Japan will fear Socceroos says North

You will never hear a Japanese fan suggest that Japan will "smash" Australia. First, because that sort of posing just isnt done, even when the opponent is Singapore or Macao. Second, because Australia offers a completely different dimension of football from what Japan has to prepare for in all its other AFC-zone matches. In a World Cup year I suspect that Japan would do better against Australia because that type of football is what they are preparing for. But Im sure you lot have been in Asia long enough to understand what I mean when I say that the style of opposition and the type of football you have to play to beat (particularly West) Asian teams is very different from the football that Australia plays. It is not easy to adjust in such a short period of time. Consequently everyone realises the low likelihood that Japan can play -to perfection- the style of football that would allow them to defeat Australia by a big margin. Having said that . . . . was Jade North just bucking for a spot in the squad, and thought a controversial comment might raise his profile, or what? This is a guy who couldnt even get playing time at J2 club FC Tokyo, and had to move to the weakest team ever to play in J1. You cant exactly blame him for the fact that Consadole set a record for quickest relegation ever . . . but only because he was struggling for playing time there, as well. Maybe Japan should call up Yuya Osako, so Jade can try to replay his famous "three swings and he strikes out" play, for an international audience.

And i'm sure none of the Japanese players or fans, have in the past said Japan were going to smash Australia. They are very educated and professional when it comes to these things. It's usually our own supporters or people in mainstream media who says these things (to generate interest in the general public I'm guessing). I admire and respect Japanese football and the way they always strive to improve their football.

Why are we so proud of the fact that we haven't lost to Japan in normal time? We seem to keep bringing it up like it's something to be proud of? A loss is STILL a loss. Since 2006 World Cup, the only time we have beaten them (2-1 in Melbourne) was a dead rubber match, where both teams had qualified for the 2010 World Cup. A match they purposely left home key players. A match that required the heroics of Cahill when Japan were up 1-0. From what I remember, Japan should have gotten at least 2 penalties in the Asian Cup final (Neill handball and Jedinak bringing Honda down in the box) I'm sure there was another strong penalty claim for Japan but none was given. We have to admit we were practically given a penalty by a very dodgy ref in the last match in Brisbane (I still don't know what the penalty was for). I'm sure even our players were surprised when the ref blew the whistle and awarded the penalty. And we were smashing them in the first 20mins because they were using their 3rd or 4th string defenders (at the time) due to injuries. But once they settled, they started to dominate and took advantage when Milligan was sent off. And what's with the Aussie spirit thing? Are we saying the other teams don't have a fight in them and just surrender? We seem to carry on with the whole Aussie spirit thing. I guess Japan also have this spirit thing, it's called the Samurai Spirit, when they eliminated us in gruelling matches, like in 2007 Asian Cup and won the 2011 Asian Cup (a match they should never have won as we totally dominated and created many chances). I guess their Samurai Spirit kept them strong to overcome everything we threw at them. Since we became part of Asia, we've participated in the continent's biggest tournament twice - and twice we've been beaten in the knockout stages by Japan. We still haven't really done anything to hurt them since we became part of AFC.

A point and Japan qualifies to the world cup A point and qualification is in our hands irrespective of other results or goal difference (draw against japan and two wins is automatic qualification for Australia) So I'm predicitng a draw as a win win scenario for both side.

Chuffed?,mate if we get a point in Japan i'll be doing cartwheels in my living room,if we win it will be up there with Uruguay in 2005 in my book.

Don't.

Is Gai training Japan?

Thanks Fuss. I feel a bit better now.

what are tom waterhouse's odds for the game?

What are Andrew Johns' thoughts on the game?

Japan are employing a full strength team and are not holding back any. We'll do well to get a point, but we seem to have a good record against them. Its football and stranger things have happened, especially if Tom Waterhouse is running a book on it. :)

Every time we play JPN, I hear "JPN are going to smash AUS", "JPN are far better than AUS", etc. etc. However, the facts tell us JPN simply hasn't smashed AUS. Since WC 2006, AUS has played JPN 5 times and JPN has not won a single match in 90 minutes against AUS. In fact, JPN's two wins against AUS have been: penalty shoot in QFs of Asia Cup 2007, spectacular volley goal in the 20' of Extra Time in the Finale of Asia Cup 2011. The last time AUS played JPN, we smashed them in the opening 20 minutes - with 6 goal chances either saved by the JPN goal-keeper, stopped by the woodwork .. one shot was saved by a defender on the goal line when the GK was beaten. Yes, JPN had a lot of possession when Milligan was harshly sent off in the 56', but, I don't recall Schwarzer having to make a single save - no JPN player threatened the goal ... other than the 1 occasion when they scored. Even with 10 men, Ognenovski beat the JPN GK but the ball hit the crossbar & bounced out & Wilkshire's free-kick on 90' required a spectacular save from the JPN GK. So, let's not panic. I'm more worried about IRQ & JOR than playing JPN. We simply match up very well against JPN, but seem to struggle against the teams from West Asia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uJouUvylNg

Yep, the Japanese players must be quaking in their boots. Without doubt this is the worst Socceroos team under the worst coach that we've had in 20 years at least - then my memory fades out. The fact that Lucas Neill, a player who can't cut it in the A League, is our captain says everything about our numbskull of a coach. Jade, incidentally, will not be joining Mensa anytime soon.

I guess he has to say something positive. What does "do a job" mean? Do a crappy job? Do a poor job? Do a good job? Win a game? (rant over)

I think these guys need to watch a video of us loosing to Iraq in 97 and Uruguay in 01 to remember the pain of missing out on a WC. They seem to think qualifying is our right yet their results show us otherwise. PLEASE GUYS, GET YOUR ARSES IN TO GEAR!!!!!!!!

And here we have Jade North losing his mind in a bag of marbles, and then losing his marbles too.

“I played there" It's just a pity that the Samurai Blue players are playing in Germany and England. Jade was getting beaten by strikers that aren't even going to make the training squad for this match. If we beat Japan it's because we play out of our skins. Personally I'd be pretty chuffed with a point.

Why Jade? Why?

Yeah i am sure they Japan are terrified of us after watching us against Oman.