Halilhodzic lives to fight another day as Japan reaches 2018 World Cup

Good game last night, Japan deserved the 3 points. The Aussies never seemed to get any rhythm going, and Japan was always pushing forward. That was a great strike by Ideguchi, would love to see more of that from Japan. As for the manager, I thought he was going to slug his own coach when he tried to pull him back from a confrontation with the referee. He seems to be a volatile person, not what Japan usually likes.

Australia spent more time going back towards their own goal than they did going forward... you don't win games this way... they seem clueless when they have the ball

The second goal was fantastic.

Sums up Asian football really. You don't have to be 'that' good to make the WC finals. And it will even be easier in the future.

Re Halhilodzic, i actually think his dictatorial style suits Japan. The bloke wants his players do do as they're told and know how to win ugly if needed.

The whole campaign for Australia has really highlighted the fact that the current crop of players just aren't that good. I think Ange is a good coach and I applaud what he has tried to do in the job, but he has a team of guys with a limited to their ability, so to a certain extent they have almost over achieved commensurate to their capacity. Japan exposed this last night. Australia looked cumbersome and mostly very unthreatening in the final 3rd. Robbie Kruse has some supporters, but I'm not one of them. I find him to be a very ineffectual froward - he has played 56 games and scored 4 times. Wow. 

Well done Japan. That coach seems like a complete whack job though. Nearly started a brawl, threw one of his Japanese aides aside. Ugly look.

Ridiculous that his position was said to be in jeopardy if they hadn't won last night. Japan still would have been well placed to qualify, actually. Anyway doesn't matter now. Good game.

Watched the game and as an Aussie I thought Japan thoroughly deserved their win. The second goal was fantastic. Australia lacked creativity going forward and were exposed with some very sharp passing by Japan defensively. Its also fair to say that the fact Australia's regular captain (Jedinak) was missing and Aaron Mooy was also out really showed in the result, but also indicates a real lack of depth in Australia's squad

If Australia can beat Thailand I'm still happy. I get to see my two favourite teams go to the World Cup :)

So, since they always blame the coach for failing instead of blaming themselves (or Honda blaming everyone else but himself), will they now praise him for winning? Or is it only one way?

alright!! they qualified to get knocked out in the first or second round in Russia. Hoooray. cant wait for that

Aussie wussies!

Yes, thank goodness he was not fired. If they lost, they would have fired him and also blamed the crowd for cheering too loud! Oh wait.....that was Korea, lol!