And with that, I will take my leave. Here’s Joey Lynch’s match report, in advance of more reaction from Emma Kemp in the morning - stay tuned for that. But from me for now, good bye!
Finally, Arnold is asked if he’s the man to lead Australia to the World Cup in Qatar and whether his team is capable of getting there.
“I’ve always said that. I believe in these boys. It is one game at a time and one camp at the time and we will see what happens.”
Arnold won’t get drawn on the disallowed goal.
“I haven’t seen it back but I’ve been told it was contentious so it could have been a goal. I haven’t seen it back. Look, it is what it is.”
He indicates he’ll use the Saudi Arabia game as an opportunity to give some of his youngsters some valuable game time.
“It is a game to give the kids a chance again, and we have given a lot of kids a chance tonight in a big game and they will learn a lot from the experience. But you know, you look at their players, they are top quality players, you know, and Japan are obviously a topside so full credit to them but we have got to brush off the dust and get ourselves ready.”
Oh hang on, here’s Graham Arnold.
“ Look, it’s obvious to disappointing, but at the 87th minute 0-0 still not good enough to qualify so we opened ourselves up and went four up front and gave them too much space, and at the end of the day they are a quality team and probably the better team on the night.
“It has been a tough two years, to be honest. In international football, and the travel, and what these boys have been through and the staff have been through, but at the end of the day we have got the third place spot and you have to be positive about that. We did that in 2018 and we just have to move forward.”
OK, that’s probably enough for now. They’ll be plenty of time for further introspection in the days and weeks to come. But the top line for tonight is that Australia have failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup and must now go through the playoff route. It’s not over for them or Graham Arnold just yet, but it doesn’t look good. It will take an almighty recovery to bounce back from this defeat.
Ryan’s getting interviewed as the Japanese players head over to their fans in the stands to celebrate.
He continues: “We have done it the hard way and whatever life and football throw our way, the hard times, the adversity, you’ve got to front up and learn from what you can and got to improve. That is what the focus is going to be now. Obviously disappointed we couldn’t get a win here at home in front of the fans.
“We knew there were a good side technically and athletically, they are a really good team. But I thought we got it right in the sense of respecting them but not overrespecting them. We were aggressiveand try to get in their face, we have quality and we did well to hang in as long as we did but in the end it’s not good enough. Going forward, we have got to be a bit better creating chances and all that. At the end of the day that’s football, you have to suffer a little bit sometimes when you are under the pump and be resilient and we did that for a large part, but at the end, once they got the first one, we just crumbled, unfortunately."
Here’s Mat Ryan who, despite those two late goals, had a decent game.
“Obviously it hurts. I can’t fault the effort. I think we left it all out there on the pitch and you can’t really ask more from an effort point of view. But unfortunately we were not able to create enough and put it in the back of the net. We try to be resilient and try to hang in there and hang in there, but they got the goal in the minute that they did and the last goal just sums up the night, really. Disappointing but you’ve got to use these moments to learn from and improve, and what not, and we will analyse it, go away and stick together. You know, the dream is there and still alive, and we have to improve."
So, where to next for the Socceroos? Immediately, it’s to Jeddah, to play what is now a dead rubber against Saudi Arabia (who have qualified automatically without kicking a ball tonight) in the early hours of Wednesday morning next week. After that, put the date of 7 June in your diary - that’s when Australia will play against the other third-placed team in Asian qualifying Group A, at this point UAE. Then, on 13 or 14 June, it’s a potential playoff against the fifth-placed team from the Conmebol region. Uruguay, Chile... gulp.
On the disrupted build-up and soggy conditions tonight, Sainsbury says: “Both teams had to deal with the conditions, flight times and all that sort of stuff. Congratulations to Japan who deserve it tonight. But at the same time, like I said, it is something we have to deal with, Australians, we have to travel all this way to play and focus now turns to the Saudi game.”
He rues the disallowed goal, but is pragmatic about the referee’s decision.
“Obviously I think it should have been given. I think the keeper was flapping at it, even if the contact wasn’t there he wasn’t getting the ball. That is football, sometimes it goes for you and sometimes against you.”
Japan deserved victory tonight, make no mistake. They were denied twice by the woodwork and enjoyed the balance of play. They are deservedly heading to the World Cup.
Here’s Trent Sainsbury, stating the obvious to kick off:
“Obviously it is not the desired result, for sure, but we were in this position last time four years ago. We have to just group together, we have five days together to get ready for the Saudi game now, all intentions to go there and win the game but like I said we have been in this position before."
