Key events
As you were. But it’s far from ideal preparation for such a tough game.
We may have a delayed kick off. No official word yet but we’ll keep you posted.
The #Socceroos team bus is stuck in traffic on the way to Saitama Stadium due to a traffic accident clogging the roads.
Still yet to arrive just over an hour from kickoff. #JPNvAUS
— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) October 15, 2024
Joey Lynch on Australia’s new regime
In the aftermath of the win in Adelaide last Thursday, Popovic preached that the national team needed to be a more difficult environment for players than they encountered at their clubs. He concedes that it to be hard work for those that come in and, if they wish to return, they need to maintain an elite level outside international duty. Indeed, if there has been one theme that has run through the Socceroos since Popovic’s arrival, it has been a demand to be elite each and every day, not just in green and gold.
Japan team news
Hajime Moriyasu makes two change from the team that beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jeddah: Real Sociedad’s Take Kubo and Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka replace Daichi Kamada and the captain Wataru Endo, who isn’t in the squad.
Japan (3-4-2-1) Suzuki; Itakura, Taniguchi, Machida; Doan, Tanaka, Morita, Mitoma; Minamino, Kubo; Ueda.
Substitutes: Sugawara, Fujita, Maeda, Osako, Nakamura, Ito, Kamada, Mochizuki, Ogawa, Hatate, Seko, Tani.
Socceroos team news: Brattan to make debut
Tony Popovic has changed more than half the XI that started against China on Thursday. Not sure anyone saw that coming. Luke Brattan, 34, will make his international debut in midfield.
In Jason Geria, Cam Burgess, Jordy Bos, Luke Brattan, Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree
Out Thomas Deng, Kye Rowles, Aiden O’Neill, Aziz Behich, Craig Goodwin, Nestory Irankunda.
Paul Williams on Japan’s rise
The foundation for Japan’s modern-day success, with a depth of talent the envy of the continent, is the domestic J League, founded in 1993 and now boasting 60 teams across three divisions – all connected by promotion and relegation. The A-League, by comparison, still has only 13 teams and no prospect of an aligned second division on the horizon.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier against Japan in Saitama. It’s not often Australia are rank outsiders in an Asian Federation game but that’s the case tonight. They haven’t beaten Japan since 2009 and are already five points behind them in Group C. The 3-1 win over China on Thursday restored a bit of order but the fact Japan won the equivalent fixture 7-0 tells you where Australia are right now.
While the games against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will probably determine whether Australia take the second automatic qualification place, this match is a useful health check against the highest-ranked team in Asia. A draw would a terrific result; a win would be one for the books.
Kick off 9.35pm AEDT/7.35pm local
