Under-pressure Japan look to deliver in a must-win Australia clash

AFC – MUSCAT, With only two points from two matches at the AFC U-22 Championship so far, pre-tournament favourites Japan are under-pressure to avoid elimination from the competition altogether, with coach Makoto Teguramori labelling Thursday’s final Group C game against Australia as a “must-win.”

Aurelio Vidmar’s Olyroos have already secured their spot in the quarter-finals by winning the group with two 1-0 victories against Kuwait and Iran.

And with the two Middle East teams facing off against each other in the day’s other game, Japan know that they need all three points against Australia at Royal Oman Police Stadium to be sure of making it into the last eight.

“We have to get victory against Australia in our last group match, it is a must-win fixture for us if we want to get into the knockout stages of the tournament,” said coach Teguramori, for whom defender Ken Matsubara is suspended for the Group C showdown.

“It will be a very difficult game. We’ve had two draws in a row and now we need to beat the best team in the group.

“But if we look at the positive side, if we win against Australia, who are the strongest team, then it will give us more confidence and more experience. So, I am of the view that we are lucky to have Australia in our last match.”

Meanwhile, Australia coach Vidmar has implied he will make wholesale changes to his side once again against Japan.

Vidmar will definitely be without Connor Chapman due to suspension, while there are doubts over the fitness of fellow defenders Jason Geria and Curtis Good.

Geria felt unwell in the pre-match warm-up against Iran, while Newcastle United centre-back Good required stitches to a nasty gash above his eye after a clash of heads in the second half on Tuesday.

“It’s our philosophy to get as much game time into as many players as possible,” said Vidmar.

“We’re looking to find players who can perform various amount of roles in a tournament like this. We could do the same against Japan as whether we finish first or second in the group is not of great importance.”

Iran and Kuwait currently prop up the Group C table with one point from two games, but should Japan fail to beat Australia, the winner at Seeb Sports Complex will advance to the last eight.

A victory for Australia and draw between Iran and Kuwait, meanwhile, would see all three sides move level on two points in the battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

“The last game was very physically demanding, and as we only have 20 players in our squad and three of them are goalkeepers, we are finding conditions difficult,” said Iran coach Human Afazeli.

“Even so, I am pleased with the way my team has played in this tournament. In the final round of matches every result counts, so we are looking forward to the final game and we’ll see what happens.”

Kuwait coach Jorvan Vieira, meanwhile, goes into the final group fixture in an upbeat mood following Tuesday’s goalless draw with Japan having expressed his disappointed following defeat to Australia in the Group C opener at the weekend.

With his players now showing signs of the form that earned them fourth place at the WAFF Championship earlier in the month, Vieira was cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances.

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup winner, though, has confirmed both midfielder Ahmad Al Dhefiri and striker Zaben Al Enezi have been ruled out of the tournament following injuries suffered in the first half against Japan.

“The important thing was to show that we are alive. We are in this competition, and we are here,” said Vieira.

“Japan has a tough game against Australia and they must win if they want to qualify. If they win then we will go out, but ‘if’ does not play football. Do we know Japan will win for sure? No, and I do not worry about this.

“I am not coming here as a tourist, I’m coming here to do something.”