All of the signs coming out of the Socceroos camp ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Saitama is that they will rely heavily on what they claim is a mental edge over Japan.
But the bigger question is whether the under pressure Holger Osieck has instilled them with the game-plan to go with the perceived mental edge?
Particularly in the final 24 hours ahead of the game, the Roos have turned up the heat on the hosts, skipper Lucas Neill and others bringing up the Samurai Blue’s recent losses to Jordan and Bulgaria, the apparent jitters of goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and the fact Japan haven’t beaten them in 90 minutes for a decade or so.
Neill also cites Japan’s upcoming Confederations Cup commitments and the fact they will have much of their focus there.
While there has been a bit of talk about replicating Bulgaria’s “suffocation” and “disruption” of Japan, most of the talk has been about the apparent edge in spirit.
The Roos say they can sense some nervousness among the Japanese players and an expectant nation as the qualification finishing line looms.
Patently the Socceroos are banking on staying with Japan early, getting into the game and get into the heads of Alberto Zaccheroni’s men.
The talk from the Japanese quarters has been that they expect the Roos to try and engage them in a physical arm-wrestle full of long balls into the likes of Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy.
Whether Osieck plays both Kennedy and Cahill, or just the latter remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt a strong truth to Japan’s analysis of Australia.
While the German has flirted unsuccessfully with the idea of rejuvenating the side and style of play, too often he has reverted to a default modus operandi – a physical aerial bombardment from out wide and at set pieces.
For all the recent talk from the likes of Gary Lineker and Graham Arnold about the prehistoric football still emanating out of England, there are few more obvious examples of “old-fashioned football” than that dished up by our national coach.
The game-plan under Osieck has generally been a simple one, about moving the ball quickly into wide areas, usually on the right, and trying to get quick, quality delivery in to Cahill especially.
Nowhere was this more evident than in the second half of the most recent qualifier against Oman in Sydney, when Cahill came to Osieck and Australia’s rescue for the up-tenth time.
Even as far back as the 2011 Asian Cup, in which the Socceroos lost the final to Japan, the mode of progress was very much through the air and getting service in to Cahill and Harry Kewell, both very strong in the air.
It was only some very astute tactical work from Zaccheroni in the final, as I wrote at the time, which was able to nullify Australia in the end.
Fast forward to last year’s corresponding qualifier at Suncorp Stadium and what was clear is that Japan struggled to deal with the physicality, high tempo and aerial strength of the Roos.
To expect much different from Osieck tonight would probably be expecting too much, particularly given they feel that Japan are vulnerable to the high ball in the centre of defence.
There is a temptation to think, with the pace of Robbie Kruse, Tommy Oar and Brett Holman, that the Socceroos will try and sit back and rely on the counter-attack.
But with Cahill up high, the danger is you isolate him and nullify his aerial strength by sitting too depend and asking him to do pressing shuttles on the halfway line.
The hint from Osieck in an interview with SBS’s Scott McIntyre yesterday is that Australia will get on the front foot, be aggressive and try and disrupt a Japan side that like to circulate the ball quickly, use the overlapping width of Yuto Nagatomo and Atsuto Uchida, and rely on the craft of Keisuke Honda and rapid final third play of Shinji Kagawa.
To do so the Roos will need to remain compact. There can be no weakness in the pressing chain.
If the defence starts to drop deep, an ailment under both Osieck and Pim Verbeek, then the entire formation will.
Yasuhito Endo will possess the ball and the Roos will struggle to mount too many attacks.
What they must do is get in the face of both Endo and Makoto Hasebe, and to that end the legs and growing tactical maturity of both Kruse and Oar should help, particularly with Holman offering pressing support.
What the Socceroos must be careful of is playing high, without any pressure on the ball. Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki and the fullbacks would have a field day running onto Endo and Honda’s promptings.
It’s a fine balancing act for the German and he has to get it right.
With speculation about his future growing and Ange Postecoglou’s name continuing to surface, Osieck will need to demonstrate that he’s instilled his men with a game-plan to go with any perceived physical and mental edge.
Osieck said yesterday his side wouldn’t “hide” in Saitama, and the hope for the Roos is that by 10.30pm eastern time tonight he won’t be looking for a place of his own to hide.
brendo
Guest
Pretty much what I thought. Jedinak mustn't be fit so in comes Milligan and he has opted for Bresc over Holland which I think is a good choice. Its a decent counter attacking team now Oar just needs to drop a great cross on top of Timmy's head and I will be happy
Titus
Guest
line-up: Schwarzer; Wilkshere; Neil; Ognenovski; McKay; Milligan; Bresciano; Oar; Kruse; Holman; Cahill I don't mind it, Milligan and Bresc makes for a ball playing midfield, Oar and Kruse add some attacking width.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Roar fans should be whinging. If you didn't care that the club threw all the good work that Ange did out the window (system of play and all) and tanked on qualifying for the ACL to save some dollars then were you ever a fan?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I think it is just giving the paper something to write about and is harmless. I think both teams would be up for it regardless of the points situation and I doubt Japan could be any more motivated. Harmless banter rather than anything telling.
Kickass Koala
Guest
Well you could say that it would be nice to have main stream media focusing on our game. In time things will change and our sport and others will get more coverage. I get bored of blanket cricket and AFL and NRL coverage every time the news is on. I get more excited in seeing how Adam Scott is doing on the PGA Tour, How Will Power is going in NASCAR, or even the MMA UFC Fighters. All i can say is thank god for ESPN and Fox Sports News I do like sports specific websites like this one and a few others, plus a good Football Forum is always good. Being a Wanderers fan i usualy go to Western Sydney Footballs site. On a plus side! Atleast we dont get Tom Waterhouse ad's !
