“We’ll need Lucas back. Big occasions need big players,” Wade tells au.fourfourtwo.com.

“There’s got to be no room for sentiment. Neill is a better defender right now than Beauchamp, even though he did well against Thailand. Arnie’s just got to say, 'sorry Meggsy, you did a great job against Thailand but Lucas has to return'"

Wade, who made 115 national team appearances up to1996 including skippering the Socceroos, rates the Japanese highly. “Over three games, I think they may beat us. But in a one off smash and grab in Hanoi, we might just win.

“I loved the commitment of the guys against Thailand and they were desperate. But if we give the Japanese room lto take us on like we did against Thailand in the second half, we’re in trouble.”

Wade - who runs a schools program these days called Skills for Life - added that he felt Socceroo go-to man Harry Kewell was better played off the bench rather than from the start.

“It’s hard to know if he’s fully fit, but when he comes on boy does he make a difference.”