Australia–Japan football rivalry

The Australia–Japan football rivalry is a sports rivalry that exists between the national association football teams of each country, regarded as one of Asia's biggest football rivalries.[1] The rivalry is a relatively recent one, born from a number of highly competitive matches between the two teams since Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.[2] The two teams have played each other in several significant matches, including a World Cup group stage match, the 2011 Asian Cup Final and have been drawn in the same group in four consecutive World Cup qualification campaigns.

Australia–Japan football rivalry
Other namesSocceroos vs Samurai Blue
LocationAFC (Asia)
Teams Australia
 Japan
First meetingAustralia 2–0 Japan
1956 Summer Olympics
(27 November 1956)
Latest meetingAustralia 0–2 Japan
World Cup qualification
(24 March 2022)
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Meetings total27
Most wins Japan (11)

Origins
Socceroos supporters at a Japan match in Kaiserslautern

The first match between the two teams was played at the 1956 Olympics, ending in a 2–0 win for the Australians.[3] Another dozen matches were played between Australia and Japan until a semi-final match at the 2001 Confederations Cup which ended in a 1–0 for Japan, but the match-up really only emerged as a rivalry after 2006, when Australia joined the AFC, especially the FIFA World Cup qualification games. The first match between the two sides after this was during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a group stage game where Australia were still technically competing as Oceania representatives. With just six minutes left, Japan led by a single goal, only for Australia to score thrice in succession to secure their first ever win in a World Cup Finals match in what is regarded as one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history.[4]

A number of fierce qualifying matches over the next few years enhanced the rivalry, and Japan got revenge for their World Cup defeat by knocking the Socceroos out of the 2007 Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage via penalty shootout. In 2011, Japan again beat the Socceroos in an Asian Cup, this time in the 2011 final with a solitary goal in extra time sealing the championship.

Men's matches
As of 24 March 2022
No.DateCompetitionHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
127 November 19561956 Olympic GamesAustralia 2–0 Japan Olympic Park, Melbourne
230 March 1968International FriendlyAustralia 2–2 Japan Sydney Showground, Sydney
331 March 1968Australia 3–1 Japan Olympic Park, Melbourne
44 April 1968Australia 1–3 Japan Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
510 October 19691970 World Cup QualificationJapan 1–3 Australia Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul
616 October 1969Japan 1–1 Australia Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul
722 May 1994Kirin CupJapan 1–1 Australia Big Arch Stadium, Hiroshima
829 September 1994International FriendlyJapan 0–0 Australia National Stadium, Tokyo
915 February 1995Australia 2–1 Japan Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
1010 February 1996Australia 1–4 Japan Brandon Park, Wollongong
1114 February 1996Australia 3–0 Japan Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne
1215 February 1998Australia 0–3  Japan Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
138 June 20012001 Confederations CupJapan  1–0 Australia International Stadium, Yokohama
1415 August 2001AFC–OFC Challenge CupJapan  3–0 Australia Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka
1512 June 20062006 World CupAustralia  3–1 Japan Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern
1621 July 20072007 Asian Cup Quarter-finalsJapan  1–1 (4–3) Australia My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi
1711 February 20092010 World Cup QualificationJapan 0–0 Australia International Stadium, Yokohama
1817 June 2009Australia 2–1 Japan MCG, Melbourne
1929 January 20112011 Asian Cup FinalAustralia 0–1 (a.e.t) Japan Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
2012 June 20122014 World Cup QualificationAustralia 1–1 Japan Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
214 June 2013Japan 1–1 Australia Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
2225 July 20132013 East Asian CupJapan 3–2 Australia Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong
2318 November 2014International FriendlyJapan  2–1 Australia Nagai Stadium, Osaka
2411 October 20162018 World Cup QualificationAustralia 1–1 Japan Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
2531 August 2017Japan 2–0 Australia Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
2612 October 20212022 World Cup QualificationJapan 2–1 Australia Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
2724 March 2022Australia 0–2 Japan Stadium Australia, Sydney

Women's matches

Like their men's counterparts, the two nations also have a strong rivalry in the women's counterparts, with both Australia and Japan among Asia's strongest and some of the world's finest; and like the men's, Japan also dominates Australia when it comes to women's. However, unlike the men's team of Australia, the women's team of Australia is, by far, the first and only football team from the country to have won against Japan in Japanese soil, when they did so in 29 February 2016 as part of the qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[5]

No.DateCompetitionHome teamScoreAway teamVenue

Overall
As of 24 March 2022
Men's TeamGPWDLGFGAGD
Australia2779113239–7
Japan2711973932+7
As of 24 March 2022
Women's TeamGPWDLGFGAGD
Australia2989123743–6
Japan2912984337+6

Top scorers
As of 24 March 2022

Players in bold are still available for selection.

RankPlayerGoals
1 Tim Cahill5
2 Kunishige Kamamoto4
3 Tommy McColl3
6 John Aloisi2
Ray Baartz
Takashi Hirano
Hidetoshi Nakata
Kaoru Mitoma
Takuya Takagi
Yuya Osako


References
  1. "Highlights". Foxtel.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  2. Sebastian Hassett (9 March 2012). "Socceroos to resume Japan rivalry in qualifying group for Brazil". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  3. "Socceroo 1956 Matches". Ozfootball.net. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  4. "Socceroos give Japan football rivalry free from baggage, John Duerden says". Foxsports.com.au\accessdate=2015-05-03.
  5. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-01/matildas-well-on-road-to-rio-with-3-to1-win-over-japan/7209144
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