![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4d8890b25667ec394e350297e9f91d50.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAre you a bee or a fly?<\/p>\n
It’s an unusual question, posed by one of the most fascinating coaches at the Women’s Asian Cup.<\/p>\n
Japan boss Nils Nielsen is from one of the last places on Earth you’d expect to be a hotbed for producing world-class managers \u2014 Greenland.<\/p>\n
And as the Japanese have dominated and dazzled on the pitch throughout the tournament, their magnetic leader has done the same off it, all while rocking a gold earring.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nils Nielsen has been a larger than life character throughout the tournament. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)<\/p>\n
After Japan’s 4-1 thumping of South Korea in their semi-final, he somewhat tongue-in-cheek declared that Australia would be the favourite for Saturday night’s decider at Stadium Australia in Sydney.<\/p>\n
When I asked the 54-year-old about that in the pre-match press conference, he saved his best quips for last, triggering a meandering, hilarious, and curious 90-second monologue.<\/p>\n
“I will be completely honest with you. That question about who’s the favourite in the final, it’s like asking a bee to explain to a fly why honey is better than shit,” he said \u2014 with a straight face.<\/p>\n
“It’s exactly the same question. We are talking about a final in a major tournament. Both teams can win. They have 50 per cent chance of winning.<\/p>\n
Loading Instagram content<\/p>\n
“Why is it even interesting in a final to discuss the favourites?<\/p>\n
“I will ask next time I get a chance to see a fly, ‘why the hell are you sitting on shit when there’s honey right next to it?’<\/p>\n
“And then they say, ‘For me, it tastes better.’ I say, ‘OK, go ahead. I don’t like shit so you can have it, I go for the honey.’<\/p>\n
“Maybe [Matildas coach] Joe has a different opinion, I don’t know.”<\/p>\n
As it turns out, Joe Montemurro doesn’t, although he phrased it in more conventional terms.<\/p>\n
“You’ll all have your opinions in regards to ranking, in form, in terms of how we’ve played, how they’ve played,” he said.<\/p>\n
“There’s no favourites in the final. It’s the best team and the one who wants it more and the one who is smart enough to manage the moments.”<\/p>\n
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Listen to ABC Sport<\/a> for coverage of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, and keep up to date online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Matildas won’t stop believing<\/p>\n The straw poll of public and expert opinion has nearly unanimously declared Japan the frontrunner for the final.<\/p>\n The world number six has scored 28 goals and conceded just one across five games, highlighted by that expert dismantling of South Korea.<\/p>\n Japan has easily won all of its matches so far. (Getty Images: Brendon Thorne)<\/p>\n It hasn’t been as straightforward for the Matildas.<\/p>\n There was the frustrating 3-3 draw with the Koreans in the group stage, the dogged defensive effort to beat North Korea in the quarter-finals, and the much more impressive semi-final win over China. Throw into the mix the extra trip to Perth in between.<\/p>\n Australia lost to Japan in the 2014 and 2018 Asian Cup finals, and the last time these sides met, at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, Japan won 4-0.<\/p>\n But, as we know from the coaches, it doesn’t matter, because this is a final.<\/p>\n “We really have that momentum and that never say die attitude,” Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter said.<\/p>\n Ellie Carpenter says the Matildas are determined to triumph in front of a home crowd. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)<\/p>\n “When can I say that I’ll have another final in Australia in a major tournament? Never, probably.<\/p>\n “So this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us and most of the girls’ careers.<\/p>\n “We can’t forget we’re at home, and we need to bring our aggressiveness, our physical game, our speed into this game tomorrow because we know Japan probably won’t like that.<\/p>\n “They haven’t been tested like that before in this tournament. And we know our strengths, and we have to play to our strengths.”<\/p>\n Alanna Kennedy has been the surprise source of most of the Matildas’ goals. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)<\/p>\n Montemurro says previous results bear little weight.<\/p>\n “We’re better prepared because we’ve found the level of adaptability,” he said.<\/p>\n “We’ve found the level of understanding that when things aren’t going the way we planned, we can change and we can find a way.<\/p>\n “And that’s a sign of a team that believes, a team that is obviously growing in their own belief with themselves.”<\/p>\n Nadeshiko in bloom<\/p>\n Nielsen says the belief is high in his team too, with the team’s nickname, Nadeshiko, summing up who they are.<\/p>\n “It’s a beautiful little flower that if you see it, you just have to stop and look at it, smell it, and think, ‘Wow, what is that?'” he said.<\/p>\n “It’s Nadeshiko, it’s the Japanese women’s football team. And that’s what I’m proud of.”<\/p>\n Japan’s women’s football team is named after the native wildflower Nadeshiko. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n He admits the crowd will be a factor, but asserts his players can rise above it all.<\/p>\n “If you turned out the light in the stadium so nobody could see anything, [the players] could still find each other, they could pass the ball to each other,” he said.<\/p>\n “They can play faster than almost any team in the world. When they have the day and the moment where they are in the zone, it’s incredible to watch, and I enjoy it very much.<\/p>\n “Everybody on a given day can shine because they’re good enough to, talented enough to, have the confidence enough to do it.”<\/p>\n Whether a bee, a fly, a flower, or a Matilda, all the curious questions will be answered tomorrow night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Are you a bee or a fly? 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