http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... -cup-finalAustralia hope aggression trumps Japan technique in Asian Cup final
The Socceroos are narrow favourites to win tomorrow's match after their semi-final demolition of Uzbekistan
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The former Leeds United and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell has been coaxed back to something like his best form by the Australia manager, Holger Osieck, and has enjoyed a fine Asian Cup. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
If the semi-final results of the Asian Cup constituted your sole basis for making forecasts, you might be tempted to issue warnings before tomorrow's final of a storm of Australian gloating. After all, the Socceroos won 6-0 against Uzbekistan, one of the highest-ranked teams in the tournament, while Japan edged past South Korea on penalties. But to make such a claim would be to trumpet your own ignorance, and not only because Australia drew with South Korea in the group stages. This final, which is being shown live from Qatar on British Eurosport at 3pm UK time, promises to be keenly contested.
Japan and Australia have brewed a healthy rivalry since their epic battle at the 2006 World Cup. In 2007 it was Japan who thwarted the Socceroos' attempt to waltz into the world's most populous confederation and immediately be crowned kings. Japan beat Australia in the Asian Cup quarter-finals, following a penalty shoot-out.
A broken foot will deprive Japan of their top striker, Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa, in Sunday's final but the Australia centre-back Sasa Ognenovski reckons the key will be the Socceroos' height advantage and attitude. "From past clashes, even in the Champions League games we've played, they're intimidated by big bodies and by the aggression that's shown by Aussie players," said Ognenovski, seemingly not bothered about sounding cliched.
That, presumably, is because the cliche has often been proved to be true: Japan have struggled against teams who play directly, towards tall forwards. But while the Japan manager, Alberto Zaccheroni, is striving to embed a slick, attacking brand of play through a 4-2-3-1 system that plays to his team's technical strengths, the most recent World Cup suggested that they were no longer as vulnerable physically as Ognenovski thinks they are.
"They probably got the worst possible draw that they could have got at the World Cup," says Ben Mabley, a blogger on Japanese football. "They were pitted against Denmark, Holland and Cameroon, probably three of the biggest teams they could have come up against. Yet they were not overpowered and, thanks to their technique, played their way out of the group. They could do the same against Australia, who are not as good as Japan technically."
Australia, too, are bucking received wisdom – specifically the wisdom imparted by Pim Verbeek, their conservative former coach. Under the German Holger Osieck, Australia have sought to develop an enterprising, high-tempo style, the most complete expression of which was seen the semi-final destruction of Uzbekistan.
Unlike Verbeek, who was openly contemptuous of domestic football in Australia, Osieck has not succumbed to preconceived ideas of players' merits. For example, one of the Socceroos' outstanding performers has been the Brisbane Roar midfielder Matthew McKay, who after impressing in a narrow win over Iraq in the group stages, retained his place for the semi-final ahead of Blackburn's Brett Emerton.
This is meritocracy, not Osieck trying to cultivate an image as some sort of strongman. If he had wanted to do that his first move, à la Steve McClaren with David Beckham, would have been to jettison Harry Kewell: instead he has coaxed the former Liverpool player back to something approaching his best form. Kewell has enjoyed a fine tournament and may be set to confound expectations by sampling glory again.
some interesting comments too here are some samples...
Nice work Paul Doyle
Skill should always beat bulk and thuggery
This isn't rugby
Come on Japan
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I'm largely ignorant of Asian club football, so I'm a little behind some contributors to this interesting thread...and article.
I've watched the tournament extensively on British Eurosport...when they can drag themselves away from 35, that's THIRTY-FIVE, hours per day tennis coverage (Continental Eurosport gets the football, we get the Luge, go figure).
I've enjoyed watching Japan the most, which is why I want them to win tomorrow. Of the "successful" teams, I've enjoyed Australia the least but they are worthy finalists and I wouldn't know where to put my money on tomorrow's game.
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stuton - i work with some austr people so they tell me all i need to know as their opinions are wholly influenced from the media 'back home'. there has been a clammer for kilkenny to play regularly since the korea game as he is seen as the only midfielder with a positive forward passing attitude (out of jedinak, culina, valeri who pass sideways and back). i dont think im wrong on this one. maybe you should get out of the sun.
Austr public like stuton seem very arrogant about themselves 'Deal with it. Tomorrow night we'll be champions of the region.' this is why they are not liked in Asia. They have will have to learn to be humble over the next few years as their national team will sink into a deep trough.
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England arent mentioned here seanbateman...
but Japan are miles ahead of Australia and should win. Living in UAE ive watched most of the games.
MCkay is a neat little player, a bit like barry bannan but with only half the talent and ten years older. plus they might play him at left back. Ognenovski was playing equivilant of unibond division 2 football but 5 years ago and is suspect in all defensive aspects. there is certainly a lack of depth to the australian bench and their decline after kewell and neill retire will be inevitable.
They were very lucky to beat iraq who were much the superior side and south korea should have beaten them comfortably.
The Uzbheks looked a tidy team up until the semi final where they crumbled too easily.
Japan to win (even without the massively overrated kagawa) 2-1
unreal
