Struggling...the left back, O'neill? absolutley lost out there.

This gonna get ugly, not even close to matching japan.

Our LB O'Neill must be the coach's stepson or something, because he's shite

That's painful to watch. Japan is ordinary but we are just terrible all over not just the defence.

Defence is the massive issue here. Some alright play midfield upwards. Shame the chance didn't eventuate here.

lb and the 2 cbs seem pretty week compared to other players I've seen at u17 over the last few years

Hopefully they improve....the nst can't come soon enough to give young players more opportunities

I"d get that O'Neal out. They're playing long balls problems is no one can cross. The wingers who cant win a one on one. Should play more narrow and with faster pace. So far not a single shot on goal. Win or lose they'll need to give more, need to be more desperate.  Look at Thailand or India playing, they lost but they gave everything they got.

reckon the standard today is comparable to a league standard. So if anyone stands out they should get game time

The Japanese once again are a different class and its not what you expect either, we talk about how good technically they are but what the separator here is their decision making, off the ball movement, ability to find space is alot better than us.
They close alot better down too which again how well coached they are.
While Australia just relies on second balls and playing over the channels, that is such a basic level of playing and exposes the coaching in Australian football at this level.

They do alot better in many aspects but Australian football has to up front about its deficiences and im not talking about technique which we have definetly improved but the way of playing isnt sufficient for this of level or not conductive to being successful.

What a shame Lebib couldn't get on to that. I look forward to Montgomery playing Di Pizio next season. Really hope he gets a lot of chances. 

Defence and Midfield are much weaker than compared to previous u17 generations - with the exception of Lebib and Di Pizio respectively.

Our players hardly move and appear so dumb on and off the ball. Japan are 3 steps ahead in their thoughts like a game of chess.

A better first 10 to this half. Near dominant you could say. Not classy or amazing but 3 chances for a change of pace. Very mad how we've not tried to use Irankunda. Japan have it all covered so he's got to go elsewhere in search of opportunity. 

No pass and move , players who don't have the ball just stand there no movement making the CB got no option but to back pass , side pass and long ball for hit and hope. Couldn't believe what I see 

Get in Irankunda! 1:2 If it bleeds we can kill it. Typical Australian bobble goal but nice composure at the end to slot it. Just felt it was going to go against the post...

Amanatidis looks great. He could be something..athletic, quick thinking. Game changed at start of 2nd half.
Ikrankunda great goal, and nice flick on header by amanatidis.  2.1

Oneill still struggling in all facets

Like Amanatidis and that name was on the Frankfurt shirt once upon a time.

Boys really getting stuck in. Amanatidis seems better as an impact player. Oh Adelaide just keep producing what you produce.

Oh Dear Maloney and that last sub. Was labib injured? If not..terrible sub

Right and left backs are so poor. 3:1 Japan. 

Can't believe one of them wasn't subbed by now...esp the left back.

Japan too technically good. 

Not sure I feel about a player trying rabonas and outside of the foot crosses when you are down 3-1.

at the moment we have to top the group to qualify for the world cup because Japan are too difficult for us

We could close the gap more with more games

Japan had a training camp, a croatian tour and 2 local mini tournaments in the last 12 months for this age group. 

I believe this age group has just had a training camp in the last 12 months. So 1 quarter the preparation. 

If we can't afford 12 games of prep a year against other nations, maybe we can find a way to have 12 games locally. NPL all stars, lower a league level opposition....there has to be something we can do to better prepare these lads

Agree with an earlier point about couching. The team looked poorly organised. The defence was very weak. Pavlesic didn't get much protection. There were positives across the tournament mostly from individual performances. I thought all of Irankunda, Di Pizio, Amanatidis and Quintal looked really dangerous. Better coaching + preparation would help a lot. 

I didn't realise that re: preparation but the games had that feeling to them. We need to do better resourcing preparation and not leaving it to individual brilliance and hope. It's easy for me to criticise the coaching but if there isn't support to prepare the team properly its probably a difficult one to fairly judge. 

3-1 in the end, Japan too good.

I cant remember the last time we beat Japan at any level, no wonder we never learn and its only about more games either but the Japanese clearly do things differently over there and clear to see how they play their football is more smart and savvy.

I recalled Japan important alot of coaches and players from Brazil when they first started the J-League, plenty to learn for the future.

The last time was U17 Asian cup 2013 we beat them 3-1 in the quarter final and made the U17 world cup. Japan lost and didn't make it.

I noticed the difference when looking at the backgrounds of u18 teams in Portugal. Big nations play a lot more games at this level than us

Japan had two home tournaments, a training camp, a tour of Nigeria (3 matches) and a tour of Croatia in the last year or so for this group

We had a single training camp

If we are short of cash we need to organize friendlies with a league clubs for all age groups. Minimum of 6 a year for each age group

10 years is such a long time, and we are still trying to play long ball/second ball in the process whilst Japanese football has evolved.
Playing more games just scratches the surface if our coaching hasn't evolved like our players.
Frustrating.