Japan and Australia Face Must-Win Dilemma in Opener
June 12, 2006
With other matches to come against champions Brazil and former semi-finalists Croatia in unforgiving Group F, a loss in Monday in Kaiserslautern would probably put an insurmountable hurdle in the teams' World Cup campaigns.
Australia, returning to the finals after a 32-year absence, have lost four of their last five meetings to the higher-ranked Japanese, who are in their third consecutive finals and are the reigning Asian champions.
But the Australians have been transformed under the meticulous coaching of Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who steered Holland and South Korea to the semi-finals of the last two World Cups.
"We are on the edge of the beginning of an adventure with this team but I think the big win for Australian soccer is being here," Hiddink told a news conference over the weekend.
But he was also quick to add that the Australians shouldn't be written off before the game starts.
"Being here is not just about having a good time but also trying to get the unexpected, and of course we're aiming to get into the second round."
Australia overcame two-time champions Uruguay on penalties to reach only their second World Cup and subsequently have beaten European champions Greece 1-0 and drawn 1-1 with world No.3 Holland on the road to Germany.
Australia tougher than Croatia
Japan scored twice early in a spirited 2-2 draw against Germany on May 30 and tuned up with a 1-0 win over Malta last weekend.
Japan playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura said he believes Australia will prove tougher opponents than 1998 semi-finalists Croatia, whom they next play in Nuremberg on June 18.
"I think the Australians are similar to Japan (in style) and perhaps because of that it will make them the most difficult team for us to play against," Nakamura said.
Both camps have had their injury dramas ahead of their showdown with Australian skipper Mark Viduka sitting out training Thursday with a calf muscle complaint and Kewell working his way back to full fitness after sustaining a groin injury in Liverpool's FA Cup Final win last month.
Nakamura has been troubled by a sore left hamstring while striker Atsushi Yanagisawa just returned to full training after 10 days out with an injured right hamstring.
More than anything, Hiddink, who takes charge of Russia after the World Cup, has instilled a new belief and steel in his Australian players in just an energizing year in the job.
"Japan has much more experience on the world stage, nevertheless this team of Aussies is very competitive," he said.
"I have told the players that our goal is to reach the second round, and I am convinced that we are going to do it."