So Australia’s World Cup campaign is over, but the tournament continues. England will play Canada shortly, and we’ll be running a live blog of the game. The winner of that game will meet Japan in the semi-finals. The other semi will be between the USA and Germany.
Thanks for your emails and patronage. Time for a strong coffee. Cheers.
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Football is inherently cruel, we know that, but as disappointed as Australia will be to lose to an 87th-minute goal they will know they were thoroughly outplayed by Japan. Compared to the Matildas’ earlier matches, they looked flat and tired and simply couldn’t sustain the energy needed to trouble Japan who passed well, constructed chances smartly, and always had bodies around the ball in attack and defence. It could be that Australia’s tough group and knock-out game against Brazil took too much out of them but even at their freshest Japan were always going to be a huge challenge.
A few words from a disappointed but generous Aussie coach, Alen Stajcic:
“In terms of courage, heart and spirit it was fantastic, but in terms of execution it was not one of our best games. Japan were the better team today. It was a scrappy way to score a goal but you can’t say they didn’t deserve it.
“They had better calmness and composure on the ball... and we turned it over way too cheaply. We got back into the game for a good 20 to 30-minute period in the second half but some cheap turnovers cost us possession, and corners, and eventually we paid the price on one of them.”
“I’m really proud of everyone’s effort... I don’t think heat played a factor. Skill and technique played a factor, not heat. They were more composed and made better decisions on the ball.”
Full-time: Australia 0-1 Japan
And there’s the fulltime whistle. Japan win, Australia fall to their knees, gutted at the result and a long way from recognising what an excellent tournament they’ve had.
90 min + 3: Van Egmond has a long-range attempt and though she hits it well enough it is directed straight at Fukumoto.
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89 min: A killer blow it seems with full-time looming. Australia push forward and they manage a cross into the box but it’s hopeful and Fukumoto leaps high to catch it and is bundled over due to the crush of bodies around her.
88 min: Kyah Simon is replaced which allows me a moment to run you through that goal. It came from a corner from the left that dropped into the Aussie box and caused havoc. In a scrap of bodies Australia couldn’t clear and after Iwashimizu had a shot blocked it fell to an unmarked Iwabuchi for a tap in.
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GOAL! Australia 0-1 Japan (Iwabuchi 87)
That miss hardly matters now as Japan score a well-deserved goal. Australia have a mountain to climb now. Or at least a very large hill, which tend to be called mountains in Australia.
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84 min: Japan are full of energy it seems and they fashion another great chance. A cross comes in from the right and Ogimi meets it on the right edge of the six-yard box. As it falls over her right shoulder she attempts a tough volley but can’t direct it on goal.
82 min: Kerr is doubled over, looking as exhausted as a pair of socks you’ve worn on a 98km hike across a desert track.
80 min: Kellond-Knight does ever so well to muscle Litsugi off the ball as she runs into the box following a peach of a short ball from Iwabuchi, who’s been great since coming on. And still it’s 0-0.
78 min: There is some space in behind the Aussie defence as they look to push forward. And Heyman gets into the action on the left, squeaking a pass inside which is in turn rolled back to Catley who might have had a crack from the left edge of the box but instead chipped into to the far post. But she had too much potato on it and it drops over the byline. A wasted opportunity that.
77 min: Another Japan corner after Australia’s Crummer blocks a shot from Kawasumi after she ran onto a squared ball from Ogimi. It comes to nothing, so breath easy Aussie fans.
75 min: Japan head a Foord long ball into touch and that allows for the Aussie sub: Heyman on, Gorry off.
73 min: As Japan win a corner after a great turn from the fresh Iwabuchi on the byline, Stajcic readies Michelle Heyman on the sideline. Australia do need fresh legs out there.
70 min: Oh no! Ohno is off, subbed for Iwabuchi, so my prediction that she’d be the one to break the deadlock falls flat. Don’t listen to a thing I say. Keep reading, mind...
