It’s an inexperienced Japanese team that stands in between the Socceroos and a potential World Cup berth in Perth, but Australian duo Milos Degenek and Ryan Teague won’t be taking them lightly.
The scene is set for the Socceroos’ high-profile clash against the Blue Samurai at Optus Stadium on Thursday night, with an Australian win moving them to the precipice of a sixth consecutive World Cup qualification.
Three points over an already-qualified Japan for Australia would mean only an unthinkable thrashing by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next Thursday would ruin their hopes of direct qualification.
Helping Australia’s case is Japan having named only seven players with more than 10 international caps in their squad, with overseas stars Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daizen Maida, Reo Hatate (both Celtic), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco) and Ritsu Doan (SC Freiburg) all omitted.
But Degenek said if anything, it made Japan an even more dangerous opponent.
“If I’m going to be really honest, it’s even harder for us that those so-called stars are out,” he said.
“The boys that are coming in, whether they’re from the J1 League or other clubs in Europe, are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup.
“It’s not going to be a walk in the park and they’re going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game, because they want to prove to their coach that they should be a part of that World Cup squad.
“There’s no B-team, A-team; it’s one country and we all know how good Japan is.”
Teague, who only made his international debut in the Socceroos’ last game against China, said the enormity of the game was not lost on him and Japan’s strength in depth was notable.
In the event of a draw or loss to Japan, Australia’s match with Saudi Arabia will be a live rubber — provided the Saudis are able to beat or draw with Bahrain in the early hours of Friday morning.
“It’s a big game but I don’t try to overthink it. Japan’s a very good squad, but it’s about focusing on ourselves and what we can do to to break them down and beat them,” Teague said.
“We’ve got another game against Saudi Arabia after; obviously it would be a big win, but the most important thing is preparing and getting ourselves ready for the game against Japan.”
“Any team Japan puts out is going to be very good, very respectable. It’s about us focusing on the things that we can control, things that we can do, getting a result, not letting them get through.”
Degenek is one of the elder statesmen of the squad, as he nears his 50 cap in the nine years since he debuted.
A veteran of two World Cups, the Serbian-based defender said reaching a third one would be incredibly meaningful.
“It’ll be even even more special, because I’m not old, but I’m getting older,“ he said.
“It’s going to be a really special World Cup in the States. They’re going to go all out guns blazing, and show the world they’ve got everything — probably flying taxis and everything will be around at that time.”
And Degenek, who has spent most of his career playing in front of intimidating atmospheres in Europe, called on Australian fans to do similar for Thursday night’s game.
“It would be a lot nicer when countries come into Australia to play against us, if the crowd was a little bit more hostile, and made them aware that it’s Australia; you’re here, they’re supporting us, and the other countries that come to play here have a disadvantage of any sort,” he said.
“Whether it’s just they don’t feel well, they don’t feel welcome after the travel, after everything, it’s how it is.
“I’ve been around in Europe for a while, when you go to away games, they make you feel it, they make you know you’re away.”
