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Socceroos vs Japan highlights: World Cup qualifier scores, blog

11th October, 2016
Kickoff: 8pm (AEDT)
Venue: Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Head-to-head: Played 22, Australia 6, Japan 8, draws 8
Last meeting: Japan 2-1 Australia (18/11/14 – Friendly – Nagai)
Betting: Australia $2.50, draw $3.20, Japan $2.87
Football's place in Australian society is no less significant than any other sport. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Guru
11th October, 2016
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9661 Reads

The stakes are raised in this match between Asia’s heavyweights, as the Socceroos and Japan meet again in World Cup qualification. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm (AEDT).

A solitary point separates four teams in what is shaping as a mouthwatering fight for qualification from Group B.

Australia’s last-start draw reinforced their top billing, but still leaves them with a tough task to qualify in the remaining six matches.

The Socceroos’ finest footballing moment measured by silverware is their Asian Cup triumph last year, but their 3-1 victory over the Blue Samurai at the 2006 World Cup will run a close second in terms of setting them on the world stage. Regardless, the Blue Samurai have won three of the last five meetings, with Australia’s last win occurring in June 2009 – in Melbourne.

Coach Ange Postecoglou is expected to make changes to the side that drew with Saudi Arabia last week, with Massimo Luongo likely for a recall alongside Aaron Mooy in the centre of the pitch. As two sides that look to play the ball quickly upfield, with short and clinical passing, Luongo’s influence will be to open up Japan’s defence for Australia’s front two to exploit.

While Tom Rogic should retain his spot, Postecoglou may turn to the evergreen Tim Cahill to continue his decade-long torment of Japanese defences. The gaffer will not be persuaded to change his defensive personnel, despite giving away two poor goals in Jeddah.

Japan sit in fourth place currently, which only incentivises their trip to Melbourne further, as a loss would leave their qualification hopes in critical danger. Were it not for midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi’s 95th-minute winner against Iraq last week, the Blue Samurai’s campaign would already be almost terminal.

While the stirring effect of their win may rekindle their credentials against the Socceroos, hoodoos need to be broken should Japan maintain pace with their Group B rivals, as their last win against the Socceroos on Australian soil was 18 years ago.

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Coach Vahid Halilhodžić will make sweeping changes, with European-based stars Yuto Nagatomo and Shinji Kagawa likely to come in after missing the Iraq game. Kagawa’s influence is sorely in need, with Japan’s best hopes to return Australia’s willingness to attack in kind with swift counterattacks.

In Keisuke Honda and Leicester City’s Shinji Okazaki in tow, Japan have goals in them, and will present a persistent challenge to Australia’s susceptible back four.

A win for either side will likely catapult them to group favourites, yet with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates both in the mix, neither side will attack with too much abandon.

An early goal may open the contest up, yet the longer the game proceeds without a goal, then a draw may present the mutually best result for these rivals.

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