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A second-string Serbia have sent a warning to the Socceroos ahead of the World Cup with a surprise 3-0 win over Japan in a friendly international in Osaka.
While Australia were held to a scoreless draw on their last visit to Japan in February last year, their upcoming World Cup group opponents had no such trouble finding the back of the net at the Nagai Stadium.
The result on Wednesday night put Japan coach Takeshi Okada under further pressure only two months out from South Africa, and sparked an angry reaction from local fans.
The Blue Samurai’s supporters booed and threw paper cups onto the pitch while local media proclaimed Okada’s World Cup preparation had “almost collapsed 64 days before the event”.
Japan were without Europe-based stars like CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto, as Okada aimed to test domestic J-League players for the last time before announcing his World Cup squad in mid-May.
But the Serbs also played without their big names, with midfielder Radosav Petrovic the only player in the squad who competed in World Cup qualifying.
Head coach Radomir Antic even left his job to an assistant Radovan Curcic, who said the result boded well for their squad depth heading into the June-July tournament.
“It turned out to be a good game for our World Cup squad selection,” he said.
“We can go home with a good result in a good atmosphere.
“Although we hadn’t had much time to prepare, it was a good occasion for us to show the quality of our league by playing against a good side.”
Forward Dragan Mrda bagged a brace and midfielder Nemanja Tomic netted a with a second-half free kick as Serbia won with ease.
Serbia will face the Socceroos in the Group D final group match in Nelspruit on June 23.
Their full strength squad includes the likes of Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic and Inter Milan’s Dejan Stankovic.
Germany and Ghana are also in the group.
Japan have drawn in the tough Group E, alongside the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon.
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