Australians say Japan favourites
DOHA — Coach Paul le Guen has backed Oman to overcome a long injury list and pick up a rst win of the nal round of qualifying for the 2014 Fifa World Cup against Iraq here today. The match is scheduled to kick off at 6.45 pm Oman time.
Oman bounced back from being outplayed in their Group ‘B’ opener by a rampant Japan to share a goalless draw at home with Australia on Friday, with Le Guen’s side unlucky not to pick up all three points in Muscat.
And despite Oman making the short trip to Doha without the likes of mid elder Ahmed Hadid, defender Hassan Mudhafar and striker Hassan Rabee’a, Le Guen has backed his side to build on Sunday’s much-improved display.
“The match against Iraq is important for the two teams. We are looking forward to playing well and getting a good result,” said Le Guen, with Oman next in qualifying action at home to Jordan in October.
“We were disappointed with the result against Japan but I’m happy with our performance against Australia,” said the Frenchman.
“We will be missing some key players, but we have good players who can ll in the gaps.
“I hope that we can translate the chances that we will have in the match into getting a positive result.”
Iraq also currently sit with one point in Group ‘B’, although Zico’s side have only played one game having shared a 1-1 draw with Jordan in Amman at the start of June.
Against Jordan, Iraq had taken a 14th minute lead through Nashat Akram only for an error from goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid handing Ahmad Hayel the chance to equalise at Amman International Stadium.
But while Oman returned from their long trip to Japan to face Australia in sweltering heat in Muscat on Friday, Iraq have had over a week to prepare for today’s meeting at Al Arabi Stadium in the Qatari capital and will look pick up a rst three points of the campaign ahead of September’s trip to Japan.
“The players are ready for the match and we are looking forward to getting three points in order to strengthen our chances to go through from the group especially because the results in the second round were in our favour,” said Zico, who played at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 Fifa World Cup nals.
“The match will be good for the both teams and we are happy that our list is complete as we don’t have any injured players and all the players are concentrating on getting three important points.”
Ali al Habsi; Abdulsalam Amur, Mohammed Sheiba al Balushi, Mohammed al Musalmi, Sa’ad Suhail, Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’, Juma Darwish, Ra’ed Ibrahim, Ismail al Ajmi, Eid al Farsi and Imaad al Hosni. BRISBANE — The scintillating displays that Asian champions Japan have produced in their two World Cup fourth round quali ers have left Australia piling on the superlatives ahead of their eagerly anticipated clash today.
Japan smashed Jordan 6-0 on Friday with Keisuke Honda scoring a hat-trick as the Blue Samurai's version of Spain's 'tiki taka', short-passing by rotating mid elders, was too quick and too good for the west Asians.
That result followed their opening 3-0 Group 'B' win over Oman last week, a side who caused the Australians some trouble during a goalless draw in muggy Muscat on Friday.
Socceroos captain Lucas Neill, who led Australia to an extra-time defeat in the Asian Cup nal against Japan in Qatar last year, was wary of the task facing his side, who struggled badly in the searing 40 Celsius heat of Oman.
"I actually think Japan are the favourites for this game," Neill told local media in Brisbane yesterday.
"They've had better preparations, two home games and now they come here with con dence. They've come here earlier than we've come here, to play at our home."
"But by no means do we see that as a bad thing. We like the underdog tag, we know we're in for a very tough game. It's going to be a fantastic game tomorrow night, one that we think we can win."
Neill, without a club after being released by United Arab Emirates side Al Jazira, is part of an ageing old guard who continue to form the backbone of an Australia side looking to reach their third consecutive World Cup.
The 34-year-old is again expected to partner Sasa Ognenovski (33) at the back, ahead of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (39), with Harry Kewell (33) leading the line in a squad that lacks any real pace.
GREAT POTENTIAL
Compare that to Japan's youthful line-up featuring Honda (25), Manchester United-bound mid elder Shinji Kagawa (23) and ying leftback Yuto Nagatomo (25), who were all at the forefront of Japan's opening hightempo victories, and it is easy to see why Neill made his prediction.
Australia coach Holger Osieck, who led Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds to the Asian Champions League title in 2007, was full of praise for the Blue Samurai's improvements.
"The change that has taken place in Japanese football is signi cant," Osieck said.
"The new generation is a free generation, an openminded generation. They are not afraid anymore, whereas a number of years ago people were reserved and frightened of foreigners but that has changed drastically.
"Their different mindset re ects in the performance on the eld. They are a different generation of players playing in the top teams in Europe and I think that is the signi cant difference.
"It's a great potential in this team, I have to admit. I mean, look at the quality."
The fear that Osieck spoke of was evident in the Asian Cup nal where Japan sat back more against Australia compared to the earlier rounds where they had successfully taken the game to the opposition.
Should they get on the front foot early in Brisbane, it will be hard for the Socceroos to avoid the same plight as Jordan and Oman. — Reuters