Japan and Australia put on another classic the other night at the Saitama Super Arena, in front of 62,000 passionate fans.
There is no doubt that the Socceroos-Blue Samurai rivalry is now our National Team’s most storied, constantly producing games of great tension, skill, drama and mutual respect.
What truly began on an unforgettable June evening in Kaiserslautern seven years ago, continued in Saitama last night.
In fact, the Socceroos 3-1 win at the 2006 World Cup marks the only time that the two teams have been separated by more than one goal since the decision was made to move the Socceroos into the Asian qualifying region.
It was a breath of fresh air watching last night’s qualifier in which two teams went at each other from the outset, not once resorting to histrionics, time-wasting or cheap fouls.
The 90 minutes was controlled impeccably by referee Nawaf Shukralla, certainly the most composed referee in the region.
His job was helped by two sides who went about the business of playing football, and while Japan did a lot of it, the Socceroos were almost faultless defensively, and looked dangerous in transition, something we have not been able to say for quite some time.
Despite a lack of regular game time, Brett Holman’s performance at Number 10 was fantastic.
Not just the defence splitting passes that sent Robbie Kruse into space on a few occasions, but his outstanding work rate in getting back to help Mark Bresciano and Mark Milligan plug the gaps the Japanese were looking to exploit with their fleet-of-foot two touch passing.
Tommy Oar’s selection was a breath of fresh air and he certainly repaid Holger Osieck’s faith with his contribution.
He seemed almost too eager in the first half, playing balls into the box when he might have been more circumspect.
But he gave the Socceroos pace down the left and a vibrancy in the front third that had been lacking in more recent fixtures.
While his goal may have been fortuitous, it was no more than he deserved, even if it did have Japanese keeper Kawashima flapping like a an outback Aussie trying to wave away flies.
Once again, ageing warriors Lucas Neill and Sase Ognenovski rose to the occasion.
Without doubt they were troubled by the speed and potency of Japan’s attacking artists Honda and Kagawa, but they were resolute, inevitably well-positioned, and made the tackles and interceptions that mattered.
They were helped by a midfield that worked hard to compress the space left by Australia’s deeper lying defence, but in the end, the Blue Samurai’s only goal came from the penalty spot.
A statue of Tim Cahill should be erected at the Olympic Stadium.
There is no more whole-hearted and spirited character to wear the green and gold. That said, his deployment as a loan striker is very hit and miss, as it is not the position in which he made his reputation both here and in the English Premier League.
It is the one vexing issue to come out of last night’s game, for Cahill must play; his presence and energy alone demand it. It’s just fitting him into the right spot that is the challenge.
Looking ahead, I hope the Australian public answer the call and pack out both Docklands and the Olympic Stadium in the coming weeks.
I also hope the ground preparations ensure a playing surface worthy of the occasion. There was a huge difference in the surface at Saitama compared to the cow paddock twelve months ago for the corresponding game in Brisbane.
Give the teams a green carpet for two red carpet occasions.
Sky Blue
Guest
The dirtiest it's gotten was WC 06 where Schwarzer was obstructed by a Japanese forward and that allowed Shunsuke Nakamura to score from crossing range.
Sky Blue
Guest
I couldn't see that working, the point of penalties is to get the players to sharpen up in the box and be extra careful. If penalties are devalued I can see tackles flying in thick and fast in the box, makes my ankles cringe just thinking about it.
Jukes
Guest
Totally agree.
