Latest news with #SamuraiBlue
The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Popovic delivers special message after Japan success
The Japan hoodoo is over, but Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has a stern message for his players: The job isn't done yet. Australia all but locked in a spot for the 2026 World Cup after Aziz Behich's 90th-minute stunner lifted the Socceroos to a 1-0 win over Japan in Perth on Thursday night. The 'all but' quantifier comes due to the fact Saudi Arabia are technically still in the hunt to steal the Socceroos' automatic qualifier spot. The Saudis (13 points) kept their hopes alive by beating Bahrain 2-0 just hours after the Socceroos' win. Australia (16 points, plus eight goal difference) are still well and truly in the box seat. But if Saudi Arabia (13 points, zero goal difference) beat the Socceroos by five goals or more in Jeddah next Tuesday in the final match of the current qualifying phase, Australia will miss out on an automatic World Cup berth. Given Saudi Arabia have scored only six goals across nine matches, that scenario is unlikely, but Popovic doesn't want to take any chances. "We need to do a job in Saudi," Popovic said. "We're in a great position, but we have to finish it off. "It's been a really intense period since I've come in, but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do. "We're very close now to achieving our goal." Thursday night's win in front of 57,226 fans marked the Socceroos' first victory over Japan since 2009, and inflicted a first loss on the Samurai Blue since their defeat to Iran at the Asian Cup in 2023. But it was far from a pretty display by the Socceroos against what was effectively a Japanese B team. Given they had already secured their World Cup berth, Japan's starting XI against Australia featured a total of nine players with four caps or less, including three debutants. Despite that Japan dominated for almost the entire match, finishing with 69 per cent possession and creating the better chances until Behich's late heroics. Popovic was proud of his team's defensive grit and believed getting a win over Japan - albeit against a severely depleted opponent - was significant. "They (our players) know they've done something that hasn't been done for quite a while," Popovic said. "We kept a clean sheet, and we've done something that many Australian sides have found hard to do. "Japan have been on a wonderful run and there's a reason for that. "They are the best (in Asia) and we want to challenge them to be the best. "We shouldn't shy away from that and hopefully we take a big step forward knowing we can beat Japan." Socceroos defender Milos Degenek said his side wouldn't take an ultra conservative approach into the game against Saudi Arabia. "You don't go into any game thinking, 'Oh, we just don't want to lose 4-0'," Degenek said. "You go in wanting to win the game. Very simple." The Japan hoodoo is over, but Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has a stern message for his players: The job isn't done yet. Australia all but locked in a spot for the 2026 World Cup after Aziz Behich's 90th-minute stunner lifted the Socceroos to a 1-0 win over Japan in Perth on Thursday night. The 'all but' quantifier comes due to the fact Saudi Arabia are technically still in the hunt to steal the Socceroos' automatic qualifier spot. The Saudis (13 points) kept their hopes alive by beating Bahrain 2-0 just hours after the Socceroos' win. Australia (16 points, plus eight goal difference) are still well and truly in the box seat. But if Saudi Arabia (13 points, zero goal difference) beat the Socceroos by five goals or more in Jeddah next Tuesday in the final match of the current qualifying phase, Australia will miss out on an automatic World Cup berth. Given Saudi Arabia have scored only six goals across nine matches, that scenario is unlikely, but Popovic doesn't want to take any chances. "We need to do a job in Saudi," Popovic said. "We're in a great position, but we have to finish it off. "It's been a really intense period since I've come in, but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do. "We're very close now to achieving our goal." Thursday night's win in front of 57,226 fans marked the Socceroos' first victory over Japan since 2009, and inflicted a first loss on the Samurai Blue since their defeat to Iran at the Asian Cup in 2023. But it was far from a pretty display by the Socceroos against what was effectively a Japanese B team. Given they had already secured their World Cup berth, Japan's starting XI against Australia featured a total of nine players with four caps or less, including three debutants. Despite that Japan dominated for almost the entire match, finishing with 69 per cent possession and creating the better chances until Behich's late heroics. Popovic was proud of his team's defensive grit and believed getting a win over Japan - albeit against a severely depleted opponent - was significant. "They (our players) know they've done something that hasn't been done for quite a while," Popovic said. "We kept a clean sheet, and we've done something that many Australian sides have found hard to do. "Japan have been on a wonderful run and there's a reason for that. "They are the best (in Asia) and we want to challenge them to be the best. "We shouldn't shy away