- Comments came after Japan defeated Matildas
Japan’s outspoken coach Nils Nielsen has taken a swipe at Australia after guiding his side to Asian Cup glory, blasting the country’s restrictions on nightlife in a post-match outburst.
The Greenland-born manager, who masterminded Japan’s 1-0 victory over the Matildas in Sydney on Saturday night, left reporters stunned when asked how his players would celebrate their triumph.
‘Well, we have a very early flight tomorrow morning. And here in Australia, it’s such a strange country, you know, if the clock is more than 11, you can’t buy a beer,’ he said.
‘What kind of country is that?’
The comment, delivered with a grin, quickly went viral, with Nielsen appearing baffled by Australia’s licensing laws after spending weeks in the country during the tournament.
‘Perhaps the only annoying thing about Australia is that you cannot get a beer when you’re thirsty. So how do you explain that? I thought it was a modern country, but no.’
Japan coach Nils Nielsen mocked Australia’s nightlife after his team’s Asian Cup win, claiming it’s impossible to buy a beer after 11pm
The outspoken coach questioned whether Australia is a ‘modern country’ after his stars had difficulty getting a drink (stock image)
Despite the dig, Nielsen had every reason to be in high spirits after his side held firm in front of more than 74,000 fans to secure a third continental title.
Japan sealed the win thanks to a stunning first-half strike from rising star Maika Hamano, before surviving a relentless late onslaught from the hosts.
‘I’m very lucky to be working with players that are that good,’ Nielsen said.
‘Japan can be an inspiration for many in some ways. We can find a style that fits our players because they are talented.’
The eccentric coach, known for his colourful press conferences, had already raised eyebrows before the final with an extraordinary analogy when asked about favourites.
‘I will be completely honest with you, that question about who’s the favourite in the final, it’s like asking a bee to explain to a fly why honey is better than s***,’ he said.
‘We are talking about a final in a major tournament. Both teams can win.’
Nielsen’s blend of blunt humour and tactical clarity has become a defining feature of Japan’s campaign, with his side scoring freely throughout the tournament before grinding out a hard-fought win in the decider.
Nielsen also made headlines before the final with his bizarre bee and fly analogy
While his comments about Australia’s nightlife may have raised a few eyebrows, his respect for the opposition was clear.
‘Australia are a world-class team with world-class players,’ he said.
‘They were led well … they always had something up their sleeves.’
For the Matildas, the defeat was a bitter end to an otherwise strong campaign, with coach Joe Montemurro praising his squad’s effort across the tournament.
‘I’ve got 26 warriors out there that for 21 days have been absolutely fantastic,’ he said.
