Japan vs Australia WCQ [R]

Discussion in 'Australia' started by RickChelsea, Nov 20, 2008.

  1. el-capitano

    el-capitano Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 30, 2005
    Sydney
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/captain-neill-seeks-perfection-172232/
     
  2. Loyalty

    Loyalty Member

    Jun 25, 2006
    Australia
    We went there for a draw and the boys would have been estatic to snag a win like in Bahrain (i thought we had one when Kennedy nearly ended up on a superb Culina? cross with about 3 mins to go), but we got our point and are 2 wins and a big goal difference ahead of 3rd. Have to be favourites to top this group with 3 out of 4 home games remaining.
    I thought we played reasonable for 60 minutes and then hung on for the last 30. Why we gave the ball up so easily in the last third of the game i'm not sure. But credit to a jet lagged team for hanging on.
    In all honesty, even though Japan got in behind us on the wings, they were always one more pass away from scoring and i think in the end we could have played for another 90 mins and they wouldn't have found the back of the net. Except for Endos bullet like shot, did Japan ever look like getting a goal??? I didn't think so. Japan only really won the defensive and middle third.


    *Disappointing to see a 1-0 win to Bahrain. A draw there would have had us that much closer.
     
  3. NoRightFoot

    NoRightFoot Member

    May 18, 2006
    Melbourne, at times.
    Club:
    Malmo FF
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    But does some of that go down to the management?

    I get the impression that Verbeek was more than happy with the result and to some extent may have directed the team to play it cautious. I saw about 4 examples, and that's all I can remember, there may have been others, where the team could have really pushed for a goal and yet decided to play it safe - sit back in defence.

    Well played Japan, they really gave all they had, but I think we could have hurt them more in the last 30 minutes. Just my opinion.

    Anyway, we got what we wanted so we can't complain.
     
  4. zhuangzi

    zhuangzi Member

    Feb 7, 2008
    Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    To me it looked more like we just couldn't get our shit together in attack - Nakazawa and Tulio had Cahill in the pocket all night and Holman had one of his more Holmany performances. Bresc and Culina were anonymous the few times they had the ball.

    Get well soon Emmo.
     
  5. M Lo

    M Lo Member

    Sep 11, 2006
    Sydney
    Word
     
  6. Caesar

    Caesar Moderator
    Staff Member

    Mar 3, 2004
    Oztraya
    We are so screwed when we get to SA. Looks like we're turning into a typical AFC big gun - a team that cruises through qualifying and then struggles to make an impact once they get to the WC Finals.

    We really need to start looking towards 2014. I think next year we'll be three and out with basically a past-its-prime version of the 2006 side.
     
  7. el-capitano

    el-capitano Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 30, 2005
    Sydney
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    some more wrap up articles.....

    We still have work to do, warns Verbeek


    Thriller-free zone: Socceroos keen to secure Cup berth quickly


     
  8. NoRightFoot

    NoRightFoot Member

    May 18, 2006
    Melbourne, at times.
    Club:
    Malmo FF
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Am I mistaken or did we just nail a point away from home without a few scoring options? Oh, and Emerton?

    I think some people need to start googling the word perspective.
     
  9. zhuangzi

    zhuangzi Member

    Feb 7, 2008
    Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Amen.

    We were understrength and had <48hrs prep while they had five weeks and a full squad (barring the keepers). That was our major rival on home turf being restricted to four shots on goal. I thought Pim could have spared us the Christmas Tree and gone with our usual 4-2-3-1 but nonetheless that was a good result for us against the odds.
     
  10. cmedina1983

    cmedina1983 New Member

    Nov 14, 2008
    California
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    You have a rather bleak outlook on our World Cup dreams, Caesar, and I think it's unwarranted.
     
  11. AKITOD

    AKITOD Member+

    Apr 5, 2007
    Hobart, Aust
    Club:
    JEF United Ichihara
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    I''m really quite interested to see how Australia start playing at home games after those negative away performances. Wonder what Pim will try.

    One performance like the one in bahrain (ie negative defence) at home and I'd start to wonder if Pim has given them tactics on holding the ball, passwork, and attacking.
     
  12. NoRightFoot

    NoRightFoot Member

    May 18, 2006
    Melbourne, at times.
    Club:
    Malmo FF
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    What will be even more interesting is the squad that is assembled. I'll be honest with you, and it's not just bias, I think Australia are better than Japan. It's not a "pissing contest" opinion, I just rate us higher. I've certainly gathered some information about a few Japanese players I probably wouldn't have otherwise, but Japan had an ideal opportunity to nali a win in front of 70 thousand people on their own turf and against an Australian team lacking a few scoring options. I suppose it doesn't matter how often I try to explain to you that this is not arrogance, but it isn't. I just think Australia are better.
     
  13. zhuangzi

    zhuangzi Member

    Feb 7, 2008
    Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    See: Iraq home, Qatar home. I don't know where people get the impression that Pim is committed to all defense all the time - we've always played attacking formations at home, even the shithouse China game.
     
  14. Akumastarr

    Akumastarr New Member

    Jul 18, 2006
    Perth, Australia
    Club:
    Perth Glory
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    I personally think all these people that think Pim is not using the full potential of our squad need to put things into perspective a bit.

    We can plainly see that he is very conservative away but does stretch his wings when at home.

    We can see that without squad camps etc before the games, Pim cannot prepare a fluent side. He will simply attempt to grind out results, no matter what kind of quality football they play.

    If we look to games such as against the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, Qatar etc, you will find that since the players had left their clubs early, Pim has had time to set down a game plan for them to play. These games had some of the more recent, better football from the Socceroos.

    Qatar - Pim knew Qatar's quality, was at home, we attacked well and played well
    China - Altitude, away from home, 48hrs to work with players, grinded result
    Iraq - At home, Pim overestimated Iraq's quality and ambitions, we played well but the fact is, they played better
    Iraq - Away from home, conservative tactics after shock of a better Iraq team than Pim probably expected, attempted to grind result
    Qatar - Sufficient time to work with team, knew the quality of Qatar, played good football and attacked
    China - Doesn't really count
    Netherlands - Few days to work with team, was a friendly, we attacked and played good fluent football
    Uzbekistan - Once again, Pim had a good 5 or 6 days to work with the team, they played good passing football, we attacked and won (the RB crossed to our LB who scored)
    Qatar - At home, traditional whipping boys, Pim told them to attack and we dominated, good passing game
    Bahrain - Away from home, no preparation whatsoever, grinded result
    Japan - Away from home, no preparation whatsoever, grinded result

    You can sort of see a pattern emerging here can't you? ;)


    BUT the fact is, if we qualify, Pim will have MONTHS upon MONTHS of preparation with the team during the offseason to set us up for the coming World Cup. I for one don't have a dim view on how our world cup is going to go whatsoever, in fact, I'm looking forward to seeing who we can embarrass :D
     
  15. cmedina1983

    cmedina1983 New Member

    Nov 14, 2008
    California
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    I really think Pim will just let them take the game on themselves and make what comes of it. If things go our way and we're rooted to 1st place, which is looking likely, we'll probably be out there without any pressure on our shoulders, and that will greatly improve our mindset and therefore our game.
     
  16. Boomerang

    Boomerang New Member

    Oct 22, 2008
    in a soccer ball
    Club:
    Melbourne Victory
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    good one mate. now that's what we call being optimistic.
     

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