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.