Preview: Australia vs. Japan

June 12th, 2006 | by: Daryl |

GAME DETAILS
Australia vs Japan, Kaiserslautern, 15:00 CET

THE BIG PICTURE
Australia have recently joined Japan in the Asian Football Confederation, so this could be the start of a long running battle for dominance of the region. More immediately, Brazil’s anticipated dominance of Group F means there’s only the runner up spot to play for. If either side loses this game they’ll likely need a result against Ronaldinho and co. to advance.

Scout Report – Australia

Strengths – All but two of the Australian squad play for European teams. Talented striker Mark Viduka sometimes fails to pull his weight for Middlesbrough, but should put in that extra effort when captaining the Socceroos. Harry Kewell has a Champions league winners medal and a touch of class (when he’s in the mood), Tim Cahill has perfected the art of making perfectly timed goal-scoring runs from midfield and Marco Bresciano takes a decent set-piece. They’re a fit, physical team and won’t shy away from making tough tackles. Just ask the Dutch.

Weaknesses – Their (former) affiliation to the Oceania Football Confederation means Australia have never faced quality opposition on a regular basis. Inexperience in international tournaments could also be a factor, especially with their physical approach which could provoke a flurry of cards.

Scout Report – Japan

Strengths – A talented midfield contains Japanese legend Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura (who has been in impressive form for Celtic this season) Shinji Ono and their own set piece specialist Mitsuo Ogasawara. Coach Zico’s relaxed footballing philosophy will give these four players more scope to be creative then predecessor Phillipe Troussier’s rigid (but effective) approach.

Weaknesses – Zico has brought five strikers to Germany, but not because they were all too good to leave behind. Japan are seriously lacking a reliable goal-scorer, which could prove their undoing. While the defence doesn’t lack talent, only Yuji Nakazawa could be described as tall, which could make Japan vulnerable from set pieces.

Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers; name, caps, goals, coach

Australia (4-5-1): 1-Mark Schwarzer (37-0); 7-Brett Emerton (46-11), 2-Lucas Neil (24-0), 3-Craig Moore (32-2), 14-Scott Chipperfield (44-11); 13-Vince Grella (17-0), 5-Jason Culina (12-1), 4-Tim Cahill (16-9), 23-Marco Bresciano (23-7), 10-Harry Kewell (20-6); 11-Mark Viduka (32-6) Coach: Guus Hiddink

Japan (3-5-2): 23-Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (89-0); 5-Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (captain, 69-3), 22-Yuji Nakazawa (50-9), 19-Keisuke Tsuboi (33-0); 3-Yuichi Komano (8-0), 7-Hidetoshi Nakata (74-11), 15-Takashi Fukunishi (62-7), 10-Shunsuke Nakamura (60-15), 14-Alex (72-5); 9-Naohiro Takahara (41-17), 13-Atsushi Yanagisawa (56-17) Coach: Zico

THE BOTTOM LINE
Bob sez: Japan 2-1
Chris sez: Australia 1-0
Sean sez: Australia 2-1
Peter sez: 1-1
Nick sez: Japan 1-0

Bet on Australia vs. Japan (UK Bets Here)

LIVEBLOG
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IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS

Australia

The sixth hole at Australia’s Koolan Island Golf Course is the longest in the world, measuring 860 yards.

There around twice as many kangaroos as there are people in Australia (though none good enough to make the World Cup team).

Australia Team Blog
Team roster
Buy a Australia jersey to support the team

Japan

Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita, with about one machine for every 23 people.

Japan hosted the first Robot Soccer World Cup, commonly known as the RoboCup, back in 1997. None of the robots did a ‘Peter Crouch dance’ when they scored.

Japan Republic Team Blog
Team Roster
Buy a Japan jersey to support the team

TEAM BLOGS & DISCUSSIONS
Australia Team Blog
Japan Team Blog

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

Bidemi

Hmm…this will be a good appetizer for my main course today (USA v. Czech Rep).
enzo

This is it, mates! It’s do not die tonight, then a draw with Brazil. Yeah, that’s right, a draw with Brazil. It’s not impossible. Think positive, everyone. Then 2-1 against Croatia. Second round, who cares! I’ll be speaking with a hoarse whisper, but it won’t stop me from writing to this blog site. Go Aussies Go. Oi Oi Oi
http://australia.worldcupblog.org Matt

Harry Kewell will be starting on the bench tonight. Mile Sterjovski will be taking up the left midfield spot.
http://australia.worldcupblog.org Matt

I feel like a 5 year old before Xmas.
BrendanLee

..both the teams had good players…,never the less the assuies will rul
e tonight .
Kapila

will see how is autralia , after 32 years, soccer not like a rugby or cricket.

kapila
Hime

Nippon Banzai!!!
enzo

Kapila, what are you insinuating? We are happy to be in the Finals, why deny us that? “Soccer not like rugby or cricket” – that reads like a slur to me. If Australia loses, we will continue to cheer for it. Don’t be a spoilsport, be happy when others are happy. Gee wizz.
Martin

Let’s go boys. Sterjovski, not sure about that. Rather Skoko and move Culina further forward.

2-1 Aussies.
Trapper

It only dawned on me last week that after 6 months of waiting (or 32 years!) this game was ACTUALLY going to be played.

I think it is on paper the most even game so far in this World Cup.

I can’t help thinking it’s going to be 1-1.

C’mon Aussie C’mon!
Renga

Japan will win but only because they have more experience at this level. Kewell is hardly a threat eventhough i fear Viduka might find this match a stage to perform some heroic act. Nakamura and Nakata will have to hold the midfield together and if Yanagisawa is in form, its Japan all the way!!
BrendanLee

Opps…i was terrible,no,no,no,
The Aussies are horrible,the team has no talent at all.kewell’s telling us he’s not 100%,Viduka is way too old…,It’ll be the aussies winning this ,against stronger team…no way!
ELVIS KING PACHECO

I,M FROM BELIZE WE DID NOT GET IN THE NEXT WORLD CUP,IM GUESS
IS MEX VS BRZ T.N.T VS MEX
T.N.T VS BRZ T.N.T VS ARG
ARG VS BRZ .
OR USA VS T.N.T.SOMEONE
ELVIS KING PACHECO

WOULD BE NICE TO SEE CANADA VS T.N.T CAN VS BEZ CAN VS MEX
CAN VS ARG CAN VS USA
stroder1977

What Champions…Everyone didnt give us a chance, but the best way to slience a critic is to win and win well…

Bring on the Brazilians!!!

Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!!

Go Aussie Go…
http://www.wokka.com Michael Bailey

yeah Australia won now its our chance to beat the worlds best.

C’mon Aussies support our team

go Aussies
http://www.dorkyboy.com/?p=32 dorkyboy » Blog Archive » carn!

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