Australia
0
Match Complete
Japan
2
| 94' |  | K. Mitoma | ||
| 89' | | K. Mitoma | ||
| G. Stensness |  | 54' | ||
| C. Metcalfe | | 15' | ||
| 10' | | Y. Nagatomo |
| 9 | Shots | 19 | ||
| 3 | On Target | 6 | ||
| 11 | Fouls | 15 | ||
| 4 | Corners | 3 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 5 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
It’s now or never for the Socceroos, who must beat Japan in Homebush to have any realistic hopes of qualifying directly for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Unfortunately for coach Graham Arnold, he oversees a squad beset with problems – not least Arnold’s second COVID-19 diagnosis. The Socceroos coach was handed a $25,000 fine by Football Australia during the week for breaching COVID protocols and it remains to be seen whether the embattled tactician even takes his place on the bench.
If Arnold is absent, assistant coach Rene Meulensteen will take charge. Whoever is in the dugout will be missing a host of big-name players, including playmakers Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic, midfielders Jackson Irvine and Riley McGree, long-term absentee Adam Taggart and the in-form Craig Goodwin.
The absence of so many frontline players means several lesser lights will be expected to step up, with Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Ajdin Hrustic set to play a key role as Australia’s playmaker on the night. Jamie Maclaren will lead the line in attack, with Bruno Fornaroli likely to feature off the bench, while Denis Genreau and Jimmy Jeggo are both in line to start.
Japan have problems of their own, with regular right-back Hiroki Sakai and first-choice striker Yuya Osako both failing to make the trip to Australia, while Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu and Celtic striker Daizen Maeda are other notable absentees. Coach Hajime Moriyasu remains unpopular in his homeland – in part because he continues to favour his regular favourites at the expense of a talented cast of reserves waiting in the wings.
That has had the unusual effect of making Japan overly reliant on a not-always-effective starting eleven, and there’s a distinct lack of goals in Moriyasu’s squad. The exception is Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino, who looks Japan’s most reliable route to goal despite usually playing out wide.
The Samurai Blue will be fired up for a clash expected to draw around 40,000 fans to Accor Stadium. They view the Socceroos as one of their main rivals and will seal progression to the World Cup finals with a win in Homebush.
Game information
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Kick-off: 8:10pm AEDT
Broadcast: Channel 10
Live stream: 10 Play app and website
Betting: Australia $2.80, Draw $3.00, Japan $2.55 – odds via PlayUp
Kewell
Roar Rookie
Locking the the sport best leagues like the EPL and Euro games behind pay walls means many less eyes are watching football. There was a time when EPL was on the ABC and I am sure that helped get a lot of young players get into football.
jbinnie
Guest
Error - the game I watched years ago was against Thailand. Sorry jb.
jbinnie
Guest
Mike- some months ago I wrote that some time spent studying today's European teams would show that the game had progressed tactically inasmuch that the emphasis was very heavily on the movement of the ball with short sharp passing and the movement of players, when in possession (on attack), and the picking up of opponents when defending ,getting goal-side of them and introducing a high pressing to try and regain possession A.S.A.P. It was obvious last night that the Japanese had looked ,and learned and at times they were actually toying with the Socceroos who contained players who were spending more time ball watching than they were in making it hard for the opposition. The danger as I see it is that the introduction of young players like King, Tilio and Metcalfe into the furnace of World Cup ties that have a must win tag on them, can do more harm than good to their young psyches. Many years ago I watched a Korean team play the Socceroos at Suncorp and though the Socceroos won narrowly it was obvious that the Asiatics were embracing fast attacking football. Last night showed that Japan have achieved the pinnacle of that now common way of playing football. Last night the Socceroos were simply outplayed by a well organised team, who had a plan ,and stuck rigidly to it. and we were a bit lucky the score wasn't 4 or 5 -0. Maybe we should just write off this season and start to educate our players into the modern game, the sooner the better. Cheers jb..
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Well, he's not wrong. We're still in the race, and you have to keep going forward as if we remain a good chance to qualify (which we still do, until we don't). But yeh, speaking more generally, why did anyone think this time around it would be any different to our first foray into Asia back in 2007?
Mark
Guest
I would actually say Arnies done a very good job considering the lack of talent available to him How many Aussies are in the EPL now? (or Serie A/La Liga/Bundesliga)
Mark
Guest
At least they will get the benefit of lower expectations following this failure and a substantially easier path to qualifying.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
You nailed it Mike.
Mark
Guest
Not just the coach and players. Don’t forget about clubs that refuse to release players for the national team for crunch qualifiers. Across the game we have those who put themselves above the national team, which is a pity because the game’s current struggles here make clear it needs a healthy Socceroos.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
FULL-TIME 0-2 I don't know what to say. But as someone who lived in Japan for three years, I can guarantee we are nowhere near their level. And we never will be until there's a root-and-branch review of the way football is run in Australia. Thanks for joining me on the blog tonight. Next week's clash in Saudi Arabia is effectively a dead rubber.
me too
Roar Rookie
Is arnie good enough to coach in the world cup finals? Is this squad good enough to play in the world cup finals? Shaking my head at both. Going to be a long road back for australian soccer.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
It was just the loss to Japan that was bad, how about the crowd? Has to be one of the smallest to a major WCQ game yet. And going by twitter everyone (crowd) were man handled and scanned for weapons wot a joke.
Chopper
Roar Rookie
Accountability starts with the coach and his motivation of the players but more so the ease which he has given caps out to all and sundry and to an extent where the caps mean nothing to many of the players that have been given this honour. Players who refuse to be selected because they "need a holiday" or need to get married have the wrong attitude to play for this country.
Linphoma
Guest
Negative statements from the coaching staff yesterday. What did you expect? Wake up Australian public. As far as the world game is in this country, this country cannot embrace a world view playing the game. That goes to developing players, identifying players, empowering coaching programs.... Let's go on forever.
martianlily
Roar Rookie
Arnie's time is up but I don't envy whoever inherits this current crop of bang average players
Mark
Guest
No different to last time around.
Mark
Guest
This is where we’re at. No coach is going to get much more out of this squad or any other players at our disposal. This outcome is the product of 15 years plus of failed player development. We have been in decline since 2006 and it shows no signs of stopping.
Isaac Buatava
Roar Pro
Arnold just said and I paraphrase…we got 3rd spot and we gotta be positive about that…..really!
Isaac Buatava
Roar Pro
Fair enough
Isaac Buatava
Roar Pro
Agree, BUT all those draws mid campaign along with a coaches narrative that they were playing well regardless of those results shows a coach maybe not up to the task.
Trung
Guest
Arnold has to go. I have no confidence of us beating UAE not to mention the South American The last time we played against UAE we lost at the quarter finals of the Asia Cup 2019. We have stagnated since then and it’s likely the results will be the same if nothing is change