Eight losses in 12 games now for the Socceroos under Postecoglou and they won’t get a chance to improve on that before the Asian Cup. It’s hard to know quite what to make of this match, other than the fact that Japan have the Socceroos’ measure. Australia were great value in the first half but couldn’t find the necessary touch in the final third (a familiar refrain). In the second half, Japan got in Australia’s faces and didn’t allow them easy passage from the back. This caused turnovers and goals. If Australia hope to make it to the pointy end of the Asian Cup they’ll need to find another gear, and better concentration in defence.
That’s me out, folks. Thanks for your company and your emails. Night.
Full-time: Japan 2-1 Australia
And that was pretty much the last play of the game.
GOAL! Japan 2-1 Australia (Cahill 90 + 2)
Who else? Ridiculous isn’t it? In a good way. Behich has time to measure a cross on the left and Cahill sneaks his scone between two defenders and nods it home. Simple but effective.
Updated
90 min: We’re almost done here but there’s time for another looping cross from Sakai on the right and another free header near the far post, this time from Toyoda. Ryan makes another save.
88 min: Melbourne City’s Aaron Mooy is on for Robbie Kruse. Mooy is apparently the 42nd player to be used by Postecoglou in his search for the future of Australian football.
86 min: Australia turn over more ball in their own half and Japan play keepings off for a full minute before Honda turns on a dime and attempts a long-range right-foot shot that he shanks.
84 min: Phil Withall writes back in to put Scott Bassett’s mind at ease r.e. Cahill’s exertions. “Tim Cahill could play a full match, travel back to New York in standard accommodation and face a frisking from customs and still play a full and vital game for ‘caffeine FC’. It’s just what he does.”
Honda, meantime, dinks a tricky across across the face of the Socceroos’ goal but there’s no-one in blue shirt to knock it home.
82 min: There’s a scramble in the Socceroos’ penalty area here and it’s hard to follow, much less describe. The end result, however, is a hoof to safety.
79 min: Jedinak pushes forward but under-hits a pass to Leckie allowing him to be rounded up. But it leads to a free-kick from the right. Bresciano curls it in looking for Cahill’s head I’d say, but it doesn’t find it. Or him. Or anyone else in a gold shirt.
78 min: A shot by Inui is smothered and all shape seems to have gone out of the Socceroos. Like that wool jumper you decided would survive the washing machine just fine.
Updated
75 min: About 15 minutes ago I was going to write how little we’d seen of Honda but he’d made his presence known since the thought crossed my mind. So sorry for that. According to Aguirra, Honda is the key player for Japan: “I’ve been working with him for three months now, and I know what he’s thinking just by making eye contact.”
What does this tell us? Never take on a team of Honda and Aguirra in a game of Pictionary.
72 min: Cahill enters the fray for Matt McKay. He’s good, but not that good. Right? This game has turned dramatically since halftime.
GOAL! Japan 2-0 Australia (Ozazaki 69)
But there’s a second, no less than Japan deserve. On the right Morishige carves out some space and he shoots/crosses along the deck where, standing on the six-yard line, Ozazaki backheels it past Ryan, a la David Villa, Spain V Australia in the World Cup. Lovely.
67 min: And another chance goes begging! Sainsbury coughs up possession and Honda finds Ozazaki who dribbles clear but fails to beat Ryan with the goal wide open.
65 min: Inui might have added a second for Japan after he receives the ball just outside the Socceroos’ D. With time to think, he attempts to curl in into the top left as he sees it but it didn’t swing around enough.
64 min: And with that turn of events Postecoglou makes some changes. Bresciano comes on for Troisi, Mitch Nicholls come in for Luongo.
The second half possession is now 61% to 39% in Japan’s favour.
GOAL! Japan 1-0 Australia (Konno 61)
What a terrible goal to concede! Honda curls in a corner from the right and it drifts over a scrum of players along the six-yard line to find Konno in enough space to erect a four-man tent with an alcove. It bounces in front of him and he leans in and heads it home! Where was the marking?
Updated
59 min: And Inui ghosts in at the back post to meet a sweet Sakai cross from the right. He has a clear sight line and time but he can’t keep it down and Ryan looks relieved to see it fly over the bar. Japan have bossed the second half to date.
57 min: Muto is replaced by Inui. Wonder when Postecoglou will unleash his bench. Cahill must be straining at the leash.
55 min: Aguirra is on US$2.5m a year, Simon Hill tells us. Makes me feel good about the peanuts I get paid. And I don’t mean that figuratively.
52 min: More pressure from Japan now —including a snap shot on the turn from Ozazaki which Ryan just beats away!— who have lifted the tempo, perhaps after a bollocking from Aguirra at half-time.
