3 minute read

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu will face his former Sanfrecce Hiroshima teammate Tony Popovic on the touchline in a huge World Cup qualifier against Australia.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu still remembers the day he reached out to his old teammate Tony Popovic.

Moriyasu has Japan charging towards direct World Cup qualification - and new Socceroos boss Popovic standing in his way in Saitama on Tuesday night.

The 56-year-old Moriyasu was the captain of Popovic and his assistant Hayden Foxe during their days at J League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

But their special connection continued after their playing days.

"We are very good friends. We still have maintained very good terms," Moriyasu said through a translator. 

"Sometimes we call each other and communicate. When we were playing for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, we were teammates. 

"Popa, I understand that he calls me captain, but at the same time he called me Poichi too. That's my nickname.

"After leaving Hiroshima as coach, when I didn't have any jobs, Mr Popovic was head coach for the Western Sydney Wanderers.

"I contacted them and I asked them to have me at training for about two weeks. It was a very good opportunity to refresh my mind. 

"I was stimulated so that I was able to motivate myself to be a head coach once again after Hiroshima."

Popovic remembers his old teammate's visit, which coincided with son Keigo playing for local club Edgeworth Eagles while studying in Newcastle.

"Moriyasu-san is obviously a fantastic coach and you can see how well he's doing with the national team and how well they're playing and having a wonderful campaign," Popovic said.

"He came to visit between jobs for him, and that probably explains a lot about what type of person he is. 

"He wants to keep evolving, keep learning. He wants to get new ideas.

"And we spent a couple of weeks together, and it was a really enjoyable time for me, as well picking his brain as well about football, so we had a good time together."

Moriyasu returned to coaching as Japan's under-23s mentor, and was the national team assistant before taking the reins in 2018.

Well aware of the opposition technical area's capabilities, Moriyasu urged his charges not to be complacent on Tuesday night.

That's despite Australia last beating the Samurai Blue in 2009 - and never in Japan.

"Data doesn't make us win tomorrow's match," Moriyasu said.

"Data tells us that we probably have an advantage. 

"However, when I think about the situation of the Socceroos, even if the data says that they haven't been doing to well until now - the head coach has changed and they will do their best.

"They will challenge themselves and they will probably throw themselves at us. We have to prepare for that."

Japan's players were in high spirits as they hit Saitama Stadium for their final training.

They are without high-profile central defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) and Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich).