Australia and Japan, two lands that seemed so far away from each other. This was true also in football, where the two national teams face each other in a competitive manner only three times- first time in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, then to qualify for the 1970 FIFA World Cup, and finally for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup final, plus a dozen of friendly games. Then something switched.
That something was the passage of Australia from the OFC to the AFC in 2006. That granted a better chance for the Socceroos to measure themselves with the world, granting also a better chance of reaching the World Cup finals – although Australia had to go through playoffs both in 2018 and in 2022. Nevertheless, this helped the progress of the Socceroos, and Japan cemented even more the connection with the country.
In fact, Japanese players started going there, so the exchange became bilateral, and today we can find Australian footballers in the J.League, and Japanese players in the A-League. Australia is leaving the mark on the J.League also through the managers – e.g. Ange Postecoglou, Kevin Muscat, now Harry Kewell is trying his luck – and Australia is maybe waiting for a Japanese head coach to give it a shot.
This relationship went through several key-matches – Kaiserslautern ’06, Hanoi ’07, Doha 2011, Saitama 2017, Sydney 2022 – and even an AFC Champions League Final between Gamba Osaka and Adelaide United in 2008. Now the relationship has evolved a lot and we talked about it with someone who lives and breaths A-League everyday: Sacha Pisani, Digital Producer for the championship, and true football fan in every bone.
Until 2005 – when Australia entered the AFC – Japan and the Socceroos seemed two worlds very apart from each other. In the last two decades, exchanges in terms of knowledge – whether we’re talking about players or coaches – have rose a lot. Would you have imagined this even 15 years ago?
I would have to say no. Given where Australian football was in Oceania. But since that drought-ending World Cup under Guus Hiddink and the switch to AFC, things have changed for the better. There is still room for improvement – as with everyone in football – but Australian football has benefited for their place in the Asian Confederation whether it is players or coaches plying their trades in the region or just the standard of competitive matches.
Japan and Australia met a lot of times, even playing for an AFC Asian Cup final in 2011. Both nations have reached the Round of 16 in Qatar and almost made it to the next stage. Both Moriyasu and Arnold obtained a 4 years-renewal, but do you feel the two national teams are in the same place?
I think most Australians would be lying if they thought Graham Arnold’s Socceroos would experience a World Cup like 2022. The qualifying campaign and losses to Japan and Saudi Arabia left a sour taste then having to go through the play-offs… there wasn’t much optimism. But credit to Arnold and Australia for defying the odds.
Arnold, in his own words, has grown a lot since his first stint as coach. However, there is still a big difference between Japan and Australia. The future – just looking at the Joeys (U17s), Young Socceroos (U21), Olyroos (U23s) and Socceroos – is bright but Japan remain the benchmark for their approach and development when it comes to football.
J.League and A-League are walking the same path in terms of wanting to improve as leagues and being recognized globally. What do you J.League could learn Australian football and A-League could take from Japanese football?
What has been most pleasing since the COVID era has been the shift in Australian clubs putting faith in young players. The COVID pandemic might’ve forced some clubs hands in that regard but it has stuck. A-League teams have placed an emphasis on blooding youngsters and giving them an opportunity to flourish at the top level.
In turn they are able to sell these prospects on for a profit – just look at the model Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United have used. We have seen Nestory Irankunda, Anthony Pavlesic, Garang Kuol, who all move to Europe from the A-Leagues. When it comes to Japanese football, their investment and alignment from top to bottom is the envy of most countries. Whether it is J1, J2, J3 or even University football – the pathway is incredible.
20+ Japanese players have featured in the A-League, even winning it all. But no Japanese coaches until now, while Australians have made history – and they’re still doing that! – in the J.League (from Postecoglou to Muscat, but also Cklamovski might join them). Do you see a Japanese coach eventually leading a team in the A-League?
I can’t see why not. Football is the world game. We have seen various nationalities either play or coach in the A-Leagues. If a Japanese coach was the best candidate for the role, I’d love to see it. Like any coach, they would be able to bring a different philosophy/outlook on the game.
Many Japanese could envision A-League as a place to boost their chances, to find a new adventure. But the players from lower leagues did the same last Winter, and this happened already in 2022. What do you think motivates these players to try the leap in Australian football, if you had any chance of talking with one of them?
I can’t speak on their behalf but from what I’ve heard when it comes to someone like Kentaro Oi, he caused a huge stir when he moved to the second tier of state-league football here in Victoria. He wanted his children to go to school and learn in Australia. He has also since started an academy here and is coaching young kids in Melbourne. I think the combination of lifestyle, education, and new challenges is appealing to some players.
Final thing from me: best Australian player you’ve seen in Japan and the Japanese player you would like to see in the A-League.
That is a difficult question. I think it would have to be Josh Kennedy and Mitch Langerak. The way Kennedy led that Nagoya Grampus team to their maiden J1 League title was incredible and I know he remains a huge favourite of the club. Then with Mitch, he has really taken his game to a whole new level with Nagoya. Probably the best goalkeeper in the league since arriving in 2018.
As for the Japanese player I’d like to see in Australia – one that jumps to mind is Yuma Suzuki. Purely because of his physicality and brash style on the pitch. It would make for some fun duels with Australian players. There are so many technically gifted players in the J1 League, it is difficult to pick!
We can only thank Sacha for the time he dedicated to us. We wanted to apologize as well – this interview comes a bit late, but it’s made its turn to publication. You can (and you should) follow Sacha on Twitter (@Sachk0), but you can follow his adventures on Instagram as well (here). And hopefully that Japanese head coach will come one day to the A-League…
J. League Regista 