50 min: Luongo is caught napping in his own half by Konno and the substitute races forward and finds Kagawa in space just inside the D. Kagawa turns and shoots but he hits it straight at Ryan. He should have put that away!
47 min: Wilkinson executes a calm defensive header back to Franjic, and a few moments later Luongo pushes forward putting a scare into the Japanese defenders.
Endo is off, by the way, Konno on. No changes to the Socceroos as yet.
Peep!
Japan kicks off the second half, not realising I haven’t even had a chance to get myself a cup of tea! Where is my batman?! My valet? My French maid?
Leke Ojumu, following the game from work, writes in with a Japanese perspective: “After Japan’s desperately disappointing World Cup performance, they’ll seriously need to up their game. They may be one of the strongest teams in Asia, but they are going to have to be a lot more consistent if they want to move into the upper tier of footballing nations. Hopefully, the Asian Cup can provide a testbed for the next generation of quality players that they really need to back up players like Honda and Kagawa.”
Scott Bassett, meantime, is just waking up in New York (I thought it was the city that never sleeps, Scott?) to realise Cahill hasn’t started. “He has made that long journey all the way to Japan and will have to make it back here in time for Sunday afternoon’s Eastern Conference Final, first leg, in the MLS. So I’m guessing he won’t be starting for New York’s local ‘energy drink’ franchise on Sunday. He probably wouldn’t have started anyway, given the form of Peguy Luyindula, but the jet-lag and fatigue will be a factor in the decision too.”
And Philip Fielden drops me a line to say it’s nice to see I am gainfully employed. Nice to hear from you Philip!
Half-time: Japan 0-0 Australia
No goals but that’s as good as the Socceroos have played since the World Cup; there’s hope for the Asian Cup yet. Japan have had their moments, but not the run of play. The Socceroos have had 56% of possession, not bad for an away side. Japan have had one more shot (5-4) and, dispelling expectations, six more fouls (9-3).
Updated
45 min + 1: Honda stands over a free-kick just 5m outside the Socceroos’ D, dead centre. He gives it a welly and though it finds a way through the wall it poses no problems for Ryan.
And that’s half-time, and what an entertaining half it was.
43 min: That was such an important interception by Jedinak as Ozazaki was standing right behind him, sweating on that ball finding a clear passage.
At the other end now and a dangerous cross is met by Kawashima. He performs a diving header just outside his D. Just like van Persie in Brazil. In shape if not result.
40 min: Japan almost go ahead after Honda delivers a spring peach of a pass with the outside of his left boot while he’s facing his own goal. Kagawa is the recipient and he dribbles to the foot of the near post —where Ryan stands guard— hoping to thread an inside ball for a tap in but Jedinak gets in the way.
38 min: The emails are flying in now... nice to hear from you all. Phil Withall reckons that buying into Ange’s dream is paying off. “Whilst the Japanese seem cautious there is a fine positive attitude about the Aussies. For a team ranked in the 90’s by FIFA it’s a solid display so far. Mind you can you trust any information put out by FIFA?”
Greg McCarthy says the Aussies look as “sharp as a sushi chef’s cutting knife so far. Time to put the knife in.”
35 min: The pace has dropped a touch but I’d say Australia have had the better of things so far. And now they are playing out from the back looking as comfortable as a man in trackies and ugg boots.
31 min: Paul Rajkumar is out there (not the on the pitch — I mean in cyberspace) and he asks “How stern does Ange look on the sidelines? On a scale from Very — Extremely?” I haven’t caught sight of him, Paul, but I’ll report back when I can. He does have that kind of face, doesn’t he, but I imagine he’d be delighted right now. So ‘Very’ stern would be my guess given your parameters.
29 min: Leckie, on the right now, curls in a cross, trying to find Kruse in the middle but he puts too much on it.
27 min: A chance goes begging for Australia. Well, a shot at least. Troisi is found in space on the edge of the box and he turns nicely but dallies when he should have passed immediately to an unmarked Franjic on his right. But he doesn’t and he’s closed down.
25 min: The Japanese crowd is bouncing along to a chant that follows the tune of Joplin’s The Entertainer. As they do so, Honda takes aim from a long way out and forces Ryan to ground to save to his right.
24 min: Anyone out there? Email me your thoughts: paul.connolly@theguardian.com.
22 min: Leckie earns Japan a free-kick on the half after bowling Endo end over end. Oh. (Sorry). Hasebe didnt like it. The challenge, that is. Not my joke.
20 min: Some sustained pressure by the Socceroos at the moment, though Troisi has just let Japan off the hook by hitting his free-kick from the right wing straight to Kawashima. It’s a very open game at the moment, and easy to watch because of it. Australia will be pleased with the chances they are creating.