from that and hopefully we take a big step forward knowing we can beat Japan." Socceroos defender Milos Degenek said his side wouldn't take an ultra conservative approach into the game against Saudi Arabia. "You don't go into any game thinking, 'Oh, we just don't want to lose 4-0'," Degenek said. "You go in wanting to win the game. Very simple." The Japan hoodoo is over, but Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has a stern message for his players: The job isn't done yet. Australia all but locked in a spot for the 2026 World Cup after Aziz Behich's 90th-minute stunner lifted the Socceroos to a 1-0 win over Japan in Perth on Thursday night. The 'all but' quantifier comes due to the fact Saudi Arabia are technically still in the hunt to steal the Socceroos' automatic qualifier spot. The Saudis (13 points) kept their hopes alive by beating Bahrain 2-0 just hours after the Socceroos' win. Australia (16 points, plus eight goal difference) are still well and truly in the box seat. But if Saudi Arabia (13 points, zero goal difference) beat the Socceroos by five goals or more in Jeddah next Tuesday in the final match of the current qualifying phase, Australia will miss out on an automatic World Cup berth. Given Saudi Arabia have scored only six goals across nine matches, that scenario is unlikely, but Popovic doesn't want to take any chances. "We need to do a job in Saudi," Popovic said. "We're in a great position, but we have to finish it off. "It's been a really intense period since I've come in, but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do. "We're very close now to achieving our goal." Thursday night's win in front of 57,226 fans marked the Socceroos' first victory over Japan since 2009, and inflicted a first loss on the Samurai Blue since their defeat to Iran at the Asian Cup in 2023. But it was far from a pretty display by the Socceroos against what was effectively a Japanese B team. Given they had already secured their World Cup berth, Japan's starting XI against Australia featured a total of nine players with four caps or less, including three debutants. Despite that Japan dominated for almost the entire match, finishing with 69 per cent possession and creating the better chances until Behich's late heroics. Popovic was proud of his team's defensive grit and believed getting a win over Japan - albeit against a severely depleted opponent - was significant. "They (our players) know they've done something that hasn't been done for quite a while," Popovic said. "We kept a clean sheet, and we've done something that many Australian sides have found hard to do. "Japan have been on a wonderful run and there's a reason for that. "They are the best (in Asia) and we want to challenge them to be the best. "We shouldn't shy away from that and hopefully we take a big step forward knowing we can beat Japan." Socceroos defender Milos Degenek said his side wouldn't take an ultra conservative approach into the game against Saudi Arabia. "You don't go into any game thinking, 'Oh, we just don't want to lose 4-0'," Degenek said. "You go in wanting to win the game. Very simple."
Kyodo News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss
KYODO NEWS - 13 hours ago - 23:33 | Sports, All, Japan Already-qualified Japan fell to a late 1-0 defeat away to Australia on Thursday in the Asian final-round qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, their first loss of the campaign. A makeshift Samurai Blue side were stunned in the 90th minute when Aziz Behich drilled a shot inside the right-hand post at Perth Stadium off a Riley McGree cutback from the right byline, all but sealing Australia's automatic qualification as Group C runners-up. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said. "Many players with little experience were in action, but they have made the best preparation possible, showing zeal from training." With Japan having become in March the first non-host nation to qualify, Moriyasu opted to call up a raft of new faces for their two dead rubbers this month, and Hiroki Sekine, Yu Hirakawa and Kota Tawaratsumida all made their Japan debuts in Western Australia. While Yuito Suzuki and captain Daichi Kamada enjoyed a strong first half in attacking midfield, right wing-back Hirakawa had the best chances of the half for a dominant Japan as two long-range drives late on off both feet threatened the Australian goal. The 64th-minute introductions of Keito Nakamura and Takefusa Kubo added spark to the visitors' attack, with Kubo seeing a shot off his weaker right foot sail narrowly wide in the 80th minute. But Tony Popovic's men did not settle for a point and grabbed a precious opportunity to take all three points, which all but secured their place in the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer. Japan will wrap up their qualifying at home to Indonesia on Tuesday in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. "Whoever gets picked, Japan always play to win. We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but you cannot turn back the clock," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win." Related coverage: Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil FOCUS: As women's football grows in Europe, Japan aims to follow suit Japanese footballer in Australia arrested in betting scandal
