Matildas to prey on Japan’s fear of failure in Asian Cup clash, says attacking midfielder Katrina Gorry
MATILDAS attacking midfielder Katrina Gorry says the Japanese fear of failure is a trump card Australia must play on before the do-or-die AFC Asian Cup clash in Amman on Friday.
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MATILDAS attacking midfielder Katrina Gorry says the Japanese fear of failure is a trump card Australia must play on before the do-or-die AFC Asian Cup clash in Amman on Friday.
Gorry, 25, has the inside on what drives and irritates the Japan before the teams meet at Amman Stadium.
Her time with Japanese club Vegalta Sendai last year has now unwittingly become vital information for her Matildas teammates and coach Alen Stajcic.
One of her former teammates, Ichise Nana, is also part of the Japanese national team.
“They are one of the most technical teams in the world,’’ said the 2014 Asian Football Confederation and Football Federation Australia player of the year.
“They practice day in day out and when a training session finishes they usually stay on for a couple of hours.
“They’re dedicated but they’re very structured with their mentality.
“They don’t really change or to kind of be put under pressure, they kind have a fear of failure.
“They don’t like to try new things if they’re good at something they'll keep on practising. “They never really change their structure and always playing in a 4-4-2.”
Gorry believes the Matildas must get on the front foot against a side which is feeling the pressure after a shaky scoreless draw with South Korea and an unconvincing 4-0 win over Vietnam in their two Group B matches at the Asian Cup in Jordan.
Gorry believes Australia has been able to beat Japan twice — 3-1 and 4-2 — since 2016 purely because the Matildas were intent on rattling the same game plan that the Japanese had been drilled into them.
“I guess that’s why we have had so much success over them in the last few games we have played them,’’ Gorry said.
“Our press is so good and we’re very quick and very physical and that’s kind of what they fear in us.
“They’re not usually put under that much pressure and when they are we know ho to deal with it.
“I guess that’s where we have the upper hand.”
Banter is another tool Australia may be able to use to unsettle the Japanese, Gorry added.
“Some of them did (banter) but others are a bit more different, they’re brought up in different ways,’’ she said.
Japan needs to win the clash against the Matildas to keep its semi-final hopes alive while Australia can afford at worst a draw.
A loss for the Matildas will see the end of the Asian Cup campaign if South Korea beats Vietnam in their ultimate Group B match.
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