17 min: And moments later Australia come desperately close. Franjic, I think it was, crosses to Leckie in the box and despite having a man sitting on his shoulder like a parrot, he rises high enough to get in a strong header. It was going in but for a lovely save by Kawashima diving to his right!
16 min: Japan come this close! Ota on the left wing crosses and Muto gets his head to it. Ryan does ever so well to tip it onto the bar but as Japan attempt to pounce on the rebound the whistle goes. Muto was offside.
13 min: Leckie wins a throw for Australia by harassing Sakai. He’s been everywhere, Leckie. As has Sakai who is overlapping dangerously.
Updated
10 min: Sakai is fed by Honda drifting in from the left, but his attempt at a cross is met by a sliding Behich. Corner Japan, but it comes to nought, though Leckie was forced to clear in haste as the rise in crowd noise caused my TV to shake a little.
Australia and Japan have certainly developed a strong rivalry, especially since Australia joined the AFC. For the record, it’s seven wins apiece with eight draws.
8 min: Muto gallops down the left flank and cuts back a nice ball, but not as nice as it would have been had there been a blue shirt to meet it.
6 min: Australia win a corner as Leckie tries to turn his man inside the Japan box. Troisi takes it but it’s a dog of a corner and limps to the near post like it’s on three-legs. But Japan don’t clear easily and the ball almost finds its way to Leckie’s boot near the six-yard box.
Updated
5 min: Trosi is cut down from behind on the half for a free kick. I’m sure it had nothing to do with his Gatsby hair-do and light dusting of beard.
3 min: A second foray forward by the Socceroos is spoiled by Sakai who ushers the ball over the byline for a Japan goalkick.
1 min: An early chance falls to James Troisi. A ricochet drops into space ahead of him and he runs to the edge of the D and lets loose, but it’s always curling wide. He might have done better but to be fair he was probably stunned to be presented such an early opportunity.
Peep!
And we are off and running! Australia kick off, Japan watch them do it. The Socceroos are in their gold shirts, green shorts and white socks. The Asian champions are in blue, hence their name Samurai Blue.
Moments away now! Can the Socceroos give themselves an Asian Cup springboard? They need it.
The teams are out! So is FFA boss David Gallop, shaking hands, and winking at the Socceroos as he goes down the line. Now he’s shaking hands with Japan. Well, not the country. The players. No conspiratorial winks for them as far as I could see.
Anthem time. Imagine them.
The teams are in the tunnel. As we await their arrival, here are a few words from Japan coach Javier Aguirra:
I want us to go for the win. This is not a test. All of the players are playing at a high level, but I will use my best 11 tomorrow. We will respect our opponents but our objective is to win the game.
We are going to be playing a team that did not have a game on the last match day. They (Australia) are a title contender for the Asian Cup so it will be good opportunity to see how we match up to them.
I have watched all four of Australia’s games since the World Cup and they are a physical side. They did not have a game a few days ago and are rested. They have been training in Japan for several days now and are taking this game seriously.
We have a responsibility to play good soccer for our supporters and need to put the ball around and have plenty of movement. If we start playing a long ball game then they will have the edge.
Very odd to be watching football on ABC, I must say. Stephanie Brantz hosting, and a team of Francis Leach, Stan Lazaridis and Sasa Ognenovski. Will they offer commentary as attractive as the football promised by Postecoglou? Only time will tell, folks.
And Australia:
Here's the Aus team sheet. Kruse, Troisi, Luongo up front. Cahill on bench. Behich gets a start down back. #JPNvAUS pic.twitter.com/ra53pT7Ag0
— Jack Kerr (@jckkrr) November 18, 2014
The teams in full:
Japan:
Japan line-up for tonight. Kagawa, Okazaki and Honda all start. Uchida on bench. #JPNvAUS pic.twitter.com/hHCijPfsI4
— Jack Kerr (@jckkrr) November 18, 2014
Think about the rubbish food you get in Australia sporting stadia. Here’s a taster from the Guardian’s Jack Kerr:
More reasons Japan rocks: the least exotic foods you can buy at the stadium include bao, sashimi and octopus balls. #JPNvAUS #yumyumyum
— Jack Kerr (@jckkrr) November 18, 2014
Teams (in English this time):
Australia starting XI: Ryan, Franjic, Wilkinson, Sainsbury, Behich, Jedinak, McKay, Luongo, Troisi, Leckie, Kruse.
Japan starting XI: Kawashima, Morishige, Ota, Yoshida, Sakai, Endo, Hasebe, Kagawa, Ozazaki, Honda, Muto.
