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Just under a year ago, Australia proved it can still match it with Japan. As the Socceroos prepare to run out at Saitama Stadium, they should remember there is nothing to fear but fear itself against the Samurai Blue.
The Socceroos battered Alberto Zaccheroni’s men into submission in the first half of their epic Suncorp Stadium encounter just under 12 months ago, until Mark Milligan’s untimely dismissal shortly after the half-time break halted Australia’s momentum.
Results have been poor since that 1-1 draw in Brisbane, yet there’s no reason to assume the Socceroos will do anything but lift against a team which might rightfully be considered Australia’s greatest foe.
Holger Osieck’s team might be out of form, however Zaccheroni’s outfit aren’t necessarily faring much better and the pressure is starting to build on their Italian coach to find some consistency.
That’s the least of Osieck’s problems – he would accept three points any way he can get it in Saitama – yet there is no reason to write off the Socceroos’ chances before a ball has even been kicked.
Japan’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Bulgaria last week was a disappointing result for a side which relies heavily on confidence.
Playing in front of a big crowd in Toyota, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima fisted a harmless Stanislav Manolev free-kick straight into his own net with barely two minutes on the clock, before skipper Makoto Hasebe managed to turn a flicked-on Hristo Zlatinski free-kick past the hapless Kawashima midway through the second half.
In other words; Australia – forget the pointless short free-kick routines, Luke Wilkshire and Mark Bresciano, and aim directly for goal.
Kawashima is a highly talented goalkeeper and one of the best shot-stoppers in the Asian game, but he may be troubled psychologically by the nature of the goals conceded against Bulgaria.
There are other weaknesses too, particularly in some key areas.
One is the achingly slow Yasuhito Endo in midfield – a superb player back in his day, though it seems no one has had the nerve to inform the 33-year-old his day passed by long ago.
Endo and his 30-year-old compatriot Yasuyuki Konno both ply their trade in the Japanese second division, yet it hasn’t stopped Zaccheroni from repeatedly starting both players in the national team despite the availability of several alternatives in their positions.
Yet, most perplexing of all is surely his continual reliance on Jubilo Iwata striker Ryoichi Maeda to lead the line up front.
Maeda has had chance after chance to cement his place in the Samurai Blue line-up, however – much like his chances in front of goal – he continues to waste them.
Now Japan have only untried Kashiwa Reysol striker Masato Kudo and 194-centimetre beanpole Mike Havenaar as viable alternatives, meaning that for all their intricate passing movements, they still lack a cutting edge at the point of attack.
That said, Japan still possess two players of world-class quality capable of turning any game on its head.
Talisman Keisuke Honda goes into the game under an injury cloud but if history is anything to go by, the CSKA Moscow bulldozer will be in no mood to take it easy in such a significant game – providing he starts.
Along with Honda, the reigning Asian champions also have fleet-footed Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa to call upon.
Kagawa endured a tough first season in the English Premier League, but there’s no doubt the mercurial midfielder is one of region’s best players – almost akin to an Asian Lionel Messi.
The influence of the Saitama Stadium crowd shouldn’t be discounted either, with the vociferous Samurai Blue fans sitting right on top of the action, unlike at the cavernous Yokohama International Stadium.
That will make it tough for the Socceroos and Holger Osieck’s job hangs in the balance in Saitama.
But with Japan rarely playing their best football as favourites and Australia’s backs against the wall, Socceroos supporters should not underestimate the chances of jagging a result in front of a hostile crowd in Saitama.