Aussies Muscle Through

The most courteous nation in the world were rolled over by an Aussie barrage in the last ten minutes, as substitutes Cahill (twice) and Aloisi wiped out a lead Japan had carefully protected for almost an hour and sent portly manager Guus Hiddink leaping (or very nearly) with delight.

Yet it could have been so different had Japan taken the chances crafted by their meticulous midfield play – and had the referee punished Cahill (who had already been booked) for a foul on the edge of the box in the dying minutes.

It will be interesting to see what the Brazilians make of an Australian team that increasingly resembles an international version of Blackburn Rovers.