‘Rope-a-dope' Socceroos grab huge World Cup qualifying win over Japan
The Socceroos have stolen a shock 1-0 win over Asian giants Japan to take a giant leap towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico.
In front of 57,226 fans at Optus Stadium in Perth, Tony Popovic's side produced very little attacking threat of note in a largely disappointing return on home soil.
Watch every game of The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
But in the final minute of regulation time, substitute Riley McGree found space down the right and produced a cut back that fell for Aziz Behich, who finished superbly to send the home crowd into raptures.
The Socceroos are second in their group, behind already-qualified Japan, now sitting six points ahead of third-placed Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis play later against Bahrain and will need to win and then beat the Socceroos in their final match in Jeddah, and make up a 10-goal difference, to send Australia into a third-placed playoff.
Australia was facing an uphill task coming into the match, having failed to beat Japan in 10 consecutive meetings dating way back to 2009.
Asian giants Japan meanwhile were riding a 21-match unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifiers, including 18 wins.
But the stats meant nothing as Australia snatched a huge three points right at the death.
'It was one attack of substance,' Andy Harper said on Paramount Plus. 'One.'
Behich was understandably beaming after such a critical moment in national colours.
'Obviously we've had better games, but that's football,' he said.
'The ones where you have to grind and scrap, they're the ones you remember and we're going to enjoy this night.'
Japan brought an understrength side to Australia, but was captained by Crystal Palace FA Cup winner Daichi Kamada and had the likes of Liverpool's Wataru Endo on the bench.
With so much on the line, the Socceroos got off to a nervy start and battled for any form of meaningful possession.
The visitors enjoyed a whopping 84 per cent of the ball over the first 12 minutes without carving out any clear goalscoring opportunities.
'Australia has to work really hard to find any sort of space,' Simon Hill said in commentary.
It didn't get any better, with the home side failing to get any sort of control.
'Australia have a growing problem here and one they need to find a solution to,' Hill said.
90TH MINUTE. AZIZ BEHICH 🥶
A goal worth waiting 13 years for 😉
🎥 @10FootballAU #Socceroos #AUSvJPN pic.twitter.com/1lGtevNgoF
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) June 5, 2025
Co-commentator Harper then quipped: 'Australia have been second-best in a two-horse race, almost fourth best, trying to keep the ball.'
It took until the 33rd minute for Australia to get forward and chalk up its first corner as the home fans waited for something to cheer.
It came to nothing and the half ended 0-0, which was the only real positive for Popovic's side.
In a game of very few chances, Japanese substitute Takefusa Kubo had what appeared the best of the game, when his shot flashed just wide of Maty Ryan's post with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Up stepped Behich with a superb curling strike that is up there with the most important in Australia's World Cup qualifying history.
Despite the late heroics, Australia showed it still has a long way to go to build a team that can compete on the global stage and fans were quick to vent their frustrations.
'Nice preview of the absolute garbage we'll serve up if we do make the world cup,' was one blunt comment on X prior to Behich's goal.
'We don't deserve to be anywhere near the WC Finals,' said another.
'Lads, games started by the way,' said another well into the second half.
Others were increasingly annoyed with the game style.
One tweeted: 'Why are we playing with a defensive mindset, you don't win games if you aren't even looking to score.'
Another asked: 'Can we do something other than passing the ball f**king back?'
One fan said: 'We look easily outclassed (at home). When you look at our (attacking) options, we really are a pub side. But effort goes a long way let's pinch it.'
Effort did prove the difference for an Australian side that kept trying and managed to grab a victory with its first and only real opportunity.
'Sometimes we're critical of coaches but maybe we've got to say Popovic got it right tonight,' Hill added.
