Big in Japan

Accepted knowledge is that Japan doesn't have the physical strength to make any kind of impact at this World Cup. Like alsatian-faced, alsatian-named pop prick Prince, they're almost too wee.

Now, while there's probably an element of truth in that, I wonder whether the stark contrast between Zico's side and their hulking opponents in today's Group F opener could even work to their advantage.

Australia has a fine tradition of playing - well, let's be honest - hammer-throwers.

For all the coach's pedigree, any team that has given caps to the decidedly agricultural Kevin Muscat is unlikely to find subtle, sexy, football comes naturally – a suspicion a typically x-rated performance against the Netherlands in the warm-ups would seem to confirm.

Their defence is, from what I've seen of it, abysmal. Again, hardly surprising when you consider one of its number, Craig Moore, spent much of the last year pulling off a deception of Derren Brown proportions in making the rest of the Newcastle back line look like footballers.

Both teams will probably pack the midfield – the Australians to try and throttle the game, the Japanese because they are pretty shoddy everywhere else.

If they both play to form, the Japanese midfield will try and play possession, moving the ball around quickly. Expect to see them go forward with two touches in midfield, then cut in or play a quick one-two on the angle … only to be hammered into the ground like a tent peg by an enthusiastic young man with short hair.

Such brutal tactics could, however, prove to be the Socceroos' undoing. While Japan can be outmuscled in open play – at set pieces, they have the quality to embarrass the Australians and players like Shunsuke Nakamura will relish free kicks around the box.