FIFA World Cup 2022 – Japan vs Spain, Group E, match preview, predicted lineups
Japan and Spain go head to head on Thursday in FIFA World Cup Group E as the tournament moves ahead. Both teams will be looking for a win here.
Kick-off : 10:00 PM (Local)
Venue : Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Spain were clinical against the Costa Ricans in the first game of the tournament and will look to forget the 1-1 draw against fellow rivals Germany last time out. They will look to enter round-of-16 with a win.
La Roja have been good at the back and they will look to be solid. Attacking wise they are threatening with enough quality on display.
Boss Luis Enrique will utilise a 4-3-3 system on Thursday.
On the other hand, Japan will be a little disappointed with them loosing their ;last game to the Costa Ricans only a slender defeat. But they should play positively after the German exam.
The Samurai Blue need to be solid at the back which honestly they haven’t been. While on the attacking front they can be more creative.
Boss Hajime Moriyasu will stick to his 4-2-3-1 system.
Team news and possible lineups
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Sakai and Wataru Endo are all doubtful for the Japanese ahead of the Thursday game.
While for Spain, Gavi is doubtful.
Spain XI : Simon, Carvajal, P. Torres, A. Laporte, Alba, Koke, Rodri, Pedri, F. Torres, Morata, Olmo.
Japan XI : Gonda, Yamane, Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo, Tanaka, Morita, Doan, Kamada, Kubo, Maeda.
Prediction
With the importance of this fixture for both teams it is all set to be a fascinating contest and Spain can’t take Japan lightly after their Germany exploits. So a close game in which the Spanish might prevail 2-1
