World Cup Qualifier: Australia vs Japan

[Big Sam]

8pm tonight, Suncorp. Live Fox Sports.

Socceroos biggest game of the year and the biggest game anywhere in the world in June outside of Euro. Should be close to a sellout if not already, and an estimated 500 million will watch the match throughout Asia.

From what I've heard, the pitch is pretty crappy after being cut up by the RU Test. That's not necessarily a bad thing given the way both teams play. Japan do all their good work along the ground. So I think we definitely need to start Timmy and Kennedy to take advantage of our aerial superiority. Kewell needs to be dropped, and so too does North because Shinji will tear him to shreds. Honda's also gonna give Valeri/Jedinak and Og and Luca$h nightmares all night.

Given the way Japan's playing, I'll be happy with a point.

 

[WireMan]

Won't be watching but i would appreciate a review of how and where Kagawa plays.

Just for future reference.


Anyways, good luck. You won't win on the ground, so play the big boys and Stoke 'em!!

 

[Cammo]

Certainly not a sellout, but an exciting game early, both teams playing attacking football

 

[Southernsaint]

"Our granddads killed your granddads!!"

 

[Jason Maher]

If I didn't have to pick outlaws up from the airport, I would have went.

 

[Cammo]

Wow how did we not score?

 

[skeepe]

Well that was a bullshit send off. Barely even a free kick and he gets a second booking?

 

[Danish]

Looks like we need to win he rest of our games if we are to qualify now assuming we lose this.

Bullshit send off but we had about a million chances in the first half to build a lead so that it wouldn't matter.

 

[Danish]

PENALTY AND WE CONVERT!!!

Trust as soon as I get all cynical we even up straight away :lol:

 

[Mader45]

This game is NUTS

 

[skeepe]

I guess the ref felt guilty about the send off. How many times a game do we see that?

 

[skeepe]

Great game. Bit of an anti-climax with full time being called when it was, but that's Japan's fault for taking so damn long with their free kicks.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

that was the worst ref ive seen in years, calls time on the game when the opp have a freekick.... what a nutter

 

[lolesi]

Lost count of how many times Valeri lost the ball or passed it to 1)no one, 2)Japan..

He was woeful!

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

And that is why football is the greatest sport.

Australia v Japan is the second best rivalry in Australian national sport second only to the Ashes.

 

[Big Sam]

And that is why football is the greatest sport.

Australia v Japan is the second best rivalry in Australian national sport second only to the Ashes.

Could not have said it better. Was a magical game.

Quite clear after tonight that we are the two best teams in this group and probably in Asia.

 

[t10do]

Great game.

The ref should stick to teaching school-kids though.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

It was a great game, very entertaining.

Australia did much better than I expected given their form coming in. I still remain concerned at some of Osieck's selections, though. Replacing Bresciano with Milligan was utterly f**king ridiculous.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

yeah

so whats the deal with kennedy?

plays in japan. plays well against japan.

dosnt play last night....

is he injured?

anyway. great game. crazy reffereeing. i cant believe we got that penalty.

 

[Big Sam]

so whats the deal with kennedy?

I think he would've come on for the last 20-30 had we not been reduced to two subs in the first 10 minutes.