So Postecoglou has been true to his word in testing some players who might not be automatic starters at the Asian Cup, and resting some who will (like Tim Cahill, who starts from the bench). Wilkinson and Sainsbury will start in central defence, while a front three of Troisi, Leckie and Kruse looks full of toe. But what goals can they produce? As I hinted earlier, Matt McKay gets a gig, as does Swindon Town’s Massimo Luongo.
For Japan, coach Javier Aguirre has picked his trump cards, namely Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa, AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo of Gamba Osaka.
So, I’m sure you’re keen to see Australia’s starting XI. You’ll be surprised. Here it is:
ブリスベン的オーストラリア代表先発予想#daihyo #JPNvAUS #lineup11 pic.twitter.com/snOd8WBpBz
— ブリスべン豪州代表推し (@Brisbane00) November 18, 2014
Actually, what if this tweet is bogus? I’m not exactly a cunning linguist. This could contain some of the worst swearing known to humankind for all I know. No, I don’t mean “McKay” or “Luongo”. I mean something else entirely. Oh well, I’ll leave it up anyway.
Alllll we need is a little patience. So far the Postecoglou reign has been all about a future that has yet to arrive, and it’s why most of us were satisfied with the Socceroos’ effortful but winless showing at the World Cup in Brazil earlier this year. While there has been some discontent, especially since the Socceroos’ loss to Qatar last month, there hasn’t exactly been a clamour for Postecoglou’s head despite the Socceroos’ record under his watch reading two wins and two draws from eleven matches. Such public and media patience reflects, in my mind, the maturation of the Australian football community. We know the Socceroos are in a rebuilding stage after the almost end of the so-called Golden Era (there are a couple of nuggets remaining, not least The Patron Saint of Craniums, Tim Cahill), and we know the stocks aren’t exactly bursting with footballing geniuses demanding to be selected, so by and large we are refraining from witch-hunts and scape-goating and finger-pointing because, as fun as such pursuits are, we know it’s unrealistic to expect much else.
I think the football-supporting populace —and those willing to be converted— also appreciate the positive, attacking philosophy Postecoglou is trying to instill in the team. Whether or not this reflects an Australian trait is debatable (Craig Foster argues it does) but it certainly makes for more attractive viewing when a team goes out to win a match rather than not lose it. Go down swinging and all that…
But let’s be realistic. Such collective patience won’t last forever. How much time do you give a coach to rebuild a team and implement a new style before you expect to see it reflected in results? So all eyes on Ange Postecoglou and the Socceroos as they prepare for the Asian Cup, first by taking on the Cup favourites tonight in Osaka.
Updated
Good evening, sportsfans. Welcome to the Guardian’s live blog of the Socceroos’ friendly with Japan coming to you from the Nagai Stadium, Osaka. Not that I’m in Osaka. Guardian Australia is more likely to appoint Alan Jones as editor than fly me to Japan’s second largest city for a friendly. So I’m writing this from the top floor of the Brunswick Beard Depository building in Melbourne. A long way from Japan, to be sure, but Melbourne is, at least, Osaka’s twin city. Well, one of Osaka’s twin cities. If my memory serves me correctly (my memory being, of course, Wikipedia), Osaka has nine twin cities —which not only stretches the meaning of ‘twin’ way out of shape but makes Melbourne rather less special than it might otherwise be in Osaka’s affections.
Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, Socceroos v Japan, two teams who will hope to be in contention for glory when the 2015 Asian Cup begins in Melbourne on January 9. Between now and then Japan are due to play North Korea on Boxing Day (in Napier, New Zealand, naturally) but for Ange Postecoglou’s struggling Australia this will likely be their last hit out so they’ll be hoping to walk off the pitch tonight with a win under their elasticised waist bands or, at the very least, something to be optimistic about. But for that to happen the Socceroos will need to improve on their last two outings, a bore draw against the United Arab Emirates and a dispiriting 1-0 loss to Qatar. Japan haven’t exactly been setting the football world alight themselves but they are fresh from putting six goals past Honduras and, in front of their home fans, they’ll be determined to keep the good times rolling. I think it’s safe to say, the Socceroos will be up against it tonight.
Kick-off 9.20pm AEDT
After tonight we will have a much better idea of where Australia are in their bid to win the Asian Cup on home soil in January. That’s not just media chat, that’s straight out of the mouths of Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and his young forward Mathew Leckie, who both acknowledged that the clash in Osaka is a benchmark for the team’s progress.
Since Ange took over the reins last October, Australia have won just two of their 11 matches. Even allowing for a horrendous World Cup group where they went down to Chile, Holland and Spain, that’s not great. The limp defeat to Qatar in October came without too many excuses though and although they will face a hostile atmosphere in a sold-out stadium tonight, they must improve.
Kick-off approaches and Paul will be along shortly. Drop him a line why don’t you?: paul.connolly@theguardian.com
