Former Australian midfielder plots Japan’s path to third Women’s Asian Cup trophy
Leah Blayney, assistant coach for the ‘Nadeshiko’, is unfazed about facing Australia in a later round – ‘I have a job to do,’ she says
If Japan were to live up to their billing as Women’s Asian Cup favourites and win the continental title for a third time in Australia, they might thank the inside knowledge of former Matildas midfielder Leah Blayney.
Blayney, who won 16 caps for Australia and coached national junior teams, joined Japan last year as an assistant under Denmark’s Nils Nielsen, the first non-Japanese head coach of the “Nadeshiko”.
Packed with players who compete for teams in the Women’s Super League in England, Japan will be expected to breeze through group matches against Vietnam, India and Taiwan in the March 1 to 21 showpiece.
Like all coaches, Blayney said the team were focused on one match at a time, with their first against Taiwan on March 4 in Perth.
However, the 39-year-old could not help but relish the prospect of a blockbuster clash against the hosts in the knockout phase.
“Look, it’ll be an incredible moment,” she told reporters. “Australian fans are world class.