67 min: As Stajcic looks concerned on the bench, a word from Sam in San Antonio: “Howdy from ridiculously humid San Antonio... Hoping Aussies do well, but given Japan’s apparent stubbornness, are we looking at penalties here? Or a moment of epic freakout from over-hot feet on a plastic field, and a red card, then a penalty kick? The heat here today is enough to drive me to kick someone, which is why I’m reading MBM, loafing on a couch, cat on chest. But not an overly warm cat, mind.”
I can’t see it going to penalties personally: Japan’s efforts will either be rewarded or, less likely, a catastrophic error or piece of skill will lead to an opportunistic Aussie goal and then the Matildas will hold on, boosted by adrenaline. Fence-sitting? Yes.
66 min: Further to my comment below:
Lots saying #JPN's Shinobu Ohno will score the first goal! Let's wait & see! #FIFAWWC #AUSJPN http://t.co/BqoW6MXu9W pic.twitter.com/niGiUaM36N
— FIFA Women'sWorldCup (@FIFAWWC) June 27, 2015
64 min: Australia just can’t build pressure and now, though Gorry wins the ball in midfield, her searching ball for Kerr can’t be controlled and the attempt at a quick counter ends up in a Japan throw.
63 min: Ariyoshi again finds space deep in Australia’s half and were it not for the timely interception of Kennedy her cross would have sat up nicely for Ogimi.
60 min: I have to keep reminding myself that it’s still 0-0. It feels like Australia are chasing this game such is the dominance of Japan.
58 min: Japan go close again and it came from a lovely exchange of touches. First Kawasumi, on the right edge of Australia’s 18-yard box, turned towards her own goal and backheeled the ball to Ariyosji who was charging forward. She then crossed to Miyama at the near post and her attempt at a cheeky David Villa-like shot (a kind of inside flick off the trailing leg) just slid by the right upright.
55 min: Another opportunistic strike, this time from the other side of the field. I missed which Matilda it was, but her shot was blazed over the bar with some measure of comfort for the Japanese keeper. Japan then counter down the right wing and a lovely measured cross drops on the head of Ohno who tries to glance it past Williams’ right glove but she doesn’t get enough on it and it falls wide of the right post.
53 min: But there’s always opportunism: Sakaguchi gets her feet in knots which sees the ball run to Van Egmond in midfield. She slides it left to Kerr who is in space. She sets her sights on the bottom right corner but her shot is more of a pass and though Fukumoto is forced to dive to her left there just wasn’t enough power on it.
51 min: I’m not sure how the Matildas can get into this game, given to do so will take an injection of energy that they seem to be lacking.
49 min: Fukumoto ventures out of the box to leather the ball upfield and after a few touches the ball runs into the Matildas’ box. Williams seems stuck in quicksand as a Japanese player hares towards the ball but she finally un-bogs her feet and dives over the ball.
47 min: Alys writes back to make another pointer of progress: while she watches football her husband does the washing up. “Even more heartening...” she says. Indeed, it’s always heartening to see someone else do any kind of domestic chore.
46 min: And immediately Williams is called into action, cleaning up at the back as Japan press.
Peeeeep!
We’re underway in the second half with Australia kicking off and looking to get more of a foothold in this game which will be a difficult assignment as they, more than Japan, seem to be feeling the pinch.
Have a chew on this:
HT: #AUS 0-0 #JPN. #JPN with more possession, but #AUS not allowing quality chances. #AUSJPN http://t.co/BqoW6MXu9W pic.twitter.com/BsarRkSaEJ
— FIFA Women'sWorldCup (@FIFAWWC) June 27, 2015
Half-time: Australia 0-0 Japan
Japan enjoy by far the better of play but it’s all square at the break and I’ll be popping the kettle on now. Back in a sec.
45 min: As halftime approaches, Alys in Islington writes it to say she’s watching the game “with my husband’s godson, Theo, who is 11. We’re watching the China vs USA on the iplayer at the same time. When I was his age I’d have struggled to get my male mates to watch a game of women’s football. It’s heartening, this.”
It is, Alys. The challenge is for this interest to be maintained outside of these big tournaments.
44 min: When the ball falls to her in midfield, some 35m out, Simon has a crack from distance. It hits the target but standing in front of it is the Japan keeper Fukumoto who deals with it easily.
42 min: Now De Vanna, a striker you’ll recall, finds herself on the Australia byline to make a telling slide tackle. Full field commitment from the Aussie captain there.
41 min: Foord, I think it was, hoofs the ball to no-one such is her desperation to clear it from danger. Australia tend to play a modern possession-based game; that was a window into the past.
39 min: Williams comes off her line to claim a cross from Sameshima that followed a number of passes so incisive they could cut a finger. Australia will be happy to head into halftime all square.
37 min: Catley is down receiving attention to a right ankle by the looks of it, but she’s up now so all’s well. Unlike the men’s game you tend to believe someone is injured or hurt in the women’s game. The lack of histrionics is one of its standout features when comparisons are drawn.
35 min: It’s 62% possession to Japan so far which can be attributed to their high work rate in defence as well as their ability to keep possession. Whenever the Matildas get on the ball they are quickly smothered.
32 min: Quickly down the other end Miyama attempts a long-range shot on goal and she hits it cleanly, forcing Williams to tip it over the bar. This game is warming up now, like the pitch I imagine.
31 min: Now it’s De Vanna’s turn to beat a defender with a sweet pirouette and it allows her to motor upfield towards Japan’s penalty area. As defenders approach she passes square to Gorry but her shot is blocked.
28 min: Ogimi turns as if on a lazy Susan on the left wing and puts in a dangerous cross which Australia clear, but moments later Japan win a corner from the opposite flank. Miyama’s corner drops at the six yard box but Australia scramble the ball to safety.
27 min: ...but drags it wide of the left post.
26 min: Sam Kerr is body checked by Iwashimizu outside the box and the Japan defender earns a yellow for the challenge. It gives the Matildas a free kick in a good position for a right footer. Kennedy stands over it...
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24 min: Japan are not exactly cutting Australia up but they are looking increasingly threatening and they’ve had by far the better of play.
22 min: Japan come close again! This time Kawasumi is in acres of space on the right and it gives her time to measure a pass to Ohno (I don’t know what it is about Ohno’s name but it gives me the feeling that she might be the deliverer of bad news) who’s first time shot from the right edge of the six-yard box just fails to find the top right corner of the goal with Williams a spectator.
20 min: One thing about the play being in Australia’s half is that it allows for the Matildas’ quick counter, and we get a taste of it with Katrina Gorry bursting forward. But her attempt to thread the ball in behind the Japan defence to Kerr flying down the left flank is intercepted.
18 min: Japan are pushing forward now, with the play in the Matildas’ half. And a clever reverse pass from Ohno almost creates a shot for Miyama but Kennedy beats her to it.
16 min: Alleway intercepts a firmly hit through-ball from Sameshima but then overhits her ball to Catley’s wing. We’re not quite on song just yet.
13 min: As Japan work it out from their own line Simon puts pressure on their fullbacks, harrying between them like a kelpie. That full-court pressure has been a feature of the Matildas this tournament.
12 min: That last entry, of course, sparked a good piece of play from the Matildas. Winning the ball in midfield Emily Van Egmond slid a lovely through-ball to Simon who was shaping her right boot for a shot on goal when Japan’s Iwashimizu slid in with a last-ditch tackle.
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10 min: Australia are responding to Japan’s movement and play at the moment more so than getting on the front foot.
8 min: Chance, Japan! A long ball from the centre circle sails over the heads of the Matildas’ midfield and it drops kindly for Ohno who swings her hips and attempts a first-time lob with Williams off her line. But she put too much on it and Williams looks on with relief as it sails over the bar.
7 min: Japan start to settle and they string together some sharp passes but a high backline from the Matildas catches them offside.
5 min: De Vanna goes for a gallop down the right wing but the ball gets away from her, almost as if it were round, and it runs over the touchline.
3 min: It’s been a scrappy start as both teams size each other up. Kev O’Rourke, in Sydney, wins the award for first contributor and he’s already answering questions and mentioning bed-wear: “Paul, in your part of the World (if you were in a press box in Edmonton in your best M&S nightwear for the Aged – making you the Journo to avoid) the warm wind that whistles through the Rocky Mountains Whistler to Edmonton is the Chinook.”
1 min: An early offside call against Ogimi from a headed-on long ball. She’s one of Japan’s six different goal scorers in the tournament to date, all with one each. By contrast the Matildas have relied on Kyah Simon’s three goals and De Vanna’s two.
Peeeeeeep!
And we’re off and racing, Japan kicking us off. If you’re picturing this in your mind’s eye they’ll be running right to left, the Matildas left to right.
Kick-off is imminent, so I hope you have a cup of tea in your hands. Or perhaps the young ’uns amongst you are just getting in, half cut, hopeful and ready for one last beverage. Either way, send your good vibes to Edmonton.
The national anthems are being played, and we are again reminded how sombre and soulful the Japanese anthem is. Juxtaposed against it Australia’s sounds like a Wiggles song.
Enough about breezes and pyjamas for the moment, however. The teams are making their way onto the pitch! The Aussies look wonderful in their green and gold and they have their game faces on. Japan are in all blue, a rather fetching navy. They also seem to have their game faces on. They must have been handed out in the dressing rooms.
Aussie captain Lisa De Vanna is now reading a FIFA Fair Play promise of some sort 9I promise not to boot anyone up the date) and while it seems English is her second language I imagine she’s just nervous. Perhaps more nervous about reading out those few sentences in front of a crowd than playing in front of that same crowd.
What about the weather, you ask? Dark and cold from where I’m sitting in my dressing gown* but a lovely 26 degrees C in Edmonton. That said, playing as they are on artificial grass which has a rubber base, the pitch temperature will be about 10 degrees warmer. I’ve played on such pitches and you can feel the heat through your boots and whistling up the legs of your shorts like a Fremantle Doctor. Sorry, THE Fremantle Doctor. That’s a cooling breeze, but it’s far too early in the morning for me to remember the name of a warm breeze.
If you can, send me a line: paul.connolly@theguardian.com
*Only started using a dressing gown, and proper pyjamas for that matter, a few months ago. I’d always seen the use of such garments as a sign that I’d given up on life, that I was welcoming the approach of Death to my door. It’s been a slippery slope for now I’m never out of the bloody thing.
Teams:
#JPN XI: Kaihori (GK), Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Sameshima, Sakaguchi, Miyama (C), Kawasumi, Ohno, Utsugi, Ogimi, Ariyoshi pic.twitter.com/Clao7JzkZl
— FIFA Women'sWorldCup (@FIFAWWC) June 27, 2015
Starting XI for @TheMatildas Can they topple the world champions #JPN? #AUSJPN #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/GnCpysJdfM
— The Women's Game (@TheWomensGame) June 27, 2015
The Matildas have received a lot of attention in the media over the past few weeks (including the attention drawn to their relatively paltry remuneration) and though I feel it has sometimes skirted the fringes of patronisation you can understand the overhaul enthusiasm as the Matildas have earned their plaudits. Not only did they survive the obligatory Group of Death after beating Nigeria and drawing with Sweden (having first lost to the USA after giving them a fright) they then, for the first time in Australian football history, won a knock-out game in a World Cup; their round of 16 encounter against Brazil, a nation that issues every newborn with a football, a hat made out of fruit, and a licence to use them. Best of all they did all this by playing brave and enterprising football.
As such, Caitlin Murray in the Guardian earlier this week ranked the Matildas second only to Germany in her ‘power list’ and on that basis you’d infer they were favourites to beat Japan today. I’d caution against any expectations along those lines. Japan are the reigning World Cup holders and have won all four of their games so far in the tournament. It’s true their opponents (Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador and the Netherlands) have not been as strong as those the Matildas have faced but they are a sharp team with metronomic passing and they’ll be every bit as confident as the Aussies. The two nations have faced each other 22 times over the years and Japan hold the upper hand, winning nine, with eight draws and five wins to the Matildas. The last time they played was in the 2014 Asian Cup final when Japan edged them 1-0.
