Tournament favourites Japan take on one of the surprise packets of the Asian Cup so far, United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:30pm (AEDT).
Japan did not concede a goal in their opening three group games, having put seven past their opponents. Importantly they have also been free of any injury or suspension concerns and have started the same XI in all three games.
The Japanese boast a trio of deadly attackers, with the tournament’s leading scorer and star player Keisuke Honda superb so far and the two Shinjis – Kagawa and Okazaki. Evergreen 34-year-old Yasuhito Endo was also excellent in his team’s 1-0 victory against Iraq.
Japan’s defence has been solid but to be fair rarely tested against what has been a fairly generous group in regards to talent. They face their sternest test so far when they confront a surprisingly energetic and talented UAE team.
The Emirates could consider themselves unlucky not to have won their group. They needed only a draw in their final group game against Iran and held out the Iranians until they conceded a gut wrenching goal in injury time. A draw would have seen them avoid Japan and instead face Iraq in a game where the Emirates most probably would have started favourites.
Nonetheless it was another entertaining performance by UAE and they deserved better than a loss after looking the better team for vast periods of the game.
It’s been a real team performance from UAE so far in the tournament. Their defence has been solid, led by goalkeeper Majed Naserand, and defenders Mohanad Salem and Mohammed Ahmed.
Amer Abdulrahman and Khamis Ismail have been reliable in the middle of the park, and Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil have created chances up front with their running and skill.
But the standout, and one of the players of the tournament so far, has been the brilliant Omar Abdulrahman. He looked like the best player on the pitch against Iran and his creativeness and superb skills will cause Japan plenty of headaches.
Prediction
The Emirates have been entertaining and their attack is a threat to any team in this tournament, but against undoubtedly the most professional and best team in the tournament, they are going to have to lift to a whole new level.
The Japanese possession-based game will look to limit the Emirates’ time on the ball, their defence is far stronger than any the Emirates have so far faced, and it’s hard to see how the Emirates can stop Japan’s star-studded attack.
Japan to win 3-1 in what could turn out to be one of the games of the tournament.
leo
Guest
hahahahah..... You right UAE deserved to win 4 spot. Ozzi, OZZI OZZi.......OI Oi OI!!!!!! AUSTRALIA GO For the GOLD!!!!!!!! Predictable scoreline Australia 5 UAE 0 Nada!!!!!!! لا شيء BYE BYE وداعا وداعا!!!!!
leo
Guest
Apart from Korea that beat Australia in the Group Stage. There no other countries play entertained football. To have a team such as UAE to lift Asian cup the very first time, serve no justice to the game, they rely on couple individual solo effort to win the game and believe me is VERY boring to watch. Now the whole country are united behind Australia to be Champion of this tournament.
Jack
Guest
Glad to see courage preavail over arrogance of Japan. It was disapointing to me when Australia beat China all the media said they would play japan in the semis..
Hello
Guest
Dead wrong. We will likely have to beat a team that has already beaten us once this month. And we will have played two teams (UAE and China) who have no weight of expectation whatsoever. Will be a massive task to bring the cup home - and a massive achievement whether we had to beat any of South Korea, Iran or Japan to get there.
Ben
Guest
Have you seen UAE play lately? They have been winning because they have been playing attacking football. Go UAE!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Nah nah nah. Nah nah nah! Hey hey hey. GOODBYE!! UAE deserved to win. They've been strong throughout the tournament. Unlike Japan who were hardly convincing against Palestine despite the scoreline and scraped past Iraq.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
But we have Timmy :) And maybe, just maybe, that will be the difference between landing silverware or not.
Johnno
Guest
Who cares to the bandwagon fans, they only care about winning, and if we win history will say we win. Winner's write history.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
We keep up the level we have played at thus far and we should dominate them much like Japan did, surely they wouldn't be able get away with it a second time.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
That's an unfortunate result. If Australia does win the Asian Cup, it won't feel as much of a triumph as if we had beaten Japan. No disrespect to UAE whatsoever, they played really well and deserve to be in the semi's for defeating Japan, but they aren't of the same class that Japan can play. Without defeating Japan (and even Iran to a certain extent) it wont feel the same. But now a final's showdown in Sydney is looking like a real possibility. Go the Roo's
jamesb
Guest
This shows you how the four semi finalists come together in this draw. I like the sketch of Cahill. https://mobile.twitter.com/riota2gaoe/status/558604048283090945/photo/1
TomC
Roar Guru
Japan do seem to beat themselves...
Midfielder
Guest
Like wow
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
And there are some strange people out there who want rid of them.
IMMORTALS
Guest
with no Japan and Iran the games are not gonna be fun. uae and Iraq play boring hope south Korea and Australia go to the final.
Johnno
Guest
I find Japan flat track bullies of football. On the big stage at the crunch at clutch plays they choke a lot. 2006 vs socceroos one example, and this debacle, were average at WC 2014. They won the Asian cup 2011, but a lot of chokes as well. They have never beaten the socceroos in Australia in a meaningful game. They choked in Brisbane in a WC qualifier vs us in 2013, and we got a draw or win from memory.
Johnno
Guest
The beautiful mysteries of the penalty shoot out continue.
Griffo
Roar Guru
UAE or Japan it doesn't matter. Can't wait for Tuesday night. Fair to say everyone was expecting Japan, but UAE will make a game of it for sure.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Courageous performance by UAE but Japan have only themselves to balme. Very flat in the first half, no rhythym, baffling tactics with so many long balls into the box. Better in the second half with a bit more energy, creating numerous chances but they failed to make the most of them and in the end their lack of finishing cost them dearly. Too many players had poor games, Inui and Okazaki had poor games and were subbed out early. Nagamoto was busy but ineffectual. Shibosake played well off the bench and finished off with an excellent equaliser. Honda tried his hardest but has too few teammates supporting him. Great start by UAE, their opening few minutes of the match were superb with three early chances resulting in Ali Mabkhout's briiliant first touch strike in the 7th minute. It was backs to the wall defending after that...but they defended well in numbers, kept their nerve in extra time and importantly in the penalties to record one of the biggest upsets in Asian Cup history. Also even though their attacks were very far and few between, they did look dangerous on the counter attack. Australia v UAE in the semi at Newcastle in four days time. South Korea v Iraq in the other semi. Thanks for joining the Roar tonight....what a huge upset!!
Johnno
Guest
We told you so, Johnny Warren must be so proud of the socceroos, and football in OZ now. WSW won a asian champions league, now socceroos in Asian cup semi's, it goes on and on.