Put in date due to numerous threads between these teams. Massive and unbelievable situation we find ourselves in. Think we need:

                       Ryan
Karacic  Sainsbury Souttar Behich
                 Jeggo Mooy
Boyle.        Hrustic       Mabil
                   Duke

Jeggo has a tank and concentration. We can afford to be a bit risky here. I'd even consider starting Ikon over Mabil. If it went awry then Rogic, Mabil and Irvine await. 

Wow, we haven't won against Japan in 12 years.

This game deserves a bit of hype it’s on Tuesday night at a good time. 

So people in NSW can go watch this game at the pub? I'm so jealous (I'm in Melb)

Think you are spot on with this Lineup John 😎

Would take a draw. After their first round loss, they're gonna need to go hard at us for all 3 points.

thats whats good about this game, they have to go for the result, we counter well and Duke up front with Boyle/Mabil I like this vision.
We got to hold the shape for their one touch will be strong and endless energy.

massive game. 

Would have loved to travel for this. Japan playing crap but no doubt they will step up for this. Would take a draw. 

Good line up. Some fresh legs and I too would keep Rogic in reserve just in case we need a goal or two to snatch a draw. Bringing Rogic and Arzani on with 25 minutes to go might be useful to have in the backpocket. A draw would be good, given the circumstances of our group and our poor history against Japan. As an aside, I hope Arnie has sorted out the Mabil-Hrustic tension as these are two of our best younger players who will hopefully play many games together.

That’s true. Sounds like a refreshing change after the pressure being on us to attack and make things happen in all our previous WCQs.

Anyone know why Mabil and Hrustic argued at HT in Oman game?!

Mabil wanted pineapple on pizza that night and Hrustic didn't. Big souttar came in and defused it by saying they can order half and half. Nothing to see. 

Just unsual to see in Socceroos side - on camera at least?!

I saw one tweet speculating that Mabil was unhappy with Hrustic being so friendly to the opposition, stopping for chats with Omani players throughout the first half etc. 

Both good points. We have a bit more control leading in and so long as we can dictate the tempo then all power to us. 

Interesting if true. Opponents can use that as a sneaky tactic sometimes. ‘Befriend’ your opponents so they subconsciously may not fight you/try as hard

The Japanese are going to go super hard in this game. They have to. I reckon one of them might go too hard and get a red. If that happens we'll run all over them. Souttar will scare the living shit out of them too. Can't wait to see it. Sadly I think they'll be a little too strong if they keep eleven on the pitch. 

Big Harry might find it tough going in his primary job of defending. He didn't find it easy against Vietnam. And Japan are a class above Vietnam, so Harry could be a left in wake of Japanese counter attacks.

Whats this about? First I've heard this

Another alternative is to do what Pim did.

Play a 4-3-2-1. 

Japan desperately need points. We don't. A draw is a good result for us, but not them. They will be suffering from scoreboard pressure.

To play 3 DMs could work, except we don't have the defensive quality in DMs we've had in recent years with considerable experience to do this job.

A player like Josh Brillante, a tough tackling ball winner, could be handy for this role. He is not in the squad though.




Grant ......Sains........Degenek.......Behich

.....Irvine.........Mooy....... Genreau/Jeggo

............Rogic............Hrustic

....................Boyle



Japan have had a strength of slick central combination play on  the edge of the pen box. This 4-3-2-1 formation forces them to cross from wide areas, which hasn't  been nearly as much of a Japanese strength.

In the DM line though Irvine is not as quick and manoeuvrable on his feet as the likes of Culina, Milligan, to jockey, turn and chase. Ditto Mooy, but he has the requisite experience, albeit being more of a controlling and proactive midfielder. Genreau has the manoeuvrability, but  not the experience.

Arnie might have been Pim's assistant when the Socceroos adopted this game plan in the same fixture for the 2010 South African WCQ campaign. 

If Degenek is available, I'd select him instead of Harry. 

Degenek is more manoeuvrable on his feet for jockeying, delaying and showing when Japanese players have the ball at their feet.

I'm not sure on crowd restrictions, but if a decent crowd is in there, this could be the biggest game of Souttar's career.

Has Souttar scored in this round of WCQs?

I think we've played 3 games, and he hasn't scored a set piece headed goal. At our attacking set pieces, the last three teams, China, Vietnam and Oman, have worked out game plans to stop Souttar scoring from corners. 

I think we've scored 7 goals, all  field goals - Mabil, Boyle and Duke 2 each, and Grant 1.

Unfortunately Degenek pulled out with asymptomatic Covid-19 

Interesting?

At the last game in Japan, about 5000 were in attendance 

The way the panelists were talking on Friday it sounded like it was going to be closed doors.

Souttar is a great diversion in the box for opponent defenders and possibly frees up another Socceroo to strike at goal unmarked

He definitely gets opposition defenders shitting their dacks every set piece.

This will be tough because Japan are under great pressure to win otherwise they might not make the top 2 spots after this.

At best a draw would be great for us but it wouldn't surprise me if we lose this one due to the opponents situation.