‘Japan need to be bold vs Aussies’

Pitch battle ahead of SKorea-Iran WC clash

TOKYO, Aug 29, (Agencies): Keisuke Honda is out to be a hero again for Japan against Australia in Thursday’s crunch World Cup qualifier.

Midfield stalwart Honda’s 91stminute penalty at Saitama four years ago secured a 1-1 draw against the Socceroos and with it Japan’s place at Brazil 2014.

A win for the Blue Samurai in the penultimate round of Asian zone matches would see the Group B leaders guaranteed a place in the next year’s finals.

Any other result would leave their fortunes in the balance ahead of their final game against second-placed Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next week.

They lead third-placed Australia by just one point, with the Saudis, who face the UAE in Al Ain, also a point behind.

The former AC Milan midfielder Honda, 31, who now plays for Pachuca in Mexico, is not an automatic choice for Japan these days but is itching for a chance to repeat his heroics at the same Saitama stadium on Thursday.

“My intention is to be in the starting 11,” Honda told reporters after training on Monday.

“Obviously the situation is different to what it was four years ago but the essence is the same. There are no mind games. We just have to be bold and get the job done.”

Iran have sparked a war of words in South Korea after complaining about the state of their training pitch ahead