But Australia will be going in with expectations of victory themselves and they are a team that plays as such. Moreover, they have a lot of years behind them. Striker Lisa De Vanna, Claire Polkinghorne, keeper Lydia Williams, Caitlin Foord, Kyah Simon, Sam Kerr, Emily Van Egmond, Tameka Butt, Elise Kellond-Knight, Servet Uzunlar and Melissa Barbieri have all at least one World Cup under their elasticised waistbands. That grounding in big match experience goes some way to explain the Matildas’ excellent showing at this tournament. That and self-belief, and a willingness to wash their underpants in sinks, something I dare say Tim Cahill has never done.
Preamble
It’s difficult to get your head around but many people wake up at this ungodly hour to exercise. Can you imagine, as you sit there in your dressing gown, with your head looking like a can that’s been kicked down a long street (or is that just me?), pounding the footpaths right now, or slipping into the nearby outdoor 50m pool, or even hitting a tractor tire with a sledgehammer while a man with anger management issues yells at you like Sgt Hartman in Full Metal Jacket?
Of course we have a better reason to beat the sun this morning, and that’s to follow the fortunes of the Australia women’s football team, the Matildas, who in about half an hour will run out onto the rubber and perma-green plastic pitch of the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton to play holders Japan in the World Cup quarter-finals.
It’s a tough assignment for Alen Stajcic’s team but win this morning (or afternoon in Edmonton) and the Matildas will face the winner of Canada v England in the semifinal —that’s the WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL if you don’t mind— which is a tasty proposition when you see that the other side of the draw contains heavyweights USA and, arguably, the tournaments’ most impressive team, Germany.
But unlike driving, there’s nothing to be gained in sport by looking ahead. So forget I mentioned that. Mentioned what? Exactly.
KICK-OFF: 6am (2pm local)
And you’re the type who likes facts, here are a few to ponder ahead of kick-off.
World rankings – Australia: No10, Japan: No4
Best World Cup performance – Australia: quarter-finals (2007, 2011), Japan: winner (2011)
Head-to-head record – 21 meetings, Australia 5 wins, Japan 8 wins, 8 draws
Australia
Path to quarter-finals – Australia qualified second in Group D
United States 3-1 Australia (Winnipeg)
Australia 2-0 Nigeria (Winnipeg)
Australia 1-1 Sweden (Edmonton)
Brazil 0-1 Australia (Moncton)
Japan
Path to quarter-finals - Japan topped Group C
Japan 1-0 Switzerland (Vancouver)
Japan 2-1 Cameroon (Vancouver)
Ecuador 0-1 Japan (Winnipeg)
Japan 2-1 Netherlands (Vancouver)
Paul will be here shortly to act as your eyes and ears for the duration of the crunch match in Edmonton. While we’re waiting, have a read of Caitlin Murray’s thoughts on the two teams in her latest Women’s World Cup power rankings.
Australia
Could this small footballing nation become the Cinderella story of the Women’s World Cup? With the way the Matildas are playing, it’s certainly possible. The Aussies fought their way out of the Group of Death and followed it up by sending Brazil and the legendary Marta packing. New coach Alen Stajcic had just eight months to work with his squad after a player-led revolt of their previous coach earlier last year, but the team’s confidence in their new manager shows. Though the speedy Lisa De Vanna remains the notable focal point for her side, young players like Samantha Kerr and Kyah Simon are stepping up and playing important roles. The robust collective effort that helped the Matildas secure Australia’s first knockout win in a men’s or women’s World Cup may hold some more surprises.
Japan
Sure, the Japanese haven’t won any of their games in this tournament by more than a goal, but does it really matter? The Japanese are extraordinarily efficient and play to the level that is necessary to get the win. They’ve won every match that way so far in this World Cup. Japan is not going to blow anyone away à la Germany, but their patience and ball movement is as much as a joy to watch as it is successful at picking apart midfields. Four years ago, the Japanese kept their proficiency quiet and no one really seemed to project Japan as the 2011 Women’s World Cup champions. Now, the secret is out, but Japan are still threading their way through matches with a calm ease. Despite their close-on-paper 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the round of 16, there was never a doubt Japan would prevail and they should go deep into the bracket.
Read the full article here.