Japan Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Moriyasu mourns end of unbeaten run after loss to Australia
Hajime Moriyasu has already led Japan to qualification for next year's World Cup finals but there was no disguising his frustration at his understrength side losing 1-0 to Australia in Perth on Thursday. Aziz Behich's 90th-minute strike consigned Samurai Blue to a first loss to Australia in 16 years and a first defeat in all matches since February last year. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Moriyasu told reporters. "Many inexperienced players were in action, but they were enthusiastic in practice, showed their best and were prepared to fight like Japan as a team." Moriyasu has ambitions to win the World Cup next year, not so foolhardy a goal when it is remembered that he led Japan to victories over Germany and Spain at the last edition in 2022. Keen to expand his squad depth, Moriyasu rested his top players on Thursday and put out a team featuring nine players starting for the first time, three of them debutants. Japan still dominated the match with its neat possession football for all but the last couple of minutes and would have won had they produced a better end-product in front of goal. "I don't think we were technically and physically second best. Maybe, a lack of experience cost us," Moriyasu said "I wanted to see what (inexperienced) players could do in a high-pressure environment. We have to improve and expand our squad." Japan rounds out its qualifying campaign against Indonesia in Suita on Tuesday and Moriyasu said his team would be aiming to get back to winning ways. "We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but it's too late for that now," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win."
CNA
21 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Japan's Moriyasu mourns end of unbeaten run after loss to Australia
Hajime Moriyasu has already led Japan to qualification for next year's World Cup finals but there was no disguising his frustration at his understrength side losing 1-0 to Australia in Perth on Thursday. Aziz Behich's 90th minute strike consigned the Samurai Blue to a first loss to Australia in 16 years and a first defeat in all matches since February last year. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Moriyasu told reporters. "Many inexperienced players were in action, but they were enthusiastic in practice, showed their best, and were prepared to fight like Japan as a team." Moriyasu has ambitions to win the World Cup next year, not so foolhardy a goal when it is remembered that he led Japan to victories over Germany and Spain at the last edition in 2022. Keen to expand his squad depth, Moriyasu rested his top players on Thursday and put out a team featuring nine players starting for the first time, three of them debutants. They still dominated the match with their neat possession football for all but the last couple of minutes and would have won had they produced a better end-product in front of goal. "I don't think we were technically and physically second best. Maybe, a lack of experience cost us," Moriyasu said "I wanted to see what (inexperienced) players could do in a high-pressure environment. We have to improve and expand our squad." Japan round out their qualifying campaign against Indonesia in Suita on Tuesday and Moriyasu said his team would be aiming to get back to winning ways. "We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but it's too late for that now," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win."
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Japan's Moriyasu mourns end of unbeaten run after loss to Australia
June 6 (Reuters) - Hajime Moriyasu has already led Japan to qualification for next year's World Cup finals but there was no disguising his frustration at his understrength side losing 1-0 to Australia in Perth on Thursday. Aziz Behich's 90th minute strike consigned the Samurai Blue to a first loss to Australia in 16 years and a first defeat in all matches since February last year. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Moriyasu told reporters. "Many inexperienced players were in action, but they were enthusiastic in practice, showed their best, and were prepared to fight like Japan as a team." Moriyasu has ambitions to win the World Cup next year, not so foolhardy a goal when it is remembered that he led Japan to victories over Germany and Spain at the last edition in 2022. Keen to expand his squad depth, Moriyasu rested his top players on Thursday and put out a team featuring nine players starting for the first time, three of them debutants. They still dominated the match with their neat possession football for all but the last couple of minutes and would have won had they produced a better end-product in front of goal. "I don't think we were technically and physically second best. Maybe, a lack of experience cost us," Moriyasu said "I wanted to see what (inexperienced) players could do in a high-pressure environment. We have to improve and expand our squad." Japan round out their qualifying campaign against Indonesia in Suita on Tuesday and Moriyasu said his team would be aiming to get back to winning ways. "We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but it's too late for that now," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win."
