Stajcic: 'I have a huge amount of respect for Japan but they are not unbeatable'

In the decade since Australia moved into the Asian Football Confederation a fierce rivalry based on mutual respect has developed between Australia and Japan on both the men's and women's side of the game.

In the decade since Australia moved into the Asian Football Confederation a fierce rivalry based on mutual respect has developed between Australia and Japan on both the men's and women's side of the game.

On the women's side that rivalry continues on the biggest stage yet; the quarter finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The mutual respect of both nations goes all the way up to the coaching level in Nadeshiko's Norio Sasaki and Australia's Alen Stajcic.

Like many in the women's football community, Stajcic is an admirer of the way the Japan play their football.

"I have got a respect for Japan, they are terrific footballing team," said Stajcic in an interview with The Women's Game.

"I agree with you 100%, they have changed the way women's football is played and all for the better. They are certainly a team that I like to watch and learn from."

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However Stajcic's admiration does not stand in the way of plotting their downfall on Saturday afternoon in Edmonton. The last pair of meetings between these two sides was at the 2014 Asian Cup where they drew 2-2 in the group stage (after Australia had a 2-0 lead) and Japan edged out the Matildas 1-0 in the final.

Those encounters were the start of the Matildas belief in their ability compete against top nations and they also provided Stajcic with close personal experience with coaching against the world champions and an opportunity to examine any vulnerabilities.

"They are not unbeatable," he continued.

"We have seen in this World Cup, even though they have dominated large patches of matches, they haven't been 100% convincing and certainly they have show some frailties in some areas as well.'

"Looking back to last year's Asian Cup, we certainly exposed a lot of those frailties and we will be looking to do that again for sure."

In taking out their maiden continental title, Japan were able to do so with several key players absent due to club clashes. While they will be a different proposition in Canada, Stajcic also believes that this Matildas side is vastly improved from the one that took the pitch in Vietnam.

"We have just grown so much on and off the field."

"There is a great determination and drive within the team. There is an air of confidence and belief...a real belief to think that they can compete with the world's best countries."

It is set up to be a titanic struggle between Asia's heavyweights.