It’s the J.League’s answer to Leicester City:a team of no-name battlers,managed by an ex-high school coach,which is on track to win the title in their first top-flight season.
The Socceroos legend has taken the baton from Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat at Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos,who have reached the final of the AFC Champions League.
The Socceroos legend has been confirmed as head coach of the Japanese club where Ange Postecoglou started an Aussie tradition.
Spain defied the Netherlands and a mercurial performance from Stefanie van der Gragt to advance,while Sweden blunted Japan’s Women’s World Cup charge and won through to another semi-final.
Spain and Sweden have booked a date in the semi-final on Tuesday after both team’s beat their opponents 2-1 on Friday.
After a rare World Cup-free day,the round of 16 kicks off in New Zealand with the first places in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
Groups B and C wrap up on Monday with our focus on tournament fancies Spain’s clash with Japan before Australia’s do-or-die showdown with Canada in Melbourne.
Australia’s group at the Asian Cup has been revealed – and the terrors that await in the next phase of the tournament could be keeping coach Graham Arnold up at night.
Vinicius jnr,Neymar,Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta all made it onto the scoresheet in the first half as the five-time champions eye a deep run in Qatar.
Japan have failed again to reach the last eight at a World Cup finals after being beaten in a penalty shootout,thanks to three awful,softly taken spot kicks.
Two of the World Cup’s most recent champions are in action on the penultimate day of group stage matches in Qatar.