Japan admit they’ll be wary of Socceroo striker Tim Cahill’s aerial threat when they clash in their crucial Asian Cup warm-up on Tuesday.
Japan coach Javier Aguirre goes into the match at Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium as a man under pressure.
The 55-year-old Mexican has been fumbling to find the right formula after three months in charge and critics will demand Japan beat fellow regional power Australia following a poor run of form, rather than just go through the motions in their final match of 2014.
The Samurai Blue, who beat Australia in the 2011 Asian Cup final, battered Honduras 6-0 on Friday to relieve some of the pressure on their coach, but they’re expecting a much tougher test against Australia.
Cahill, Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer, had been in doubt for the match due to a hip injury but was due to return to training on Monday with coach Ange Postecoglou indicating he’ll play.
The veteran striker on Sunday vowed to make a difference in the game whether he played 90 minutes or 20 minutes and Japan skipper Makoto Hasebe says he’ll be prepared.
“I haven’t seen the recent games of Australia, but they’ve got Cahill and he’s really good in heading, so it will be important for us to take care of second balls,” Hasebe said.
“We didn’t have many occasions (of being) caught off-balance by Honduras, but against stronger teams, we will need to flexibly adjust to situations.”
Aguirre, who led Mexico to the last 16 of the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, was forced to bring back Japan’s record caps holder Yasuhito Endo and coax right-back Atsuto Uchida out of international retirement after his tinkering failed to achieve the desired effect.
He also gave the captain’s armband back to Hasebe, who told reporters: “The coach wanted to bring back the old guard but warned us he wouldn’t tolerate any silly mistakes from us because of the experience we have collectively.”
Aguirre’s tough words are not without irony given some of the bizarre selections and tactics he has adopted since taking over from Italian Alberto Zaccheroni after the World Cup.
Japan had won just once – a fortuitous 1-0 victory over Jamaica – in four matches under Aguirre before taking apart Honduras and were humiliated by Brazil last month when Neymar ran riot, scoring all four goals in a 4-0 demolition.
Japan flopped at the World Cup, talisman Keisuke Honda tearfully slamming the team’s performances as “pathetic”, yet little has improved under Aguirre.
The former Espanyol manager, pocketing a record salary for a Japan coach of around $US2.5 million ($A2.70 million) a year, has faced criticism over revamping the squad — a decision which has clearly backfired.
Endo, who has now made 147 appearances for Japan, was discarded after the World Cup debacle but the side looked far more balanced with him restored to the side against Honduras.
“We’ve trained well and hopefully now we can push on and build on this win for the Australia game,” he said.
“Beating them would give us a real boost going into the Asian Cup.”
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