Japan celebrate on the pitch, smiles all around and deservedly so. Australia’s players on the other hand are dejected. The chance of automatic qualification is gone, squandered from a strong position in October. Questions will have to be asked, of the players themselves and of the coach. Preparation for this international window was not ideal of course, but problems have been evident for some time. Let the inquest begin!
FT: Australia 0-2 Japan
90+5 mins: There goes the whistle and Japan are through to the World Cup finals in Qatar for a seventh straight time! Australia... well, they may still make it, but they’ll have to navigate an Asian playoff first, and then a possible intercontinental game if they are to join the Samurai Blue.
GOAL! Australia 0-2 Japan (Mitoma 90+4)
90+4 mins: What a goal! All over in Sydney! And it’s the substitute once again who puts a nail in Australia’s coffin! The speedy winger zips inside and fires under the body of Ryan, and that will be that.
Updated
90+1 mins: Australia effectively need to find the back of the net twice now if they are to retain hope of automatic qualification for Qatar. Not going to happen. An Asian playoff awaits. Japan will go top with victory and secure their qualification.
90 mins: Folami is on to make his debut, as four minutes of stoppage time is indicated by the fourth official. The Socceroos are stunned. But you felt that goal was coming.
GOAL! Australia 0-1 Japan (Mitoma 89)
89 mins: And there it is! Inevitable really, as the substitute pounces on a cutback from the byline to slot past the despairing dive of Ryan.
87 mins: Grant brings Mitoma down. Who is going to make a difference now for the Socceroos? Ben Folami looks set to come off the bench to make his debut.
86 mins: But it’s Japan who are looking the more likely to score still. Ito unleashes a fierce drive which Ryan parries. The keeper has arguably been Australia’s best player tonight.
85 mins: Tension rises at Accor Stadium as time runs out for the Socceroos to find a late winner. It’s set up perfectly for someone to make themselves a hero...
84 mins: Changes galore: Japan send on Haraguchi and Mitoma for Minamino and Tanaka, while Jamie Maclaren replaces Boyle for Australia.
83 mins: Hrustic delivers deep, but it’s headed clear by a blue shirt.
82 mins: Into the final 10 minutes, and we are officially in squeaky bum time. Boyle wins a corner. The crowd get behind the home team.
80 mins: Oooh! Cleared off the line by Sainsbury, who gets his body in the way to deny Japan! Was that Minamino again? Australia living by the seat of their pants!
Updated
79 mins: Nice touch from Boyle as the Socceroos look to build an attack. But the final ball is poor, and Gonda claims the cross easily.
77 mins: Ueda now delivers a low cross from the Japan right but it’s cleared again by the Socceroos defence, which to this point has stood firm. But it’s down to their teammates at the other end of the pitch at the moment.
Updated
75 mins: Tilio delights the crowd with some excellent skills to take him past three Japan players, but there’s no real penetration at the moment, which is what is desperately needed at this stage.
74 mins: Nakayama fires over a dangerous cross, but Ryan is equal to it. And the flicker of danger is snuffed out.
73 mins: Frustration is beginning to show in the Socceroos ranks. Hrustic loses the ball and commits a foul in a desperate attempt to win it back.
70 mins: Here’s Fornaroli, and he wins a throw, which Jeggo will take. He’s got 20 minutes to make a dream start to his Socceroos career.
Updated
68 mins: Time is ticking... Minamino fells Hrustic, and the two creative souls shake hands, no hard feelings between like-minded players.
66 mins: Nagatomo was the other Japanese player to depart just a moment ago. And here come those Socceroos changes... Fornaroli is on to make his debut, as is Tilio, as Mabil and Duke depart.
.@BFornaroli is ON!
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 24, 2022
He's just become Socceroo cap #618 AND our oldest debutant of all time. #AUSvJPN #AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/2OIKEJqkmA
64 mins: Looks like Arnold will also make a change... Fornaroli is readying himself to make his debut in an Australian shirt.
63 mins: Japan make the first move off the bench... it’s a double change as Asano goes off (I didn’t catch the second player to depart) and on come Nakayama and Ueda.
62 mins: Japan look dangerous as Australia can’t seem to clear their lines. Eventually Sainsbury heads behind for a corner. It’s getting tense out there.
61 mins: Some neat approach play from Japan culminates in Asano losing possession with a heavy touch. But the visitors quickly get the ball back as they, successfully for now, take the heat of that hot start to the second half from Australia.
60 mins: An hour gone, 30 minutes remaining for Australia to conjure up a winner.
58 mins: Mabil goes down after a clash of heads with Endo. Boom, that’s a nasty one. And we’ll have a break in play as the Socceroos winger is treated.
57 mins: Ryan plucks a cross out of the night sky before launching a quick counter with a first-time release. The intent is admirable, but the execution this time is not great and Japan are able to take possession.
