Japan vs Australia
Competition: WC Qualification Asia
Date: 31 August 2017
Kick-off Time: 11:35 GMT
Competition: WC Qualification Asia
Date: 31 August 2017
Kick-off Time: 11:35 GMT
Venue: Saitama Stadium 2002
Japan has made two mistakes in the qualifiers, and, therefore, their
placement the World Cup in Russia is still uncertain. The team should not have
allowed themselves that defeat by UAE, or the draw against Iraq in the last round, because if they have celebrated in
that match, they would now have more space for calculations. But now Japan
must defeat Australia, given that they are playing away against Saudi
Arabia in the last round, which is also their direct competitor.When
it comes to composition, Halilhodzic has returned the experienced
Hasebe to the team, who can play in multiple positions, and there is
also midfielder, Getafe Shibasaki. Still, the key names in attack are: Honda, Okazaki, Kagawa, Osaka, Haraguchi and Inui, and Yoshida
in defence and two side players, Sakai. The midfielder, Kiyotake, might be absent for this match.
Australia has played so far four games without a win, but these were not qualifying matches, because the team has no defeats in that part. The problem is that the Australian team has four wins and four draws, and therefore are currently only third, however, the surprising defeat of Saudi Arabia in the previous round has opened up more opportunities because Australia plays in their field against Thailand in the last round, where they should have trouble to get to victory. This means, that a draw in this match is almost as good as victory, given that Japan and Saudi Arabia will play against each other soon.
Saudi Arabia has celebrated over Australia in the previous round of these qualifiers with 3-2 after a great fight, after which Australia performed in the Confederations Cup, where they were defeated once and twice was a draw, with a defeat by Brazil in a friendly match. The composition for this match is almost the same as in the Confederations Cup and only the left back, Behich, is missing, as well as Jedinak, while player, Leckie, is in a really good shape.
Probable lineups for Japan vs Australia Match:
Japan: Kawashima-H.Sakai, Yoshida, Shoji, Nagatome-Hasebe, Yamaguchi-Haraguchi, Kagawa, Inui-Okazaki
Australia: Ryan-Milligan, McGowan, Sainsbury-Luongo, Irvine-Troisi, R.Kruse, Leckie, Cahill-Juric
Australia has played so far four games without a win, but these were not qualifying matches, because the team has no defeats in that part. The problem is that the Australian team has four wins and four draws, and therefore are currently only third, however, the surprising defeat of Saudi Arabia in the previous round has opened up more opportunities because Australia plays in their field against Thailand in the last round, where they should have trouble to get to victory. This means, that a draw in this match is almost as good as victory, given that Japan and Saudi Arabia will play against each other soon.
Saudi Arabia has celebrated over Australia in the previous round of these qualifiers with 3-2 after a great fight, after which Australia performed in the Confederations Cup, where they were defeated once and twice was a draw, with a defeat by Brazil in a friendly match. The composition for this match is almost the same as in the Confederations Cup and only the left back, Behich, is missing, as well as Jedinak, while player, Leckie, is in a really good shape.
Probable lineups for Japan vs Australia Match:
Japan: Kawashima-H.Sakai, Yoshida, Shoji, Nagatome-Hasebe, Yamaguchi-Haraguchi, Kagawa, Inui-Okazaki
Australia: Ryan-Milligan, McGowan, Sainsbury-Luongo, Irvine-Troisi, R.Kruse, Leckie, Cahill-Juric