At 7.20pm (JST) on Wednesday 11th February 2009 the battle for Group 1 of the remaining Asian teams left to qualify for South Africa 2010 will continue in earnest. The mighty Socceroos (ranked 29th) sitting atop the group with three wins from three appearances will face the Blue Samurai (ranked 34th) in their backyard, Yokohama Stadium.
The Green and Gold Army
Asia’s 10 best nations are split into two groups of five with the top two finishers of each group heading directly to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The third placed teams from each group can still make it. They will playoff against each other with the winner taking on the Oceania champion for that elusive spot at the FIFA World Cup table.
John Aloisi and Shinji Ono
As the Socceroos have won their two previous away games and one home game without conceding a goal, a win in Japan will put them in a healthy position to reach South Africa as three of their four remaining games will be played at home.
Japan have had a bit of a harder time. They scraped a 3-2 win away to Bahrain, drew with Uzbekistan at home and a 3-0 victory of the Qatar. A win in Yokohama will give them top spot in the group and give their coach, Takeshi Okada, a moment of relief after his teams string of recent poor performances. A shameful loss may not induce seppuku but will put the Aussie’s well ahead in the group and give them a mental edge at their next encounter.
The two teams have a healthy rivalry starting from the 2006 World Cup group matches where the mighty Socceroos came from 1 nil down to a 3-1 win. An ill-tempered quarter final in the 2007 Asian Cup saw the Blue Samurai win on penalties but the teams have not met since. With the Japanese deciding to hold their training behind closed doors there is a perception of fear of the Green and Gold champions, and by well they should, the Aussies are coming for the points and there is a good chance they will take them home with them.
Tim Cahill
We will be without the trusty workhorse Brett Emerton, and there is doubt that Mark Viduka will make the lineup. Japan looks to host an almost full strength lineup, coupled with a home ground advantage and a long preparation sees them as favourites heading into the match.
My money is on the Socceroos. Regardless of the result, with a sold-out Stadium, the atmosphere will no doubt be electric. I, for one, will make the pilgrimage to Yokohama to rally support alongside the soldiers of the Green and Gold army with a beer in each hand. It’s going to be a good night of football. Olay, olay, olay, aussie aussie aussie!
The Yokohamarama
Kirin Brewery Yokohama
Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Ajista
Long Way Down Under – Part 1
scott j
C Ohara
Chris
Japan Australia
Jay Dee
emuu
lina
freedomwv
Fidel
Haikugirl
Nippon cha-cha-cha!
Nippon cha-cha-cha!
Nippon cha-cha-cha!
With the lack of success of the Wallabies, Kangaroos, cricketeers and tennis players I may be forced to take an interest in this. Go you good thing!
“Nippon cha-cha-cha!”?? What is this? The dancing section of your airline?
Look out! Look out! Those waltzing Blue Samurais are heading straight for us and they’re carrying hot towels!
Japanese fans. They sure know how to strike fear into their opposition.
Dave, we just better hope that they don’t form a Conga Line. We’ll be in for it then!
Absolutely must win !!!
Nippon cha-cha-cha!
Do the Aussies play soccer??
There was no evidence of that yesterday..
If Japan had a decent striker it would have been a cricket score!
Ah, yeah, good point Kermit. Japan needed to win this home match of theirs and they didn’t, even after throwing everything they had at it.
It wasn’t pretty but the Socceroos’ unbeaten run remains intact. And we still sit atop the Group 1 qualifying table. Next encounter between the two teams is in Australia in June in front of an Aussie home crowd. So, good luck with that.
PS It wasn’t so much the lack of a Japanese striker that prevented goals from going in. It was the Aussie goal-keeping machine Mark Schwartzer.
Blimey ol’ Kermit, come on mate, it was a long time ago we beat the poms 3-1, no need to still be upset.
No goals conceded yet in this group cant be anything but a good thing, particulary against the next best side in Asia. I’m happy, and am looking forward to the next three home games, make sure you watch these matches if you want to see some goals. Or check the last few Socceroos internationals if you want to see some good shots on goal, Bresciano in Sydney is one I’d recommend.
Yokohama ?
The only good Yokohamas are on my car, which is used for mowing down soccer players (simply to test if their swan dive performances are any different when they are genuinely injured).
Perhaps all that rubber should be redirected to providing profilactic devices for soccer supporters, in turn doing the world a favour.
Aussie, rumba – rumba – rumba!
Aussie’s to go all the way steamrollling everyone in their path.aussie! aussie! aussie!
I love how Kermit is still upset about losing to Australia in soccer. There is probably only 100,000 Aussies who follow the sport as opposed to the millions who follow it in England. Basically, what I am trying to say is; we even beat England in sports we don’t give a toss about. LMAO!
I love how Nunnster actually doesn’t know that I care more about rugby and we’ve dumped the Aussies out in the previous two World Cups..
Shove that one up Bouncer..
Excellent work Kermit. And in this sport which the Pommies invented, how many world cups have you actually won?
Kermit, you know it’s not easy being green and it must be even harder to be English.
Fantastic Job, Nunnster,
You had me stomped for a bit.. then I realised that you guys invented that ridiculous ‘sport’, Aussie Rules!
Well done for inventing that, let’s hold a great big Mardi Gras!
Oh, you guys already have one every year..
Nice one Kermit. I’m sure you had help from an Aussie for that come back as Poms are bereft of any genuine humour. In Australian Rules Football it is part of the game to put your body on the line to protect your team mate in order to advance the team as a whole. That’s why it’s Australian – Look after your mates. Watch a game. You might learn something.
As for Mardi Gras, it is a national disgrace and a logistical nightmare as our airports are clogged with all of the chartered British Airways flights landing in Sydney.
Which float are you on this year Kermit? I’ll get the Barmy Army to give you a wave.
Nunnster,
I must admit you’re quite funny for an Aussie..
I’d like to call a temporary truce to international hostilities as I have to get back to my day-job.
Shake my Johnson, Nunnster.
Anyone who puts their job ahead of quality international hostilities time is a pommy or a loser. Basically, the same thing. Please don’t respond to this though, as I’m too busy.
AFL supporters are losers too. Does that make them pommies?
Truce accepted Kermit. I’ll be sending Rickygee over to Tokyo next month to shake your Johnson on my behalf.
Agreed, Nunnster.
Make sure he has both hands free and he’s been sterilized.
Kind Regards.
Nippon cha-cha-cha, Whoa, wait….why is it that I’ve got 2 people agreeing to a truce, also agreeing with each other that I (an innocent bystander) will be shaking other peoples Johnsons? Kermit, its your johnson and you invited nunnster to shake it. Nunnster, you can’t shake peoples johnsons by proxy.
“Innocent bystander” are not two words which come to mind when your name is mentioned, RickyG.
Look, just get the tweezers out and give him quick shake. He might even buy you dinner and a movie for your efforts.
Guess we’ve succeeded in degrading the content of this blog..
Good teamwork, guys! Remember many hands make light work..
Kermit, no one can do a better job at degrading the content of this blog than me.
Acknowledged!
Yes, your hands in the pic are making light work..