to be friendly about in a contest that may well likely be repeated at an Australian venue next January.
While both teams will recognise each other as continental equals, there is little doubt that Japan hold the form and aces heading into this game.
Home advantage is one thing, yet obliterating Honduras to the tune of 6-0 is another.
The starpower of Keisuke Honda was reinforced with a goal against Los Catrachos, while midfielder Shinji Kagawa continued his resurgence since returning to Borussia Dortmund with another fine performance.
With a team boasting a healthy mix of European regulars coupled with mainstays in the quality J-League, the Blue Samurai can rightly be considered the pre-tournament favourites for the Asian Cup.
Home advantage will play to Australia’s favour to some degree in January, but not to the extent it can nullify recent poor outings. If Ange Postecoglou’s side received admirable plaudits for their World Cup performances, the displays since have little to be inspired about.
A record of two losses, a nil-all stalemate and one last-gasp win does not make for good reading for the Socceroos, nor does it inspire confidence ahead of a game where winning seems inconceivable.
It is difficult to assume what the desired outcome is for Ange Postecoglou, given the Socceroos’ recent plight, and given that better teams have came to Japan and never left victorious.
As always though, one name will strike cold sweats for every vociferous Japanese faithful inside Nagai Stadium on Tuesday night – Tim Cahill.
In what could hypothetically be his last game against Japan, Cahill has often saved his best for the Blue Samurai – none more so than a steamy 2006 day in Kaiserslautern.
No longer the fresh-faced substitute, but Australia’s focal point in attack, Cahill will be relying on both the returning Robbie Kruse and the industrious Matthew Leckie to create much-needed offensive fluency.
Further concerns lie in defence, where three goals have been conceded against the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Postecoglou will likely show faith in Alex Wilkinson and Trent Sainsbury, even though Asian Champions League winner Nikolai Topor-Stanley is ready and waiting.
Captain Mile Jedinak is a critical figure to protect his defence against the dangerous Japanese forward threat, while Mark Bresciano, despite plying his trade in the anonymity of the UAE, is still Australia’s most creative attacking outlet.
The tactics Postecoglou’s employs will prove critical to the outcome on how well the Socceroos can nullify Japan on their home deck, and provide useful clues on how to set up his team against oppositions of similar quality come January.
He will likely shelve his usual attack-minded tendencies to seek a strong defensive effort, with the attacking threat mainly coming from counter-raids.
Otherwise, Australia could be in for a similar evening that Honduras endured.
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