I very much doubt that they underestimated Japan, and I saw no evidence of a "lack of preparedness".
As stated before by Yellow Cake, Australia were unlucky not to win, Kawashima was brilliant, and the Australian defense was fantastic... except for one slip up where Carney moved off his man to cover the near post... only to have Lee execute a brilliant volley. He traps then kicks that, it's probably not a goal.
I don't think Japan was any more focused or had better concentration - except for that one lapse. Generally speaking, Australia looked MUCH more dangerous on attack than Japan.
And I thought Kruse on was a good substitution... but I would have left Kewell on. I thought Cahill had an absolutely awful game.
I also cannot believe that Australia didn't go with a tall attacker, given how much difficulty the shorter Japanese had with players of that ilk throughout the tournament.
Awesome that the hero of the hour was a Japanese player of Korean descent too...
http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan