Socceroos vs Japan: What we learned as Australia given reality check after Behich horrors

Kieran Francis

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Socceroos vs Japan: What we learned as Australia given reality check after Behich horrors image

The Socceroos went down 2-1 to Japan after a heartbreaking late goal with the green and gold dealt a reality check against one of Asia's best.

In an error-riddled performance, Australia looked like they were going to snatch a point until Aziz Behich topped his nightmare performance with the losing own goal.

Channel 10 also put the ball into their own net with their treatment of the blockbuster match.

Here's what we learned from the match...

Socceroos 1-2 Japan: Australia suffer late loss in World Cup qualifying

Socceroos player ratings vs Japan: Aziz Behich endures nightmare as Australia fall to tough loss

Aziz Behich and Australia's disastrous left flank

Poor old Aziz Behich.

It was a horrible error to fresh-air the cross and allow the opening goal for Japan.

He was a little unlucky with the own goal but when composure was needed to clear the ball, the left-back was found wanting.

Even disregarding these two moments, Australia's left side of the pitch was certainly the team's weakest point.

Japan constantly looked to get their wingers in behind Behich, particularly as they knew Aaron Mooy, who was on the left side of a midfield diamond, would be slow to track back.

Behich really needs to start performing in all aspects of his game, both defending and going forward.

He has constantly got himself into attacking positions during Australia's 11-match winning run, but rarely, if ever, puts any quality delivery into the box.

And if he isn't at the top of his game defensively, it might be time for Callum Elder or Brad Smith to have a crack.

Aziz Behich

Socceroos given a reality check by Asia's best, but it won't define WCQ campaign

Forget Japan's recent form. With players in their squad on the books at clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Celtic, the Blue Samarai at home are Asia's toughest proposition.

Despite the Socceroos putting in an improved second half performance and nearly snatching a point, Graham Arnold's team were taught a lesson and in reality could have lost by a few more goals if it wasn't for Maty Ryan making some crucial saves.

Particularly in the first half, the green and gold regularly gave the ball away in midfield as they succumbed to Japan's press on numerous occasions.

While the situation improved in the second period, Australia still lacked fluency in attack and it took a moment of magic from Ajdin Hrustic to haul the team back into the game.

Getting a result in Japan would have been huge for the Socceroos, particularly with matches on home soil to come, after hosting games at neutral venues due to COVID-19.

However, it doesn't mean Australia shouldn't be confident of qualifying for the World Cup, with the nation's destiny still firmly in their hands with six matches to play.

The Socceroos' next match is likely to be in Sydney against fellow group leaders Saudi Arabia, with the result so important as to who gets the upper hand in the race to the finish line.

Graham Arnold

Ajdin Hrustic is Australia's next superstar and talisman

While it might not have been Hrustic's best overall performance for the Socceroos, he stepped up when it mattered to thunder in a terrific free kick off the crossbar.

Australia lost their talisman when Tim Cahill retired but Hrustic has surprisingly filled the gaping void from an entirely different position on the field.

After being the Socceroos' best player against China, Hrustic then provided the assist for Rhyan Grant's winning goal against Vietnam, helping break the deadlock with a wonderful cross despite having a quiet game otherwise.

And now after again showing he has the goods against Japan, Hrustic is growing into the team's metronome, who is capable of getting results with his pure class.

Tom Rogic watch out. Hrustic is coming for your no.10 role.

Channel 10 score an own goal with 10Bold Socceroos scheduling

Channel 10 have done a pretty good job with the Socceroos coverage across the first four games, no doubt about it.

But football fans were angry that the network reverted to type by scheduling Australia's biggest match in years on their sub channel 10Bold.

If it was just a case of switching over, it might have been fine, but Channel 10 actually had to communicate to fans about tuning their TV's into 10Bold, which has just been upgraded to HD.

Some pubs and hotels across Australia weren't able to show the game, while fans with older televisions were also unable to tune in to 10Bold.

While some Socceroos fans were left scrambling to find ways to watch the game on 10Bold, Channel 10 were showing The Cheap Seats and NCIS on their main channel.

It seemed like a great opportunity for Channel 10 to really show they were committed to Australian football by getting the game on their main channel, but instead a sour taste was once again present for many.





                                                              

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.