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. 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. 'Perhaps the only annoying thing about Australia is that you cannot get a beer when you're thirsty. The eccentric coach, known for his colourful press conferences, had already raised eyebrows before the final with an extraordinary analogy when asked about favourites. 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.

Source: Express March 23, 2026 14:55 UTC