The Blue Samurai sealed their place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia after downing the Socceroos 2-0 in Saitama on Thursday night.

Ideally, Australia need a convincing result against Thailand in Melbourne next week if they are to finish second on the group and to qualify for Russia.

The Socceroos will need Japan to beat Saudi Arabia in their final game to make things easier for them.

Australia butchered a golden opportunity.

If they had beaten Japan, it would have guaranteed qualification.

Yoshida feels the rivalry is getting stronger between the two nations after downing Australia in the 2011 Asian Cup Final.

The Southampton defender said they wanted to return to being the kings of Asia.

“They’re at the top of Asia because they won the Asian Cup,” Yoshida said

“We still have to keep fighting for our life, our condition to stay at the top of Asia.

“The club and country is the same, the team is alive, this time we won but maybe next time we can lose.

“I think today we’ve done very well, 2-0 against Australia who we didn’t beat throughout the history of the qualification.”

Yoshida felt the absence of Aaron Mooy due to illness, Tim Cahill and Tomi Juric coming off the bench worked in the Blue Samurai’s favour last night.

“I’m a little bit surprised, no Mooy, Juric and Cahill didn’t start, it helped us a little bit more than I expected,” Yoshida said.

“I think we defended well and they’re struggle to build up especially when the back three has the ball, they tried to find a solution but just couldn’t find.

“That kind of pressing works very well and we practiced that a lot.”