Great thorough analysis, Decentric. I put my timestamped observations in the player rating thread. Only managed the first half.
So it seems Japan were just able to nullify our typical midfield possession. Annoying we could do something to get around that. I felt Metcalfe made one or two good layoffs. Behich had plenty of space at times where I wish he'd pushed higher up but the was a wariness of counters.
We just couldn't string many passes together. A big issue with our longer wing balls was the first touch and no support.
Thanks, JS.
From an Aussie perspective of trying to play proactive NC football it was a very frustrating game to watch. I've done the whole game now - the hardest I've done.
However, at the same time Arzani came on at 80 mins, Aus started to play through the central midfield as Japan dropped back to 6 players in our defensive half, when we tried to play out in their Ball Possession Opposition. I'm pretty mentally exhausted after recording stats from this game with Japan dominating possession and territory. I think one of the only passages of play which was decent attacking attacking interplay was when Aus scored!
The sequence started when O'Neill made a superb intercept when he pounced on a Japanese pass just inside their half way line. The ball then was passed to Duke, McGree, Arzani, Geria, Circati, O'Neill, Geria, then to McGree who executed that brilliant turn leaving his marker in his wake, ball carrying and brilliantly cutting back for Behich to score with his usually awful right foot!
After the goal a few seconds before full time in the regular 90 mins, there was a lot of physical play in the Aus attacking half where Duke outmuscled some rugged Japan CBs in succession to stop their attacks. He won 4, 1v1s in a few minutes!
Duke was joined by Geria, Circati, McGree, and O'Neill who won virtually every 1v1 they contested until the final whistle went!
I'm on record as saying I like Proactive possession football, but I'm also a huge fan of Italian Reactive counterattacking football. I saw a lot of Italy when visiting France for the 2016 Euro Champs.
The Poparoos' discipline off the ball for the whole game, was worthy of Italy!
His tactic of playing a deep defensive line worked! I don't think the Japanese ever broke through the Aus defence to turn the Aus defence around to defend facing our own goal. Every time Japan had a shot, ther were Aussie bodies in front of them! This is simply incredible!
We must improve at keeping the ball - even against that quality of Full Pressing and Squeezing for about 75 mins. I wonder whether the Japanese coach knowing they had already qualified, just threw caution to the wind, seeing how long they could keep up that high level Full Pressing and intensive Squeezing?
At the 80 min mark the wide Aus defenders started playing diagonal balls into Yazbek and O'Neill to advance the build ups.
Against Japan it has to rate as one of the best Socceroo defensive performances - ever. If not the best. It is so hard for players to concentrate for so long keeping the defensive shape compact without the ball.
By the end of the game, Aus steamrolled Japan in 1v1s. In the last Japan game in Japan game they nearly matched Aus in 1v1s. I think Aus won 53%. It is in an earlier post in this thread.
My belief is if any player can hold their own physically in body on body contact in the AL they can hold their own anywhere against international opposition , except possibly France top division, Scotland, the NSL and possibly the Championship.
One has to feel for a player like Teague. He barely touched the ball in his 45 mins on the pitch. Hardly anybody passed to him. During Teague's time on the pitch, Japan often committed 9 outfield players in the Aus defensive half. This is extraordinary!
I'll do the Saudi game then list all the stats.
Maybe Popa's ability to construct such an impregnable defence is what Aus needs?
In 8 Popa WCQ games Aus has won 5 and drawn 3 - accruing 18 points.
Aus has scored 16 goals and conceded 6 over those 8 games.