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SAITAMA, Japan — Though both history and form suggest his side will be heavy favourites in their FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier against Australia on Tuesday, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has moved to quash any sense of complacency against a newly rejuvenated, aggressive Socceroos outfit.
Fresh off a historic 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the Samurai Blue have already raced to a five-point lead atop Group C in the third phase of Asian qualifying after just three games, building off a run of form that has seen them win 20 of their last 22 games and not concede once during World Cup qualification.
And now, they will host an Australian side in Saitama that, despite being one of their great rivals, has only beaten them twice since the turn of the millennium and never triumphed on Japanese soil — knowing a win will effectively give them one foot at North America 2026 already.
The Socceroos, though, sit second in Group C after recording a 3-1 win over China in Adelaide last Thursday, their first win of the third phase of qualification after an opening-day defeat to Bahrain and a subsequent draw with Indonesia in Jakarta saw Graham Arnold step down as coach and replaced with Tony Popovic.
“Data doesn’t make us win tomorrow’s match,” Moriyasu said through an interpreter on Monday. “Whatever the data shows, we have prepared best for tomorrow’s match at home. We want to make sure that we have the best performance tomorrow.
“Data tells us that we probably have an advantage, however, when I think about the situation of the Socceroos, even if the data says that they haven’t been doing too well until now, the head coach has changed and they will do their best; they will challenge themselves and they will probably throw themselves at us.
“We have to prepare for that. And for the players, of course, it is important for players to be cautious but I also tell them to be confident. I tell them to try even more than they have been trying, and that is our challenge.”
Former teammates at Sanfrecce Hiroshima and still good friends — the Japan boss smiling as he revealed Popovic calls him his nickname ‘Poichi’ — Moriyasu said that he had thoroughly reviewed Australia’s win over China, in which the Socceroos’ showed promise in a new 3-4-2-1 system, but warned his rival would likely have multiple plans prepared.
Declaring that Popovic had a “fighting spirit” that would be reflected in his players, he said this was something that his side would need to respond to in kind.
“We have a very good balance,” said the coach. “We have a sense of danger but also a sense of pride. All of us are trying to make improvements. We will take it one match at a time. We are very well-balanced mentally and physically.”
“I told the players to be very confident to win at our home stadium and give it their all. We were able to win all three games [so far] but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we can win tomorrow. We have to make sure that we will tighten our belts, prepare well and be courageous.”
“I understand that with Australia’s mentality,” added midfielder Hidemasa Morita. “They will really challenge us.”
The Australians, for their part, know they will head to Saitama Stadium as the underdogs, with few of their supporters Down Under holding significant hope of taking a point off their high-powered rivals, let alone three.
But defying expectations is something the Socceroos have come to relish in recent years and with a new level of intensity and focus already instilled by Popovic across his three weeks in charge, they have struck a respectful but defiant tone in Tokyo.
“You don’t travel ten hours to Japan to sit back and let them destroy you,” said attacker Ajdin Hrustic. “We’ll go out with our chests up and confident, especially after the important win against China.
“What’s happened has happened. It’s the past. And now we look forward. We started well against China and now we’re going to continue that road.”
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