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Japan vs Australia highlights: Socceroos World Cup qualifier scores, blog

31st August, 2017
Where: Saitama Stadium
When: Thursday 31st August, 8.30pm (AEST)
TV: Fox and Channel Nine
Betting: Japan $1.85, Draw $3.50, Australia $4.20

Teams

Japan


Goalkeepers: Kawashima Eiji (Football Club de Metz/France), Higashiguchi Masaaki (Gamba Osaka), Nakamura Kosuke (Kashiwa Reysol)

Defenders: Nagatomo Yuto (FC Internazionale Milano/Italy), Makino Tomoaki (Urawa Red Diamonds), Yoshida Maya (Southampton FC/England), Sakai Hiroki (Olympique de Marseille/France), Sakai Gotoku (Hamburger Sport-Verein/Germany), Shoji Gen (Kashima Antlers), Ueda Naomichi (Kashima Antlers), Miura Genta (Gamba Osaka)

Midfielders: Hasebe Makoto (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Takahagi Yojiro (F.C. Tokyo), Kagawa Shinji (Borussia Dortmund/Germany), Yamaguchi Hotaru (Cerezo Osaka), Kobayashi Yuki (SC Heerenveen/Netherlands), Shibasaki Gaku (Getafe CF/Spain), Ideguchi Yosuke (Gamba Osaka)

Forwards: Okazaki Shinji (Leicester City Football Club/England), Honda Keisuke (CF Pachuca/Mexico), Inui Takashi (SD Eibar/Spain), Osako Yuya (1.FC Koeln/Germany), Haraguchi Genki (Hertha BSC Berlin/Germany), Muto Yoshinori (1.FSV Mainz 05/Germany), Sugimoto Kenyu (Cerezo Osaka), Kubo Yuya (KAA Gent/Belgium), Asano Takuma (VfB Stuttgart/Germany)

Australia

Goalkeepers: Adam Federici, Mathew Ryan, Daniel Vukovic

Defence: Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Ryan McGowan, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Matthew Spiranovic, Bailey Wright

Midfield: Mustafa Amini, Jackson Irvine, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, James Troisi

Forwards: Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren
Massimo Luongo of Australia is congratulated by Brad Smith and Aaron Mooy after scoring during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between the Australian Socceroos and Iraq at nib Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Expert
31st August, 2017
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Match result:

The Samurai Blue have beaten the Socceroos 2-0 at the Saitama Stadium and fully deserved their victory.

» World Cup highlights and video

Final score
Japan 2
Australia 0

Match preview:

Japan and Australia meet in a crucial World Cup qualification clash as the race for Russia 2018 reaches its penultimate round of matches. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:35pm (AEST).

The UAE have done both the Socceroos and Japan a favour with their shock victory against Saudi Arabia mid-week and this game now looms as a chance for the two combatants to lock in a place in an automatic qualifying position.

Final standings will not be known until the next round is completed, but a win tonight puts Japan well clear and cements their position at the top of the ladder.

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A Socceroos win would see them assume top spot and, with the Thailand clash looming next week, presents the chance for the team to remain undefeated through the entire qualifying campaign.

It has been an extended period since the Australians last tasted victory against the Samurai Blue and tonight they will face a world-class Japan, blessed with talent all over the park. How Ange Postecoglou approaches his structure will be fascinating.

Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic loom as potential ‘ins’ after missing Australia’s last match of the Confederations Cup, a performance still being lauded as one of the Socceroos best in some time. Who to leave out, is the key question for the manager.

In one of Asian football’s best rivalries, the two teams will throw everything they have at each other, knowing the carrot of qualification is before their very eyes.

Prediction
The class of the Japanese team will dominate at times, yet Australia will look dangerous in front of goal after their solid performances in the Confederations Cup.

Look for plenty of goals to be scored as both teams attack the game.

Japan 2, Australia 2

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