If the Socceroos harbour any hope of halting a rampant Blue Samurai in tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Brisbane, as a starting point they need to step up and disrupt the two pivotal holding midfielders, Makato Hasebe and Yasuhito Endo.
For all the show and glow of Japan’s third line, which includes the gifted trio of Shinji Kagawa, Royichi Maeda and Keisuke Honda, it is Alberto Zaccheroni’s second line that dictates Japan’s tempo.
That tempo, in the opening two World Cup qualifying wins over Oman and Jordan, has been quite electrifying, a seamless flow of ball and body.
This quick movement of the ball, with bodies in motion, has been too much for both West Asian visitors, forcing them deep, pulling them apart.
So good have Japan looked that I suspect, right now, they would be a match for most teams in the world, many at the current European Championships included.
Zaccheroni, it seems, agrees: “If we can play like we are doing at the moment at a fast tempo, I am convinced that we can play well not only against Australia, but any team.”
At the Heart of this up tempo approach are the two gifted footballers, one an enforcer that can play, the other a playmaker with the discipline to sit.
Whether it’s Hasebe breaking up the play or Endo receiving from the defence, most of Japan’s play comes through them.
From there, they bring the above-mentioned trio, as well as striker Shinji Okazaki and the two fullbacks Atsuto Uchida and Yuto Nagatomo, into the game, spraying the ball around, often in a forward direction.
Endo, in particular, has a marvel of a right foot, involved in most of Japan’s good things.
What has been so evident in Japan’s two wins so far is just how much space Endo has had to pick his passes.
For the Socceroos to have any chance, they need to disrupt this Hasebe-Endo axis and deny Endo, in particular, the space he was afforded in Saitama.
To do so, Holger Osieck can’t afford to have his last line, the back four, dropping off too deep.
That, one senses, would spell disaster.
The question is, can they adjust to playing higher? While there have been a few examples of this under Osieck, too often the tendency has been to retreat to the 18-yard-box, a default position under Pim Verbeek.
Osieck has tried to get them higher, but an ageing rearguard means the loss of a yard or two of pace, thus a natural inclination to retreat.
Here they have to be brave, but ensure they press as a unit and remain compact, denying each Japanese player time and options.
To press Endo and Hasebe and turn this into a contest, Osieck may be best served congesting his central midfield by restoring the Carl Valeri – Mile Jedinak holding axis, with Mark Bresciano ahead of them in a more advanced attacking central midfield position.
It wouldn’t be the most popular move, but you sense that burdening Bresciano with too much defensive responsibility wouldn’t be the brightest option against these guys.
On football ability, the sad reality is that this ‘Roos team, on the slide, is never going to outplay a Samurai team on the rise.
To have any hope, the Socceroos will need to scrap and get bodies in among the Japanese midfield.
Alex Brosque, who really struggled with the conditions in Muscat, could be a pivotal player here, dropping off the front line, helping congest the midfield with his high-octane pressing.
There’s no doubt Osieck is missing Brett Holman’s high defensive work, but if the likes of Brosque and Matt McKay can step up and contribute, it may mask his absence.
If the Roos can get among Japan, and stop them from playing early, demonstrating controlled aggression and physicality, they might just be able get into their heads.
From there, against a fairly new central defensive pairing, there may be the odd opportunity in attack.
Otherwise, it’s looking likely to be a case of wave after wave of blue.
On current form, Osieck will need to get his tactics absolutely spot on, but, on a wide Suncorp Stadium, you’d be brave to bet he and his men can execute.
michael
Guest
Gaining only 2 points from two games will not help the the Socceroos if they again draw or in fact lose in any of their next games........ The fact that Japan now sit on 7 points from 3 games will act a boost booster to the other teams competing with the Socceroos. Its not a good position to be in. If any surprises occur with say a team like Jordan on their home turf it will not help our standing to move forward with confidence.....
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Fuss Fuss Fuss Fuss Got your attention Fuss ... re our often discussion re Football / Asia.... FFA etc ... what great news ... look at these links... http://www.eaff.com/eanews/release/2012/120420.html (5) Football Federation Australia’s interest in EAFF East Asian Cup 2013 Football Federation Australia (FFA)’s interest in EAFF East Asian Cup was reported. The participation of national team’s (Men and Women) of FFA into EAFF East Asian Cup 2013 is regarded positively in general in terms of competiveness and promotional aspects by EXCO member who attended this EXCO meeting and this would increase and upgrade its value and authorities of EAFF East Asian Cup from long term point of view. EAFF EXCO members expressed their welcome to this proposal and at the same time, EXCO members agreed to study and review in advance in depth through relevant standing committee such as competition, marketing and financial committees. The final decision of Australia’s participation will be decided by EAFF EXCO members in consultation with relevant standing committees of EAFF Lastly, through this challenge, a brighter future will come to East Asian Football Federation Also look at their committee ... what countries etc... http://www.eaff.com/organisation/about.html
Griffo
Roar Guru
Thankyou Matsu, will be keeping an eye out for this play tonight ;-)
apaway
Roar Guru
Matsu Great analysis but I would argue that you can "pressure" any kind of midfielder if the risk is worthwhile. And Japan's style is not really that unusual, though they are executing it very very well at the moment.
