Melbourne ¨C If Japan lives up to its billing as Women¡¯s Asian Cup favorite and wins the continental title for a third time in Australia, they may thank the inside knowledge of former Matildas midfielder Leah Blayney.
Blayney, who won 16 caps for Australia and coached national junior teams, ?joined Japan last year as an assistant under Nils Nielsen, the first non-Japanese head coach of the Nadeshiko.
Packed ?with players ?who compete for teams in the Women¡¯s Super League in England, Japan will be ?expected to breeze through group matches against Vietnam, India and Taiwan in the March 1 to 21 showpiece.
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