Smash-and-grab for Socceroos as they earn precious point in Japan
- Australia eke out 1-1 draw to end hosts run of nine wins
- An own goal at each end decides World Cup qualifier
Just 22 days ago, on the day he was announced as the new coach of the Socceroos, Tony Popovic made something very clear. Above all else: “It’s always okay to win ugly.” And while he may not have taken three points on Tuesday evening in Saitama, the 1-1 draw that Australia’s men secured against Japan, breaking what had been a perfect run of nine games, nine wins, and no goals conceded by the Samurai Blue to that point in World Cup qualifying, certainly felt like one. And having secured it without putting a single shot on target, it was this willingness to embrace the ugly made manifest. A smash-and-grab in Saitama.
“It wasn’t pretty,” said Mitch Duke, who produced Australia’s only effort of the game on target with a wayward 12th-minute header. “And we knew we had to just bunker in and do the defensive and dirty work and really match it physically.”
Continue reading...Date: | |
Tag: | Japan |
-
World - ABC News
Campaigning begins for Japan's parliamentary election
Official campaigning has begun for Japan's Oct. 27 parliamentary election12 hours ago - Japan -
World - Financial Times
The inflation risk for emerging markets
Fiscal indiscipline looms as the biggest threat after central bank battles to slow rising prices6 hours ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
Harris Suggests Trump Is ‘Weak and Unstable’ in Pointed Challenge
Kamala Harris asked why Donald J. Trump had not released his medical records, appeared on “60 Minutes” or agreed to a second debate.Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Harris holds 1-point lead over Trump
Vice President Harris is leading former President Trump by 1 percentage point in the 2024 presidential election, according to new polling released Monday. A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found Harris ...20 hours ago - Donald Trump -
World - Financial Times
Ishiba’s election gamble: Japan’s PM fights to keep LDP on track
Reduced majority could impair the prime minister’s ability to tackle economic and demographic challenges10 hours ago - Japan -
World - The Guardian
Japan 1-1 Australia: 2026 World Cup qualifier – as it happened
An admirable defensive performance earned the Socceroos a vital and unexpected point in a match of two own goals. The story so far . A reminder that the top two qualify automatically for the 2026 ...3 hours ago - World Cup -
World - The Guardian
Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action
Signs do not look good for Eidevall, Kirby could push way back into England’s squad and Terland’s focus brings reward. The “Jonas out” painted on a wall outside the ground and the mock P45 waved ...Yesterday
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Middle East crisis live: UK announces fresh wave of sanctions against extremist settlers in West Bank
The measures target three outposts and four organisations that have supported and perpetrated ‘heinous abuses of human rights’. See all our Middle East coverage here Israeli military strikes ...21 minutes ago - United Kingdom -
World - The Guardian
Wars, debt, climate crisis and Covid have halted anti-poverty fight – World Bank
Setbacks mean UN goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 is impossible to hit, report finds. Wars, debt, the climate crisis and the pandemic have combined to halt progress in the fight against ...2 hours ago - Covid -
World - The Guardian
US election live: Trump to appear at economic forum; ex-president claims town hall music session was due to people fainting
Former president expected to claim economic policies will tame inflation; Trump reacts after lengthy musical end to rally raised eyebrows. Joe Biden is in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware, ...28 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Mysterious gooey blobs washed up on Canada beaches baffle experts
Residents and marine scientists unable to identify pale masses, as myriad theories are blown out of the water. They are slimy on the outside, firm and spongy on the inside and surprisingly ...6 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Canadian police accuse India of working with criminal network to kill dissidents
Modi government agents alleged to have collaborated with syndicate run by mob boss Lawrence Bishnoi. Canadian police have accused the Indian government of working with a criminal network run by one ...1 hour ago - India