'The rope-a-dope worked.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Noughties hit rockers Short Stack back on the road for 15th anniversary of debut album
When he's not staging the latest comeback of noughties pop punk band Short Stack, frontman Shaun Diviney is one of the NSW Central Coast's top real estate agents. 'I'm a real estate agent, which is super punk rock, hey?' he said. 'I feel we always stop and start the band because music is so different now and life changes; we've all got kids and families and it's hard to be a touring musician with kids. 'But it's the coolest thing to bring the kids to shows with us now.' Diviney swaps the business shirt for his rock uniform as he and bandmates Andy Clemmensen and Bradie Webb return to their night job this weekend, in celebration of the 15th anniversary tour of their 2009 debut album Stack Is The New Black. The shows sold out quickly with some venues upgraded to meet demand to see the poster boys for the noughties' scene of black skinny jeans, eyeliner and voluminous side fringes. While their look has shifted, late 2000s hits including 'Shimmy A Go Go', 'Sway, Sway Baby!' and 'Sweet December' influenced by their love of Blink 182, Green Day and Fall Out Boy, remain in vogue with rusted-on fans. 'I think our fans connected with us starting in high school and the fun element to what we did and people liked being a part of that,' he said. 'And there were a lot of bands that were sort of put together or manufactured at the same time that we came along where we were a little bit more authentic. 'I suppose we were probably too ugly to be a boy band. So we kind have that going for us.' In the wake of Short Stack releasing their fourth album Maybe There's No Heaven in 2022 on independent powerhouse UNFD, the band's team was negotiating to buy back the masters of their early recordings, a la Taylor Swift. The masters became government assets after their previous label dissolved. 'We own them now, which is wild. Our managers did a great job of getting them back because we'd thought, whatever, it's never going to happen,' Diviney said. Regaining the rights to their music matters as Short Stack head back out on a tour to play their debut album in full to an audience that not only includes their OG fans, but whose ranks have swelled by newcomers who have discovered them on social media. Diviney was shocked recently when his seven-year-old son asked his dad why his teacher knew all the Short Stack songs and was intrigued teens in the front row at their sets at Good Things festival in 2023 and again during their regional tour. The frontman also points to the band's determination to keep tickets affordable as cost of living pressures decimate young people's entertainment budgets as one of the reasons behind the tour's success. 'We noticed a lot of kids, 18 and 19, during the regional tour; I guess they have older siblings who grew up with us, who know our gigs are this fun night out where no one is taking themselves too seriously,' he said. 'Cost of living is insane now and out tickets are under $80 but that's a lot of money to people, you know so we want to make sure they have a good time for their money.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Queensland Derby delay to benefit Statuario but not so much Femminile
A week can be a long time in horse racing – just ask Femminile 's trainer Phillip Stokes. He wanted his talented filly to run on a heavy track in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm last weekend but unfortunately for him, persistent rain and poor visibility for jockeys meant the feature race was rescheduled to this Saturday. In stark contrast, fellow Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne are delighted that Derby favourite Statuario will race on a good surface on Saturday in the $1m contest. And the husband-and-wife team has another ace up its sleeve in 'Derby King' John Allen, who is again booked to ride the grey gelding at Eagle Farm. The Irish jockey flew to Brisbane for just the one ride in the Derby last week but he didn't even get to jump on Statuario as the rain kept falling and the jockeys voted to call it a day after five races. He will be back in the River City on Saturday, hoping that his grey wizard can turn the tables on Femminile, who narrowly beat a late-charging Statuario in last month's South Australian Derby (2500m). Allen has won 20 Group 1s in Australia and, remarkably, nine of those have been in Derbies, including the 2019 Queensland edition for the Stokes-trained Mr Quickie. 'Yes, that definitely gives me a lot more confidence,' Emma-Lee Browne said of Allen's superb record in Derbies. 'He's a very patient rider and that comes from having a background as a jumps jockey with experience over the further distances. 'But the horses seem to settle really well for him which I think is crucial in these kind of races.' • It's in the blood: Front Page up for the fight in Moreton Cup Stokes, who organised the travel to the Gold Coast for both Statuario and rival Femminile, said the rescheduling of the Derby was 'not ideal'. 'We went up there hoping for a wet track but the races were called off,' he said. 'We would've loved to have run on a Heavy 10 because I know she likes it. 'Look, I still think she can run well (on Saturday) but is she on the up? No. 'Hopefully she can dig deep and pull one more out.' Statuario is the $6 favourite for the Queensland Derby ahead of three others in single-figures in the market – Belle Detelle ($7), King Of Thunder ($8) and Femminile ($9.50). Allen said it was 'frustrating' not getting to ride last Saturday but 'not too disappointing' given that Statuario had a far superior record (8: 3-2-0) on dry tracks. 'It's a very even race with no real standout,' Allen said of the Queensland Derby. 'I'm fairly confident Statuario is in as good form as anything in the race and he's trending the right way. 'I feel like he's the horse with the most upside at this stage.' Allen will be hoping to recapture his 2019 form in Queensland when he won Group 2 races The Roses (Etana) and The Q22 (Kenedna), which were the cherries on top of Group 1 victories in the Derby (Mr Quickie) and Doomben Cup (Kenedna). As for the nickname 'Derby King', Allen would love to win on Saturday to cement that reputation as the middle-distance magician. 'I haven't won a Derby in three years (2022 Australian Derby on Hitotsu) so it'll be good to top up the tally on Saturday,' he said.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Ange Postecoglou axed by Tottenham despite club's Europa League triumph
Sacked manager Ange Postecoglou says he will be 'forever connected' with the Tottenham squad he guided to UEFA Europa League glory. Spurs announced early on Saturday (AEST) that the former Socceroos coach had been axed after two seasons in charge of the London club despite delivering Tottenham its first trophy in 17 years last month with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao. It was a triumph that also ensured Spurs would be playing UEFA Champions League football next season. However, Tottenham's poor form this season in the English Premier League has ultimately cost Postecoglou his job. Spurs finished in 17th spot, just one place above the relegation zone, suffering 22 defeats in the club's 2024-25 Premier League campaign. 'Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club's greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph,' Spurs' official statement said. 'The board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. 'It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. 'This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. 'We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.' Postecoglou, who had two seasons remaining on the four-year contract he signed in June 2023, issued his own statement following his sacking. 'When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride,' said Postecoglou, whose reported payout will be $5.4 million. 'The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. 'Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. 'That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. 'There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. 'We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. 'I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them. 'I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on. 'It's important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis. 'And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special. 'We are forever connected.'
