Japan - Australia

Japan 1-0 Australia (HT)
Nakamura ('26)

The first half goal was really questionable, on a long lob into the box
by Shunsuke Nakamura as two Japanese players got behind their Australian
counterparts and then Naohiro Takahara gave Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer
a nice hip-check to keep him from being able to play the ball. The pass
went over his head and into the goal, but that's the way things go
sometimes. Screwing over Australia is also like one of the 5 Pillars of
International Soccer... "Trinidad, you play off with Bahrain.
Australia, you play off with Uruguay. Again." The only guy standing
out is Mark Viduka with the nasty backheels in the box, although Harry
Kewell made a nice run on the restart after the Japanese goal, nearly
tying things up after 5 seconds (shot over the crossbar).

Japan's players seem to have taken a step down in prestige, though. A
few years ago, Hidetoshi Nakata was playing at Roma in their prime, Alex
was at PSG, Shinji Ono at Feijenoord, Junichi Inamoto (hello, moto!) was
with Arsenal, now a couple of them are bouncing around with mid-table
premiership and bundesliga teams, but most are in the J-league. Which,
to be fair, like MLS for the United States, has really improved a lot
and improved the player pool for Japan. Nakata looked like he was on
his way to being the first of many Asian stars, though, not just a
clothes horse for Nike/Adidas/etc.

Almost all of Australia's players play in Europe, although some of them
are in the second tier in England, but a lot at midtable sides in
England and Italy, plus a couple at top sides in Switzerland and
Holland. Granted, tt's easier to get work permits if you're Australian,
and the A-league is pretty dire, so there's more reason for Japanese
players to stay home than for Australians. The Aussies might look
better on paper because of that, but Japan has been winning
championships in Asia and playing in the last three World Cups while the
Aussies were stuck in Oceania, trying to play friendlies in Europe.
Australia joining Asia should be huge for them.

In the 58th minute, Schwarzer comes way off his line and has to head a
ball out of danger, but heads it right back to Japan... that was a
moment where they had to make some thing of it, get a decent shot off
while he's off his line. Instead they held the ball too long and
plunked the ball off a defender. Put that away and the Japanese don't
have to take any stick about winning because of the non-call on
Takahara. Not much ability to link up on the offensive end. On the
other hand, Australia hasn't ever scored a goal in four WC games (all in
Germany, coincidentally).

I stand corrected, on long throw-in into the box that got knocked down
and shuffled around but grappling players, Tim Cahill finally boots it
in for Australia. This is followed up by denying Japan a penalty, which
is a bit of a make-up call for the Japanese goal. And then Cahill in
the 89th minute puts Australia ahead, ricocheting the ball off the left
post and into the opposite side netting. Good work by Guus Hiddink
bringing him on as a sub... I think Hiddink's scowl even briefly
lightened on the second goal. And Aloisi, Johnny Aloisi makes it 3-1 in
the 92nd minute.

Australia 2-1 Japan
Nakamura ('26)
Cahill ('84, '89)
Aloisi ('92)

I don't know that there's a lot to worry about for Brazil and Croatia,
but this is a great win for Australia, coming back with 3 goals in 8
minutes.

Australia 3pts +2
Brazil
Croatia
Japan 0pts -2

Up next, USA v Czech Republic, which I'm currently still too nervous to
start watching.