whiskeymac
Guest
good article, interesting discussion but CMON BOYS lets get some more points in the old onion bag
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
I just watched a 35yr old Shevchenko score two goals for the Ukraine to defeat Sweden in a group match of Euro 12. At international level experience counts more than youth..
apaway
Roar Guru
And that "dead rubber" attracted 70,000 to the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.
j binnie
Guest
Midfielder - You would have cried if you had been at the meeting of the ASF in 1982/3 when by "POPULAR VOTE" Frank Lowy was indirectly shown he was not wanted at the top level of the ASF. He did"get out" completely over the next 2 years and his business acumen was lost to the code until 2004. That's how football management worked in those days. jb
Midfielder
Guest
Just a tho when we consider how big this match is tonight with its over 500 million Asian audience is ... lets remember when Sir Arthur George, Tony Labozzetta ran the game - ah the memories, I feel like crying just thinking about them .... we have come a long way for this be cheerful...
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Never better for the Socceroos to lose, no matter what the meta-benefit! :)
Midfielder
Guest
Ever tho it could be for the better to get a flogging tonight to kinda force change in the squad...
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Yeah, the age question has been a topic of very in-depth discussion for a while. Hopefully the green and gold army in Brisbane can make some noise because we'll probably need the boost!
Johnno
Guest
what was on the menu if you can remember. Did they have protein shakes, and waygu beef, and organic chicken back then. Or did you just give em fish and chips and a XXXX. or a hamburger or a meat pie. would love to of known what you fed the teams back then. Frank lowy is in his 80's now he has been around for ever in football in Australia.
Yamato Damashii
Guest
One only has to look at the average age of the squad Australia fielded against Oman and compare it to the average age of the squad Japan fielded against Jordan to see that there is a real problem here for Australia. If Australia doesn't have the oldest soccer squad in the world, it must be mighty close to it! Add to that the fact that the Japanese squad is not only much younger but also much quicker and I don't see where Australia is going to win tonight's game. Japan is playing a style of football that is fast, free flowing, confident and relentless, and unlike years gone by they have a highly attacking, highly competent manager with players to back up the game plan. In years gone by Japan really struggled up front but with the likes of Kagawa and Honda they have two of the most highly skilled strikers in the world, not to mention the free-kick taking ability of Honda (and Endo) from range. Uchida and Nagatomo will run their opponents ragged on the flanks tonight and the speed of Okazaki in the middle with the scoring prowess of Kagawa and Honda will put the Australian defence under enormous pressure. Australia will hope for wet weather to take Japan's pace out of the game.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
We've already played 3 home games in Stage 3 of the 2014 WCQs.
ydsada
Guest
Truth be told all those 10 games came under 1 qualifying campaign (for teh 2010 wc) when the golden generation was still in power. hard to remember this is only australia's second WCQ campaign
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
This is what International football is all about - banter & rivalry between fans. Lord knows, the mainstream media does nothing to build up the fan-rivalry. As an AUS football fan, I've looked enviously at the intense rivalries at EURO2012 & the Copa América tournaments. Do you think Polish fans are sitting on a football forum talking glowingly about how impressive Russia was in the opening game? Do you think Paraguay fans are talking about how much they enjoyed Leo Messi's hat-trick against Brazil? Finally, I hope a really strong & passionate rivalry will evolve between AUS fans & JPN fans. Watching the JPN matches v OMA, v JOR, the thing that made me most envious was the passion of the packed Saitama Stadium for both matches, held 5 days apart. And, this wasn't a theatre-watching crowd - this was a football crowd and the noise from the JPN fans was unrelenting & intimidating - exactly how it should be at home international WCQs. This is something we can only dream about in AUS. We still don't know how to create an intimidating atmosphere - for 90 minutes - at international matches. Heck, even the KSA fans were more vocal in Melbourne than the GG Army.
Bondy
Guest
Good luck Matsu, not to much I hope , and good luck with trying to qualify for the world cup.
Bondy
Guest
Endo is finito.
Matsu
Guest
TBH, Im kinda enjoying this. Besides, Im still waiting for Fuss to bring up the Solomon Islands and Western Samoa