Latest news with #AoTanaka
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
news.com.au — Australia's leading news site for latest headlines
Australia coach Tony Popovic has implored his side to 'finish the job' ahead of the Socceroos' crunch World Cup qualifier against rivals Japan on Thursday in Perth. A drought-breaking win over the Asian powerhouse would all but assure Australia an automatic berth in next year's World Cup in North America. The Socceroos have a three-point lead and a significant goal difference advantage over Saudi Arabia as they jockey for second place in Group C of Asian qualifying. But a loss or draw against already qualified Japan means Australia will be thrust into a critical clash against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on June 10. A win does not totally guarantee Australia's passage if Saudi Arabia claim victory in their away game against Bahrain later on Thursday. 'We just need to finish the job off. We can take a major step tomorrow night by winning,' Popovic told reporters on Wednesday. 'There's a real excitement from the group, but there's a calmness and confidence in our ability.' Australia have not beaten Japan since 2009, but hopes are high against a considerably weakened side resting a slew of top players. PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 04: Tony Popovic, head coach of the Socceroos addresses the media prior to a Socceroos training session at Perth Stadium on June 04, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by) Leeds United star Ao Tanaka, Reims forward Junya Ito and Hidemasa Morita from Sporting Lisbon are among the players missing for the Samurai Blue. In contrast, Australia will boast a near full-strength side and buoyed by the recent return of Parma defender Alessandro Circati from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. 'It's been a long time since Australia has beaten Japan, but I have a lot of confidence in this group,' said Popovic, who has turned Australia's fortunes around since replacing Graham Arnold in September. 'At some point, Australia will beat Japan. We have a chance to do that tomorrow and we want to take that opportunity.' A febrile atmosphere is tipped with 50,000 fans expected to attend Optus Stadium despite stormy weather in Perth ahead of the game. 'We certainly are aware of what these games mean to us and mean to Australia,' Popovic said. 'I'm very confident the players will go out there and execute in a very calm, composed manner.' With an eighth straight World Cup appearance assured, Japan are using their trip to Australia and subsequent home game against Indonesia as an opportunity to trial younger players and build depth. Japan's 27-man squad includes eight uncapped players, but Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo provide plenty of class for the Asian nation eyeing a first World Cup triumph. 'The ultimate goal is to win the World Cup,' Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. 'So we really need to take each match and the time we prepare for matches seriously. 'We need to build the strongest team possible (for) the World Cup.' Originally published as Socceroos v Japan, FIFA World Cup qualifier live coverage and how to watch on TV
Kyodo News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Leeds, Tanaka celebrate title with dramatic late win
KYODO NEWS - 7 hours ago - 14:38 | Sports, All Having already secured promotion, a Leeds United side featuring Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka won English football's second-tier Championship with a late 2-1 comeback victory away to Plymouth Argyle as the regular season wrapped up Saturday. Leeds clinched the title on goal difference after Manor Solomon's winner in stoppage time moved them level on 100 points with Burnley, who won 3-1 at home against Millwall. Elsewhere in the Championship, winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto set up the opener as Coventry beat Middlesbrough 2-0 to finish the season fifth, sending them into the promotion playoff semifinals against fourth-placed Sunderland. Bristol City, home to fellow Japanese winger Yu Hirakawa, finished sixth to also advance to the playoff semifinals, where they will face third-place Sheffield United. A Japanese player featured in the midfield of each title-winning team in England's top three divisions this season -- Wataru Endo with Liverpool in the Premier League, Tanaka in the Championship, and Tomoki Iwata with Birmingham in League One. In the Dutch Eredivisie, Kento Shiogai headed in a late leveler for his fourth goal of the season as NEC Nijmegen drew 1-1 at home with Willem II. Related coverage: Football: Ao Tanaka's Leeds earn promotion to Premier League Football: World Cup-bound Japan held 0-0 at home by Saudi Arabia Football: Moriyasu picks battle-tested squad as World Cup berth looms
The Mainichi
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Football: Leeds, Tanaka celebrate title with dramatic late win
PLYMOUTH, England (Kyodo) -- Having already secured promotion, a Leeds United side featuring Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka won English football's second-tier Championship with a late 2-1 comeback victory away to Plymouth Argyle as the regular season wrapped up Saturday. Leeds clinched the title on goal difference after Manor Solomon's winner in stoppage time moved them level on 100 points with Burnley, who won 3-1 at home against Millwall. Elsewhere in the Championship, winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto set up the opener as Coventry beat Middlesbrough 2-0 to finish the season fifth, sending them into the promotion playoff semifinals against fourth-placed Sunderland. Bristol City, home to fellow Japanese winger Yu Hirakawa, finished sixth to also advance to the playoff semifinals, where they will face third-place Sheffield United. A Japanese player featured in the midfield of each title-winning team in England's top three divisions this season -- Wataru Endo with Liverpool in the Premier League, Tanaka in the Championship, and Tomoki Iwata with Birmingham in League One. In the Dutch Eredivisie, Kento Shiogai headed in a late leveler for his fourth goal of the season as NEC Nijmegen drew 1-1 at home with Willem II.