Sleemo
Guest
Going behind is incredibly likely - we've only led for six minutes in this phase of qualifying. Compare that with about 154 minutes of trailing and the signs for an early lead are anything but positive. Although judging by our performances in the last 40 v Japan, the last 10 v Jordan, the last 15 v Iraq and the last 40 v Oman, we appear to only actually start playing good when we fall behind so who knows what will give us the best chance!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
You are, without doubt, the most pessimistic football fan I've ever encountered. All you do is whinge. This year you were whinging about Roar even though you had 2 consecutive sublime years. Do you ever enjoy watching football?
realfootball
Guest
A back 4 of McKay, Og, Neill, and Wilkshire reads like an invitation to disaster. Our screening mids had better have a good day, otherwise we are toast. Here's a prediction: centrally the Japanese will play off the shoulders of our cumbersome cbs and we can expect a lot of balls played in just behind our defence, plus McKay will be targeted. He is out of position and lacks pace. Expect a torrid night, Matty. Wilkshire has been very poor for Australia over the last 12 months, too, and expect to be tested. I hope to be proven wrong, but to compete with Japan here requires a form reversal of almost schizophrenic proportions.
realfootball
Guest
Hardly "ridiculous", I think, Brendo. Hyperbole is out of keeping with the rest of your post. A better word would be "simplistic", and if you had said that you would have had a point. However, even in that case I disagree, in the sense that we do have the players to put a younger, faster starting 11 on the park, but Osieck refuses to play them - Lowry, Williams, Rose, Rukavytsia (I know he's not playing much, but that isn't holding Ramses Neill back), and latterly Oar and Zullo have barely got a look in. Brosque starts regularly, and yet Bulut, playing in the Turkish first division can't get a call up in a squad desperately short of strike power. Frankly Beauchamp and Topor-Stanley are a more potent CB pairing than Og and Neill. Neill can't find a club, and Og would struggle to start in the A League. Neill looked very ordinary for Sydney, who didn't renew his contract. Thus, once again, I lay the blame for these recent woeful performances squarely at Osieck's door. He's a career assistant coach, like Verbeek, for a good reason. A good backup man, but without the capability to lead from the front.
Pau
Guest
Not to mention that the first few years of the A-League was dominated by "prehistoric" football and there was very little youth development. The lost years probably amount to 2004-2010, that's a huge gap in development.
Titus
Guest
Nice selfie.....he really seems to be enjoying his new role, which is something you could never have said while he was heading the NRL.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Have to be positive and not go in thinking we've lost already - although thinking we're a goal down at the start might make us play catchup from the first kick rather than the last 30 minutes. Cannot see Kennedy and Cahill on at the same time as that combo didn't work out too well before. But because they will be on, it is going to be an bombardment into the box...whatever it takes to win today, even some physical stuff - win ugly this time only :-( Milligan starts instead of Jedinak, and Bresc will be on from the start although doubt he'll last more than a half. Very much a story of who isn't used and who is today - and who is obviously rusty from lack of game time...
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yes my feeling with all the latest 'pressure is on them (Japan)' comments is to STFU and let them stew on it and concentrate on our gameplan...
Franko
Guest
It's great to see. It really doesn't take much effort but it makes a huge difference back here. Well done Mr Gallop. (I can't really work at the moment, too focused on the game)
Towser
Guest
Yes agree Fuss, why bother with mainstream media,gave it away long ago. Thanks for the new football news link. Will bookmark it with the others.
Franko
Guest
That’s even more defensive than I could have imagined. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if he went that way. With neither side needing to win, I can see this being very dour for 70-80 mins.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The new CEO keeps ticking all the right boxes. Can never imagine Buckley showing this type of solidarity with fans & the team. Brilliant David Gallop: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/341751198371700736/photo/1
Brendo
Guest
Just cannot see him going with Cahill and Kennedy, just too much chance of them becoming isolated. One of them will start (most likely Cahill) and the other will be used off the bench if we go behind. Starting lineup will most likely be -------------Cahill------------ --Oar------Holman---Kruse- -Bresc/Holland--Jedi/Milligan -McKay--Og--Neill--Wilkshire Jedi if fit starts ahead of Milligan. If Osieck thinks attacking he will start Bresc, if he is convince Neill/Og are too exposed he will start Holland. Subs Rogic for Holman, the rest will depend whether we are behind. Kennedy for one of the DM if we are chasing the game, Archie for Oar/Kruse and Hollands/Milligan for one of the DM's if we are ahead and looking to play counter.
Franko
Guest
From our Skippy: "The media and circus they bring to every media conference means they're always under the spotlight and I think they're feeling it," he said. "I know the likes of the goalkeeper (Eiji Kawashima) will be a bit nervy..." I wish he and the rest of the squad would just shut up, rather than all this chest beating before the match. Meanwhile the Japanese appear to be humbly sitting back and preparing for an important encounter. Not only is it embarrassing, it's likely to stir them up. Wouldn't it be better to say 'They have basically qualified because they're a great team and we are just hoping to play well'. Put the pressure on them at home???
Souwalker
Guest
Wouldn't have happened. There is simply no time to find a new NT coach to prepare team for e last 3 game.