dasilva
Guest
Also there was a controversy about Australia playing the German national anthem instead of the Israel national anthem (and we all know the historical connection between Germany and the jews) that causes a diplomatic problems Then there was the time when Frank Arok unintentionally caused a controversy by calling his team "mad dogs" but the Israel media misquote it and thought he was calling the Jewish team mad dogs. There are also some great stories of the mind games Frank Arok played against the more technically proficient Israeli teams. Essentially he played a lot of mind games questioning the physicality of the israeli team and hold a fake public training session in Israel where he got the Socceroos player to be as brutal as possible in training session throwing in X-rated challenge in training in front of the israeli media making it look like SOcceroos were a bunch of thugs (even though the whole training session was essentially a public facade and Les Murray who was there knew it was all an act). The media reported that the Socceroos were going to physically intimidate the israeli players and bully them. The Israeli team fall for the trap and brought in the facade and they responded that they weren't going to be bullied by Australia and promise to fight fire with fire. Essentially Arok succeeded in throwing the Israeli team off their technical passing game that they were legitimately afraid of and the match turned into Israel trying to out-intimidate the Australian team, Australia ended up defeating Israel Essentially Arok exploited "male pride" by questioning the manhood of the Israeli team and they falled for it I once suggested that Australia should do regular friendly matches with Israel and call it the "Mad Dog Cup"
Brian
Guest
Yeah 15 matches, 8 draws, Australia Won 4, Israel 3. Israel beat Australia at the SCG in a playoff to make the 1970 World Cup Australia knocked Israel out in the 1986 Qualifiers before losing the final playoff to Scotland Australia beat Israel to make the 1988 Seoul Olympics Israel knocked Australia out of the 1990 qualifiers before losing the final playoff to Colombia There was about 8 friendlies played in the 1970's.
apaway
Roar Guru
Jukes I'm not sure my heart could take that! Let's just win the next two, what do you reckon?
1860melbourne
Guest
The earlier timeslot for the upcoming Jordan game plus whats at stake for the Aussies I bet that at least a million will tune in for the game!!!
my left foot
Guest
Especially after the 180° in performance.
King Robbo
Guest
I think the non-football media were blaise when it came to earlier world cup qualifiers, as they expected us to qualify easy. I expect full houses for the next two home games as they are crucial and with that the media will jump on board.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Tx for the info Brian, had no idea there was a rivalry with Israel.
Midfielder
Guest
Al Yes and I also know that the stadium was sold out so many times you had to enter a lottery to get a ticket... was also front page news for almost two weeks... yet our media does not care about Asia....
AL
Guest
Gentlemen the size and scope of the audience in and out of the stadium watching this game cannot be ignored. It dwarfs the other codes. If anyone watched SportsNight with James Bracey he had AFL bloke and two RL blokes discussing the game on the night of the game. James Bracey suggested the remaining games in Australia would be bigger than Origin. The RL bloke, I dont think he beileved it either, "no certainly not bigger than origin". The difference, and the eggball codes know it, is ALL of Australian was watching and ALL of Asia. Add these up and eggball codes look very, very small. Once the old BOYS clubs end in media of all types, they can then see soccer for what is really is and can do for their media outlets. Midfielder did you hear that another stadium in Japan was filled to capacity with people watching on screen.
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
Would have been at least 100 million people watching that game across Asia and the globe.
Midfielder
Guest
apaway Me thinks a game will soon be bigger in the public mind than the England V Australia cricket test... These are massive matches ...,
AGO74
Guest
I don't think I could live with the tension. Direct qualification please!
King Robbo
Guest
Yes they would of been happy we didnt resort to this nonsense after Oar's goal. Surprised Holger did not make a subsitute prior to Japans goal (as a time wasting tactic). We probably would of won.
Brian
Guest
Historically Australia have definately had rivalries with New Zealand, Israel & Uruguay. I would add Japan to that list
Bondy
Guest
I think the Japanese fan understands this Robbo and appreciates our pride in sport they too would be use to the rolling around by some nations throughout mid west asia, I noticed in the Oman/Iraq game the medicab got another heavy workout with players feigning injury, they love a turn on the medicab.
King Robbo
Guest
The great thing, its a friendly rivalry. No dirty tactics or bad tackles involving injuries as yet. Luckily muscat and danny tiatto retired before 2006.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Agree dasilva, most euro nations would have Germany very high on the rivalry list! The Nederlands would be the obvious choice, France of course, and I reckon Belgium, Poland and a few others have the Germans on the hit-list too. Add Spain in the last decade or so. Being in Oz, I would have Uruguay as n1 rivals. I personally love Japan too much to have them as n1 rivals.