Japan turn to video nasty for Australia clash

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Hanoi, July 19: Japan will watch stomach-churning footage of their 2006 World Cup defeat by Australia before taking on the Socceroos in the Asian Cup quarter-finals.

The holders also attempted to play down talk of ''revenge'' before Saturday's clash in Hanoi.

''The media like that word but we've put that behind us,'' Japan playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura told Reuters. ''They won that game. We lost. But we learned from it.

''A lot of the players are different and the coaches are different. We will watch the video of the World Cup game again and make sure we don't make the same mistakes.'' Japan suffered an astonishing late collapse against the Australians in Kaiserslautern to lose their opening World Cup game 3-1 and leave their campaign in tatters.

They have looked a far better team since Bosnian Ivica Osim replaced Brazilian Zico last year and their progress to the last eight has been smoother than Australia's.

The Socceroos reached the last 16 of the World Cup under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink but narrowly avoided a humiliating early exit in their first Asian Cup under Graham Arnold.

Both sides have been playing ping-pong over who are favourites.

''We're going into the game as challengers,'' said Nakamura.

''We know it will be a very difficult game. But it's a new game and a fresh set of circumstances.

''We don't need to think too deeply about last time. None of us feel like we are the favourites at all.'' As bats and bugs flapped and buzzed overhead following yesterday's training, Nakamura made no bones about where Japan had gone wrong at the World Cup.

''We're going to have to watch that video again,'' said the Celtic midfielder, wincing at the prospect. ''We defended way too deep at the World Cup.

''Sitting back and inviting them to attack wouldn't be clever.

They have too many dangerous players.

''We need to work as a team to break them down. That's the only way to negate their size and power.''

Reuters








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