55 mins: There’s a degree of apprehension as Japan line up the resulting free-kick... but it comes to nothing and then Jeggo wins a throw on the near side to relive any anxiety.
54 mins: Japan attempt to get themselves into this second half, as Australia sit deep and allow the visitors to come at them. Stensness goes into the ref’s book for a shirt tug, having been caught in possession.
Updated
51 mins: A good start to the half, but the Socceroos will need to start converting these half chances sooner rather than later. Japan remain a threat, as they prove now when on the break. This time Minamino can’t work his magic this time though.
49 mins: Hrustic has started the second half in determined mood, and the energy of the crowd is now tangible. Hrustic is again at the centre of things, but Boyle loses his composure eventually, and blasts a cross high and wide.
48 mins: Hrustic again goes close! He shows an impeccable touch to control the ball and set himself for a shot on goal. He strikes it well again but drags it just wide of the upright!
47 mins: Hrustic wins an early free-kick, which he dusts himself off to take. The Australia midfielder strikes it well and Gonda is forced into a making a smart save to repel the effort! Good start from the home side, mirroring that of Japan in the first.
46 mins: Here go again. The second half is under way and Arnold has made one change, but not the one flagged below. It’s Jimmy Jeggo who gets the nod, coming on for Connor Metcalfe in midfield.
A quick scan of Twitter and it’s clear what the public want at this point - Bruno Fornaroli. The Uruguay-born striker is primed to make his debut, having recently obtained his Australian citizenship. Let’s see if Arnold gives him the nod in the second half.
HT: Australia 0-0 Japan
45+1 mins: And there goes the half-time whistle. Somehow it’s still goalless in Sydney, with Japan the more unfortunate of the two not to find themselves ahead, having hit the bar twice and controlled the majority of the opening 45 minutes. That’s not to say Australia haven’t threatened, and at the break, it’s still anyone’s game.
45 mins: Endo unleashes a long-range effort, but he doesn’t catch it sweetly and the ball bounces safely well wide of Ryan’s goal.
Updated
44 mins: Oh lovely touch from Mabil to turn his man but then he ruins it with an early attempted pass to Duke, which doesn’t come off. The pair, um, discuss the merits of that decision before getting on with things.
42 mins: A murmur of excitement reverberates around the stadium as Hrustic threatens to break free but the old timer Yoshida schools his younger opponent and takes the ball off him with a brilliant challenge.
40 mins: Minamino again gets his head to a cross, but his effort takes a deflection and the ball loops up and Ryan claims relatively comfortably. Straight down to the other end, and Duke now has a chance to open the scoring for Australia! But his downwards header bounces up off the turf and into the arms of a grateful Gonda. Still the deadlock is not broken.
Updated
39 mins: At this point, you get the feeling the Socceroos would be grateful to get to half-time still on level terms.
38 mins: Australia are living by the seat of their pants at the moment.
@mike_hytner Aussie in Japan, thank you for your MBM report. Was at the reverse fixture in October and couldn’t celebrate the Australia win at the stadium because of COVID-19 restrictions. Tonight, can’t celebrate cos fomo is real. I can’t win, so hope nobody wins tonight!
— From2193 (@From2193) March 24, 2022
37 mins: Off the bar again from Minamino! Japan are denied again by the woodwork with Ryan again floundering. End to end action at the moment!
35 mins: Oooh! But a chance falls Australia’s way at the other end! It’s hardly slick football, as first Boyle’s shot at goal is repelled and then Metcalfe’s first-time effort is diverted goalwards by Duke, who does nothing more than instinctively stick a boot out. It nearly pays off but the ball rolls just wide of the post!
34 mins: Joel King slips and Japan are in control again at this point.
33 mins: Japan are motoring now. Another half chance arrives as another lobbed ball over the top unlocks the Australian back line. Arnold gestures from the sidelines that his team are giving the opposition too much space.
32 mins: The ball finds Ito on the right hand side, who clips in a lovely ball that finds the head of Minamino... oooh! The Liverpool man’s bullet header crashes back off the underside of the bar, with Ryan a mere spectator! What a header, and so unlucky not to give Japan the lead.
Updated
31 mins: Endo pulls a few strings now for Japan in the middle of the park...
29 mins: Here come Australia again though, with Mabil who comes inside and fires on target! But it’s easy enough for Gonda to get down to and make the save. The game is just beginning to open up a bit now.
Updated
27 mins: Oooh! Minamino goes close at the other end, following another cheap Australia turnover! The Liverpool man jinks inside and out in the box before firing a low shot across the face of Ryan’s goal, and just wide of the far post!
