Aussies can ill afford to slip up vs UAE
Ousted Honda relishing fight for place in Japan
SYDNEY, March 26, (RTRS): Tim Cahill remains confident that Australia will qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia despite a run of four straight draws that has seen the side fall three points behind the leaders in their final round group.
Australia are on 10 points from six matches, three behind Saudi Arabia and Japan, and with only two teams advancing automatically to the finals, the Socceroos can ill afford to slip up at home to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
The UAE are just a point adrift of their Sydney hosts heading into the encounter and a win for the visitors would see them leapfrog Australia and move into the third place spot that offers a route to the finals via two playoff rounds.
Cahill, however, has urged Australia supporters to remain calm with the 37-year-old attacking midfielder keen to point out that the side have won two and drawn six of their matches so far, and have a formidable home record.
“We went months and months without winning a game before we lifted the 2015 Asian Cup,” Cahill told reporters.
“I understand the process a bit better than some people. I’m a lot more educated as a player and as a person. I’m quite calm. We’re undefeated and I won’t be flinching much now.”
Australia have lost just one home qualifier in 56 matches dating back to 1981, a 1-0 defeat to China in a dead rubber nine years ago, a record that fills the former Millwall and Everton player with plenty of belief.
“The way we play and the damage we’ve caused teams in the past... we’re really going to put them under a lot of pressure,” he said.
“It’s a very intimidating place for them to come. It
Club Necaxa’s Jonas Aguirre (right), passes in front of Seattle Sounders’ Henry Wingo in the first half of a friendly soccer match on March 25 in
Seattle. (AP)
will be difficult for them and that’s life.
“(But the home record) means nothing. All that matters is this week.”
Cahill scored the winner off the bench in the reverse fixture in Abu Dhabi last September and he has no issues with the likely prospect of starting next week’s fixture among Ange Postecoglou’s substitutes once more.
“When asked, I’m always ready to contribute,” he added. “The boss knows what’s right for us.”
Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda has vowed to win back his starting place in the national side after a lack of playing time at AC Milan saw him lose his spot to the in-form Yuya Kubo.
Gent midfielder Kubo started on the right wing in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates and put on an accomplished display in winning his third cap, scoring the first and assisting on the second in a 2-0 victory at Al Ain.
Honda said the competition for places proved how strong the Japan team is.
“This is what football is about, there’s nothing weird about it,” Honda was quoted as saying by Kyodo News on Sunday. “This is just about me having lost my place in the first team here and back in Milan -- which hasn’t happened before.
“But it happens and says how competitive things are on the national team now. If I come and win the job back, it’ll make us even better.”
Honda, who has barely featured for Milan this season, came off the bench for a 12 minute cameo and is likely to be a substitute again on Tuesday when second-placed Japan host Thailand, who are last in Group B, at Saitama Stadium.
“I think everyone wants to know how I’ll play if I set foot on the pitch right now,” Honda added.
“That’s what it comes down to. If I can show that I can still play, that I can score, then people will have an idea of what I can do and the opportunities will increase for me.”
Japan are three points clear of third-placed Australia in the race for two automatic qualifying spots from their pool with four rounds remaining.
Honda said Japan would not take Thailand lightly in a game they should win comfortably.
“It’s a dangerous sign. We need to sharpen up and go into the game thinking it will be a more difficult game than we think,” he said.
“They’ll sit back and the way we play now, we’re probably better when opponents take the game to us. I think it will be tough because we won’t have opportunities to counter-attack.”