Japan vs Spain Reside Rating, FIFA World Cup: Asian big faces La Roja Furia, win ensures spherical of 16 spot

Welcome to Sportstar’s dwell protection of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Group E conflict between Japan and Spain from the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.

FORM GUIDE

Japan

• ⦿
  Misplaced 0-1 to Costa Rica
• ⦿
  Beat Germany 2-1
• ⦿
  Misplaced 1-2 to Canada
• ⦿
  Drew 0-0 with Ecuador
• ⦿
  Beat USA 2-0

Spain

• ⦿
  Drew 1-1 with Germany
• ⦿
  Beat Costa Rica 7-0
• ⦿
  Beat Jordan 3-1
• ⦿
  Beat Portugal 1-0
• ⦿
  Misplaced 1-2 to Switzerland

LINEUPS!!!

Spain: Simon (GK), Azpilicueta, Rodri, Pau Torres, Balde, Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Williams Jr., Morata, Olmo

Japan: Gonda (GK), Taniguchi, Itakura, Nagatomo, Kubo, Morito, Ito, Kamada, Tanaka, Yoshida, Maeda

MATCH PREVIEW (From AP)

After conceding late to overlook out on a victory in opposition to Germany, Spain finds itself with some work left to do in opposition to Japan to ensure its spot within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup.

The Spaniards don’t want a lot, although, as a result of a draw on Thursday shall be sufficient, and even a loss could enable the workforce to advance relying on the opposite Group E end result between Germany and Costa Rica.

Japan doesn’t have it as straightforward, however a win will assure the Japanese a spot within the knockout stage for the second straight time. It will be the primary time Japan advances previous the group stage in back-to-back tournaments. If Japan loses, although, the workforce will head dwelling.

“It’s going to be a high-pressure game for our players,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu mentioned Wednesday. “But we must believe in ourselves. The players must believe in themselves and they must believe in their teammates in order to fight against our opponent. Hopefully they will be able to do their best and the result will come.”

The Japanese opened their marketing campaign with a stunning win over four-time champion Germany earlier than shedding to Costa Rica. They have been eradicated by Belgium within the final 16 in Russia.

Spain, which conceded an 83rd-minute equalizer in opposition to Germany, can also go dwelling with a loss if Costa Rica beats the Germans or if the Germans win large to beat Spain’s aim distinction after its 7-0 opening win over Costa Rica.

A victory at Khalifa Worldwide Stadium will assure Spain first place within the group, and maintain it on monitor for a potential matchup with five-time champion Brazil within the quarterfinals.

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“Hopefully we will get to face Brazil, because that would mean that we finished in first place in our group,” Spain coach Luis Enrique mentioned. “To win a World Cup you need to beat every team, so we are not going to try to avoid anyone.”

Spain enters the ultimate spherical with 4 factors, another than each Japan and Costa Rica. Germany has one level.

“We are not thinking about our opponents in the knockout rounds,” Spain midfielder Koke Resurrección mentioned. “We need to beat Japan first and then we’ll see which team we’ll have to play against. If it’s Brazil in the quarterfinals, so be it, and we’ll try to prepare for it as best as possible.”

Germany’s possibilities of staying alive in Qatar will largely depend upon Spain successful its match in opposition to Japan. Then a victory over Costa Rica can be sufficient for the Germans.

What could not assist Germany is the truth that Luis Enrique could rotate a few of his gamers after making just one change from the primary to the second recreation — Dani Carvajal coming in for César Azpilicueta at proper again.

Teenager Gavi, who began within the first two matches, educated individually from the group after the 1-1 draw with Germany due to a minor knee harm. He was anticipated to be accessible for Thursday’s match however was not prone to begin.

One other midfielder anticipated to be rested is 34-year-old Sergio Busquets, the one remaining participant from Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in 2010. Striker Álvaro Morata, who scored a aim in every of the primary two matches after coming off the bench, may get a spot within the beginning lineup in opposition to Japan.

The under-23 squads of Spain and Japan met within the semifinals of final yr’s Tokyo Olympics, when Spain superior earlier than ultimately shedding to Brazil within the closing. A number of gamers from these squads made their senior groups in Qatar, together with Marco Asensio, who scored Spain’s winner in additional time within the semifinals in opposition to Japan, and Takefusa Kubo, who performs for Actual Sociedad within the Spanish league.

“Hopefully,” he joked, “if we win the World Cup we can put on a concert.”