SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) coach Vahid HALILHODZIC revealed his enthusiasm on Monday 10 October at a press conference at Melbourne with a day left until the fourth match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final Asian Qualifiers against Australia, saying "they are the best team in Asia, but we would like to get a big job done with bravery and courage".

Japan stand in fourth place in their group with six points after two wins and one loss, trailing Australia by one point, who top the group with seven points (two wins and one draw).

"On the physical side, our team are in better form compared to the last match", says Halilhodzic. "Australia have got quality, power and discipline. They are a well-organised, really good team. But every team have a weakness, and I told my players about that". He emphasises his side are well prepared.

He gives his players credit for their third match against Iraq four days ago, where his side scored a decisive goal in added time. "My players showed strong mentality", he adds. He also points out, "it's going to be a real tough match, and the mental side will be important". He strongly urges his players to get on with it.

The team worked on tactics behind closed doors except the first 15 minutes in an official training session at Docklands Stadium. There was apparently a good level of tension as the players were very vocal during warm-up.

Forward OKAZAKI Shinji (Leicester City Football Club/ England), who had worked out separately until the previous day, says joining the session today, "no problem with my leg". Ahead of the Australia match, he further adds, "Australia's way of playing has changed, but in terms of experience, we are better. We want to play a good game".

While it is the first matchup with Australia under Halilhodzic, they are even on records in the past matchups since 1956 with eight wins, eight losses and seven draws. In the World Cup's final qualifying rounds, Japan drew three and lost one against Australia since 2006, when the Oceania side joined the AFC. Their only loss (2-1) came in the 2010 World Cup qualifying round that was held in Melbourne in 2009.

But the recent matchups resulted in close games as Japan grabbed a 1-0 extra-time win in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup final and earned a 2-1 friendly win in November 2014.

Australia coach ANGE POSTECOGLOU says calmly, "Australia and Japan have a good rivalry since 2006, and every match ended up in a close contest. It's going to be a quality game again, but we've got great players and made a quick recovery (from the third match). We'll try to get the maximum points".

The Australia side have forward TOMI JURIC, who scored two goals in the three qualifiers matches, former Urawa Reds defender MATTHEW SPIRANOVIC, Germany's Leverkusen forward ROBBIE KRUSE as well as Melbourne's home club forward TIM CAHILL, who netted five goals in the past eight matches against Japan. Postecoglou declines to state his starting line-up but still shows his trust in his players, saying "everyone on the team can play a significant role whether they play as a starter or as a substitute".

Japan defender YOSHIDA Maya (Southampton FC) says, "I don't want to let Cahill score. Battles in the box will be very important".

Japan full-backs SAKAI Hiroki (Olympique de Marseille/ France) and NAGATOMO Yuto (FC Internazionale Milano/ Italy) are sidelined due to injury, but Yoshida says, "it's going to be a good opportunity for players who play in place of them. Throughout the final qualifying round, this tougher situation makes us grow even stronger".

The match against Australia will kick off at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday 11 October at 8:00 p.m. (6 p.m. Japan Time).

Coaches' and Players' Comments

Vahid HALILHODZIC, Coach, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
It will be a very good test tomorrow for us against the best team in Asia. They are a good team equipped with quality, physicality and discipline, but any team has some weakness. They must be looking for our weakness as well. I already told my players our opponents’ weaknesses and their tendencies to play more aggressively at home. We are missing two full-backs due to injuries, but we have called up more than enough players and I will select the best players available. The mental side of this team has improved, and the physical side is also much better than the last match. The players have prepared themselves perfectly. I believe in this team. 

MF HASEBE Makoto (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany)
Australia have scored many goals through set-pieces, so their height is dangerous. They should come out aggressively because they will be at home. So I think we will have a long stretch where we should stay patient, but we don’t want to play at their pace. As we show our strength, we want to eliminate their strength. More than anything, not allowing goals is important, so we will maintain good balance in doing so. 

MF KAGAWA Shinji (Borussia Dortmund/Germany)
Australia are at the highest level of all the teams in this qualifying group. The key is whether we as a team can keep working hard both offensively and defensively throughout the 90 minutes. Also how much players up front including myself can help the team offensively and defensively will be important. We already have our vision of scoring goals, so we want to execute that no matter how limited our chances may be.

FW OKAZAKI Shinji (Leicester City Football Club/England)
Australia have shifted their strategy to passing football, but if we can outplay them, we will become more confident and have a mental advantage over the opponents in the future matches. This team are at our best when we allow the central attacking midfielder to play freely. So I think what we have to do is that the centre forward (including myself) coordinate well with the player behind him (me) in terms of distance and positioning. 

FW KOBAYASHI Yu (Kawasaki Frontale)
The team are maintaining good sense of urgency and playing with good atmosphere. Our next opponents seem to pass effectively. Since their full-backs are staying high up the pitch, we want to attack the space behind them off counter-attacks, for example. I think Japan are better in terms of techniques, so after we get the ball, we can create chances.  

ANGE POSTECOGLOU, Coach of Australia National Team
Australia and Japan have a good rivalry since 2006, and it's ended up in a close game every time. It's going to be a quality game again. It’s a very important final qualifying match and the win will put us in a good situation. But it’s not that we will clinch the qualification tomorrow. We will play at home after a while, so we want to take advantage of our players’ talents and try to get the maximum points.

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

ASIAN QUALIFIERS - ROAD TO RUSSIA

2016-10-11 (Tue.) - 20:00 (estimate time) (Japan Time 18:00) 
Docklands Stadium (Melbourne, Australia)
Australia National Team vs SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
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