25 mins: The Socceroos have the ball in the back of the net! It looks like an own goal by Yamane as the ball goes to the back post, over Sainsbury, who was jumping with Gonda, but it won’t count! The whistle goes immediately, for a foul on Gonda. But replays suggest there wasn’t much contact from Sainsbury, and Yamane can count himself a lucky boy.
24 mins: Tanaka escapes a booking, despite a high foot on Metcalfe that might well have warranted a yellow card on another night. Perhaps his profuse apology helped convince the ref to show leniency.
23 mins: The rain has eased up a bit as Asano again springs the offside trap and races through on goal! But his first touch is not the best and it takes the ball away from him, allowing Ryan to get there. The flag goes up though, and the Japan striker was offside.
21 mins: Stensness shows some nice skill before Australia win another corner. Hrustic takes from the near side, but it’s not his best delivery and the Japanese back line manages to clear the ball easily enough.
19 mins: Ryan to the rescue! A sharp save by the Socceroos keeper to deny Japan an opener!
18 mins: Morita is pulled up for a foul on Stensness in the middle of the park. But Japan soon regain possession and...
17 mins: Just over a quarter of an hour gone, and Japan have enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, although the Socceroos are slowly beginning to find their feet.
15 mins: Metcalfe becomes the first Australian name into the book for cynically holding Morita as he looked to break clear. Deserved.
13 mins: Mabil wins Australia’s first corner of the night. Nothing doing.
12 mins: The Socceroos gift possession to Japan - not for the first time tonight - allowing a run on goal for Asano, but his shot is rushed under pressure from Sainsbury and the ball goes wide of Ryan’s upright.
11 mins: Boyle darts into the Japan box, he takes on three defenders but just loses his balance as he shoots on goal, and Gonda in the visitors’ goal is not unduly troubled.
10 mins: Boyle hits the deck after a strong challenge from behind by Nagamoto. And that’ll be the first yellow card of the evening. Perhaps a little harsh, but the ref has set out his stall now.
9 mins: Danger presents for Australia now as Asano springs the offside trap before coming back inside and playing a pass to the edge of the box. The shot is scuffs but falls kindly for Ito! He turns it goalwards, but Ryan is there to repel it. And it wouldn’t have counted anyway, as the flag is up on the far side.
7 mins: Australia eventually do clear their lines and they can break now with Duke, who finds Hrustic. There are echoes of “shoot” from the crowd, who are clearly au fait with what he can do from distance, but he opts not to, and the move eventually breaks down.
6 mins: Dangerman Ito gets pulses racing in the stands after picking up possession in a potentially dangerous area. Nothing doing this time, but Australia struggle to clear their lines.
5 mins: Degenek’s head repels another Japanese long ball forward and Australia now have the opportunity to play the ball out of defence.
4 mins: Yoshida, Japan’s captain, keeps another Japan foray forward going, but an eventual long ball forward comes to naught for the visitors.
3 mins: Here’s Mabil though, with a first touch out on the left hand side. He can’t make anything happen this time, and Japan regain possession.
2 mins: Japan settle in possession now, playing the ball across the back line.
1 min: Minamino fires an early warning shot that is dealt with by captain Ryan, who does well to hold onto the ball. And the keeper manages to avoid what would have been a nightmare start for the home side.
1 min: OK, formalities out of the way, here we go. Japan kick-off, playing in blue, right to left as I look at it on my screen. Australia, of course, in gold shirts and socks, with green shorts.
“Hello Mike.” Hello Kári Tulinius. “From the wide-shot, it appears that attendance is fairly sparse, maybe a third full. Is that because of Covid restrictions, the weather, or isn’t there much belief among Socceroo supporters?” I’d hazard a guess that a wet midweek night out at Homebush is simply not appealing enough to get close to a full house.
Aunty Julie Jones, a Dharug Custodian and Knowledge Holder, delivers the Welcome to Country.
“I’d like to begin by paying my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that we gather here tonight on the beautiful unseeded lands and waters of the people. Welcome, wherever you have come from to be here tonight, it is good to see you.
“My name is Julie, this is my country, the country of our mothers, grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers. My people have been here singing, dancing and walking this land since creation. The stories of this land are the blood and the spirit of the people. Thank you for walking with us and strengthening our spirit. On behalf of our people, a very warm welcome to our country. Thank you.”
And now for the anthems - Japan’s a beautiful, soft rendition of Kimigayo, one of the world’s oldest anthems. And then Advance Australia Fair, beautifully sung.
Just under five minutes to kick-off. And here come the teams into a murky and wet evening at Accor Stadium. A fair amount of Japan fans can be seen in the stands but it’s difficult to get a bead on how many are in the stadium tonight.
