Asian Cup: Japan v South Korea result could go long way to determining Matildas tournament future
MATILDAS coach Alen Stajcic isn’t worrying too much by the match between Australia’s two biggest group rivals on Wednesday even though it could directly affect their Asian Cup progress.
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MATILDAS coach Alen Stajcic won’t lie awake wondering what the score between Australia’s two biggest group rivals will be before his side next plays in the Asian Cup.
However, Australia’s qualification destiny will be much clearer once the clash between Japan and South Korea is over on Wednesday morning (EST).
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GAME ONE: Reaction to the draw
A score draw will be Stajcic’s nightmare storyline leading into the Matildas final Group B clash against Japan on Friday (EST) given the Asian Football Confederation’s competition rules take in head-to-head results if teams fighting for a knockout semi final berth are locked on equal points at the end of the group stage.
“The best scenario for us is to worry about ourselves and what we can do,’’ Stajcic said.
“I think about all those things (tournament permutations) but I certainly don’t talk about all those things with the team.
“If we win every game then we’ll go through, if we don’t then we have to rely on luck and the draw and it’s really not a good mind set.”
After Sunday’s scoreless draw with South Korea, Stajcic is confident the changes he is set to make to his starting X1 against Vietnam on Wednesday morning (EDT) will slot in seamlessly.
Stajcic’s record against Vietnam in four matches is 26 goals scored and none conceded, including 11-0 and 9-0 scores in the last two matches.
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Although Australia is expected to belt Vietnam, Stajcic says talking cricket scores and winning the clash easily before a ball is kicked is the wrong message to send out to his team.
“It’s a dangerous mentality thinking you’ve won a game before we’ve played it,’’ Stajcic said after Vietnam lost its opening match 4-0 to Japan.
“At the Olympic Games qualifiers (where Australia won the tournament and qualified for the 2016 Rio Games) we won our game against Vietnam 9-0 but some of their other scores were close, 1-0 and 2-0.
“We played against Thailand a few weeks ago (a 5-0 friendly win in Perth) and I think Vietnam are a similar level in terms of ability.
“But they can hurt you, they had three or four chances against Japan the other night and they only need to get a goal and that would give them a lift.”
Stajcic said once the Matildas’ medical results are in from Sunday’s clash then he will make up his mind as to who is rested and who starts.
He revealed all players came through the South Korea clash unscathed.
“We want someone like Steph Catley to play against Vietnam but given that was her first match in seven weeks, this is not a good time where we want her to back up twice in three days,’’ he said.
Originally published as Asian Cup: Japan v South Korea result could go long way to determining Matildas tournament future