The Adventure Begins

Phill Chadwick reports, Asian football was given a taste of what lay ahead in 2007 after the Socceroos fought back from the brink of a loss to defeat the best on offer from the region.

Australia's World Cup Adventure finally began last night, with our incredible, heart-stopping win against Japan.

With about four games under my belt already, I am starting to feel the lack of sleep. But no matter, it is only for a month, after all. I will catch up later.

Others will write about the game itself, and I can't really add much to that. But what struck me about the win was the Asian connection.

Along with our short-term World Cup adventure, we embark on a much longer Asian odyssey.

While this current tournament is important (and what could be more important that the World Cup?), we should see this first game as a gauge of our Asian credentials as much as our World Cup credentials.

The Asian Cup, as well as the other regional competitions we are now eligible for, will define Australian Football for decades to come. And what better way to begin it than to be tested in the heat of battle. To play a World Cup match against the best that Asia has to offer.

How did we come off?

Setting aside the result, vital in this current tournament, I was more interested in the way Australia played, and the way Japan reacted.

Japan are the current Asian champions, and are ranked many places above Australia in the official FIFA rankings. What our side did to them will send chills through the entire Asian Football Confederation.

Not only did we dominate possession, shots on goal, corner kicks and so on, but I think that our performance was dominant psychologically as well.

From the Japanese pre-match bleating about our physical playing style, to the dominance we showed all over the pitch, I had the impression of a team of men playing a team of boys. Physical dominance is not established by dirty tactics, or mere brute power, but by superior athleticism, strength and stamina.

Don't misunderstand me, the Japanese are a fine, quality team. Skilful and quick, they exposed some of our defensive weaknesses, especially late in the game. But Australia were almost as skilled, almost as quick, and vastly more physical.

These qualities will take us far in the Asian competitions and we can all look forward, once the World Cup ends, to a long and productive future in Asia.

The Asian Confederation may have accepted Australia's membership on pragmatic and financial grounds, but they may yet come to regret it when we evolve into the new Asian football powerhouse.

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