And here’s Joey Lynch with his thoughts on what would be, if they could pull it off, one of the more memorable accomplishments of an Australian national team in recent decades.
For all the changes to the Socceroos line-up, the centre-back pairing of Milos Degenek and Trent Sainsbury remains.
697 - Trent Sainsbury (@Socceroos) has had 697 touches in the third round of #AsianQualifiers for @FIFAWorldCup 2022, the second most by any player (Hwang In-Beom - 757). Energiser.#AUSvJPN #AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/XZ8jJEVtQD
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) March 24, 2022
More from Arnold here:
▶️ Hear from Graham Arnold before #AUSvJPN kicks off!
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 24, 2022
🎥: @10FootballAU#AsianQualifiers #AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/zg3yIUv2qX
And here’s a strong-looking Japan starting line-up, apparently devoid of the problems that have beset the home side. The dangerman is Junya Ito, while Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino of course also catches the eye.
📋 LINE-UPS | 🇦🇺 Australia 🆚 Japan 🇯🇵
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) March 24, 2022
🤼♂️ Familiar foes go head-to-head in a massive Group 🅱️ matchup!
🧐 Can the Samurai Blue book their place at #Qatar2022 or will the Socceroos get the win they need?
📺 Watch 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲: https://t.co/aJZacn5PEa#AsianQualifiers | #AUSvJPN pic.twitter.com/9ogQMfnVpq
Anyone remember that banner at the World Cup qualifier in Melbourne 13 years ago? So how’s that going for the Socceroos? Paul Williams looked into it for us.
Arnold’s backing the youth tonight. “We have some great young kids who did it really well, they are doing well in the A-League, and doing well overseas and that will bring a lot of energy tonight,” he says.
Weather update: Sydney has been showered on and off most of the day, and it’s currently teaming down. A slick surface at Accor Stadium is guaranteed.
Updated
Team news
Among those missing for Australia are key midfielders Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic, while the likes of Jackson Irvine, Harry Souttar, Riley McGree and Nikita Rukavytsya are also unavailable. Matt Leckie was included in the squad even though he was not fully fit and he doesn’t even make the bench tonight.
So it’s an unfamiliar looking starting XI, showing seven, by my reckoning, changes from the team that started against Oman last time out. Mitch Duke starts up front ahead of Jamie Maclaren, who sits on the bench alongside debutant-in-waiting Bruno Fornaroli, while Connor Metcalfe gets his first start and Gianni Stensness debuts.
STARTING XI 🗒
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 24, 2022
Team news is in for tonight's massive @FIFAWorldCup Qualifier at Stadium Australia! #AUSvJPN #AsianQualifiers #AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/paa8pW4OCq
And Graham Arnold appears to be out of isolation, so he will take charge of the team.
Updated
Preamble
Not so long ago, Graham Arnold’s Socceroos were flying high - on a record 11-game winning streak, top of their Asian qualifying Group B and on the face of it, on course to breeze into the main World Cup draw later this year. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, pretty much everything since. That winning streak soon came to an end in October’s 2-1 defeat to Japan and ensuing draws against Saudi Arabia, China and Oman - punctuated by a solitary win, against Vietnam - have placed the Socceroos’ once high hopes of automatic qualification for Qatar in peril.
It leaves them facing the tough prospect of needing to beat Japan in Sydney tonight, and group leaders Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next week, to ensure their qualification campaign is not further extended with an Asian playoff and, more gravely, an intercontinental playoff against a South American team.
Such a task would be difficult enough under normal circumstances, but Australian preparations for what looms as the Socceroos’ biggest week in recent memory have been hit by a number of unrelated events that at best could be classed as darkly comic, and at worst plain farcical.
The Socceroos will be without a total of 11 (eleven) players - including two of their best - for tonight’s must-win game due to the various injuries, positive Covid-19 tests, vaccination statuses and protocols that have impacted Arnold’s squad. The coach himself has tested positive for Covid - for the second time this year no less - and has been unable to oversee final preparations due to him being in isolation (although he did manage to nip out for a walk that ended up costing him a cool $25,000, just to add to the bizarre buildup). Rene Muelensteen has been in charge in Arnie’s absence, and will remain at the helm unless the head coach returns a negative test before kick-off in Sydney.
All in all, it has been a far from ideal run-in to the game. We await to see how it all has impacted the players. Kick-off at Homebush in the old Olympic Stadium is 8:10pm local time. Don’t go anywhere. In the meantime, if you fancy getting in touch, please do so - mike.hytner@theguardian is the email, @mike_hytner the Twitter.
