1968 Australia Men's National Team Results
Researched by Thomas Esamie, Kevin Christopher, Jean-Michel Cazal, John Punshon and Doug Butcher and Written by Greg Stock

| 1967 | A-Internationals | Index | 1969

Friendly Matches | Japan | Japan | Japan

Source: Page Authors and Daily Newspapers

Friendly Matches

Saturday March 30 1968
Sydney Sports Ground, Moore Park, Sydney, Australia
Referee: Vince Dobinson (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Tony Boskovic and Harold Parsons (Australia)
Attendance: 8,646
AUSTRALIA
Ron Corry, George Keith, Manfred Schaefer, Dick van Alphen, Stan Ackerley, Les Scheinflug, Alan Westwater (Archie Blue 46), Ray Baartz, Billy Vojtek, John Warren (c) (Ray Lloyd 59), Tommy McColl
Coach: Joe Vlatsis
Goals: McColl 47, Blue 84
2 - 2 Japan
Kenzo Yokoyama, Hirsohi Katayama, Yoshitada Yamaguchi, Ryozo Suzuki (Takaji Mori 28), Mitsuo Kamata, Aritatsu Ogi, Ikuo Matsumoto (Takeo Takahashi 60), Teruki Miyamoto, Kunishige Kamamoto, Shigeo Yaegashi (c), Ryuichi Sugiyama
Coach: Shunichiro Okano
Goals: Kamamoto 18, 65

In 1968 Australia played a three match series against the touring Japanese national team. The series was notable for the fact that the home crowd was quite vocal for the visiting Japanese side at the expense of the Australians. This was particular to both the Sydney and Melbourne matches and prompted Australian captain Johnny Warren to say "It would have been better if we had been playing in Vietnam or Korea".

Match Day Programme

Sunday March 31 1968
Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia
Referee: Tony Boskovic
Assistant Referees: Des Maitland and Lou Stafrace (Australia)
Attendance: 9,974
AUSTRALIA
Ron Corry, George Keith, Alan Westwater, Manfred Schaefer, Stan Ackerley (c), Archie Blue, Les Scheinflug (Ray Lloyd 87), Billy Vojtek (Hammy McMeechan 70), Ray Baartz, Roy Blitz, Tommy McColl
Coach: Joe Vlatsis
Goals: Scheinflug 33, Vojtek 42, Baartz 89
3 - 1 Japan
Koji Funamoto, Yoshitada Yamaguchi, Masakatsu Miyamoto, Hisao Kami (c), Junji Kawano, Kiyoshi Tomizawa (Shigeo Yaegashi 60), Takeo Takahashi, Takaji Mori, Kunishige Kamamoto, Yasuyuki Kuwahara (Teruki Miyamoto 75), Maseshi Watanabe (Ruichi Sugiyama 46)
Coach: Shunichiro Okano
Goal: Kuwahara 31

This match was the second of the three match series played in Melbourne. Due to injuries Australian coach Joe Vlasits changed the team formation from a 4-2-4 system to a 4-3-3. The change bought immediate results.

Thursday April 4 1968
Norwood Oval, Norwood, Adelaide, Australia
Referee: Des Maitland (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Mick O'Malley and D.Grant (Australia)
Attendance: 6,127
AUSTRALIA
Ross Kelly, George Keith, Manfred Schaefer (Roy Blitz), Dick van Alphen, Stan Ackerley (c), Alan Westwater, Archie Blue, Ray Baartz, Billy Vojtek, Les Scheinflug, Tommy McColl
Coach: Joe Vlasits
Goal: McColl 70
1 - 3 Japan
Kenzo Yokoyama, Hiroshi Katayama, Takaji Mori, Mitsuo Kamata, Yoshitada Yamaguchi, Shigeo Yaegashi (c), Aritatsu Ogi (Masakatsu Miyamoto 75), Teruki Miyamoto, Kunishige Kamamoto, Masashi Watanabe, Ryuichi Sugiyama
Coach: Shunichiro Okano
Goals: Sugiyama 82, Kamamoto 85, 89

 

Last updated: 20 December 2023.