Kyodo News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Leeds, Tanaka celebrate title with dramatic late win
KYODO NEWS - 5 minutes ago - 14:38 | Sports, All Having already secured promotion, a Leeds United side featuring Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka won English football's second-tier Championship with a late 2-1 comeback victory away to Plymouth Argyle as the regular season wrapped up Saturday. Leeds clinched the title on goal difference after Manor Solomon's winner in stoppage time moved them level on 100 points with Burnley, who won 3-1 at home against Millwall. Elsewhere in the Championship, winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto set up the opener as Coventry beat Middlesbrough 2-0 to finish the season fifth, sending them into the promotion playoff semifinals against fourth-placed Sunderland. Bristol City, home to fellow Japanese winger Yu Hirakawa, finished sixth to also advance to the playoff semifinals, where they will face third-place Sheffield United. A Japanese player featured in the midfield of each title-winning team in England's top three divisions this season -- Wataru Endo with Liverpool in the Premier League, Tanaka in the Championship, and Tomoki Iwata with Birmingham in League One. In the Dutch Eredivisie, Kento Shiogai headed in a late leveler for his fourth goal of the season as NEC Nijmegen drew 1-1 at home with Willem II. Related coverage: Football: Ao Tanaka's Leeds earn promotion to Premier League Football: World Cup-bound Japan held 0-0 at home by Saudi Arabia Football: Moriyasu picks battle-tested squad as World Cup berth looms
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS revealed as 97-rated striker headlines squads
The EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS promo squad is now available in Ultimate Team packs, with a Premier League TOTS squad also available. EA Sports has released three TOTS squads in Ultimate Team packs today, with the EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS joining the Premier League TOTS in-game. After week one of the TOTS promo in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team saw Ligue 1 TOTS, Arkema Premiere Ligue TOTS and Eredivisie TOTS squads all released, EA Sports has now replaced them with a new trio of TOTS squads, including the EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS. Being released alongside the Premier League TOTS, the EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS feature the best players from the top division of women's football in England and the best from the Championship, League One, and League Two. Both the EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS squads are now available in Ultimate Team packs until Friday, May 9 at 10am PDT / 1 pm EDT / 6 pm BST, when the Bundesliga TOTS, Frauen Bundesliga TOTS and Turkish Super Lig TOTS will all be released instead. EA FC 25 WSL TOTS and EFL TOTS revealed Khadija Shaw is the highest-rated player in the EA FC 25 WSL TOTS, with the Man City Women's striker rated 97 overall with four PlayStyle Plus'. Leeds United have four players in the EA FC 25 EFL TOTS squad, including Ao Tanaka, who's 96-rated with four PlayStyle Plus' as well. Here are both the TOTS squads in full, along with official ratings: EA FC 25 WSL TOTS ST: Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) - 97 OVR* ST: Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) - 96 OVR LM: Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal Women) - 96 OVR CDM: Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea Women) - 95 OVR* CB: Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United Women) - 95 OVR* RB: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea Women) - 95 OVR LB: Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) - 94 OVR GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United Women) - 93 OVR RW: Mary Fowler (Manchester City Women) - 93 OVR CM: Grace Clinton (Manchester United Women) - 92 OVR CB: Millie Bright (Chelsea Women) - 92 OVR CAM: Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) - 93 OVR (TOTS Highlights for Moment of the Season) RM: Johanna Kaneryd (Chelsea Women) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights for Goal of the Season) LB: Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea Women) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights for Newcomer of the Season) *Four PlayStyle Plus' EA FC 25 EFL TOTS CDM: Ao Tanaka (Leeds United) - 96 OVR* LB: Junior Firpo (Leeds United) - 95 OVR LM: Borja Sainz (Norwich City) - 95 OVR GK: James Trafford (Burnley) - 94 OVR CB: Maxime Esteve (Burnley) - 94 OVR ST: Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) - 93 OVR RM: Dan James (Leeds United) - 93 OVR LM: Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) - 93 OVR ST: Charlie Kelman (Leyton Orient) - 92 OVR CB: Taylor Allen (Walsall) - 92 OVR RB: Josh Neufville (AFC Wimbledon) - 90 OVR CB: Pascal Struijk (Leeds United) - 93 OVR (TOTS Highlights) ST: Paul Mullin (Wrexham) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights) ST: Michael Cheek (Bromley) - 90 OVR *Four PlayStyle Plus' Alongside the three TOTS squads in packs, more TOTS players from these leagues will be released as SBCs and Objectives, with a few more currently available in-game. TOTS-themed Evolutions and Rush events will also be released, so there's plenty of TOTS-themed content for players to enjoy.
