Game Preview: Japan vs China โ FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Japan is set to face China in a crucial Asia World Cup qualification match. The Samurai Blue have been in excellent form, boasting a string of impressive wins, including a dominant 5-0 victory over Syria. Meanwhile, China has struggled, coming off a 1-0 loss to South Korea. Historically, Japan has dominated this matchup, winning the last two encounters between the teams and keeping China scoreless.
Key Stats & Insights:
- Japan’s recent form: 10 consecutive home wins, including 6 clean sheets.
- China’s away struggles: 7 losses in their last 10 away matches, failing to score in 6 of those games.
- Head-to-Head dominance: Japan has beaten China in 4 of the last 5 meetings and hasn’t lost to them in over 40 years.
Team Form and Performance:
- Japan: In stellar form, Japan has scored 2 or more goals in 9 of their last 10 home matches, while their defense has been rock solid, allowing only 3 goals in their previous 6 games.
- China: China has managed only 1 win in their last 10 games, often struggling to create scoring opportunities. Their defense has been leaky, conceding in 5 of their last 6 matches.
Head-to-Head Record:
- Japan has a significant edge, winning 10 of the 22 previous encounters, with China winning 6 and 6 matches ending in draws.
- In the last matchup, Japan won 2-0 in January 2022 during the World Cup Qualifiers.
Player Form and Availability:
- Japan: Key players like Ayase Ueda (10 goals in his last 10 internationals) and Takumi Minamino (21 goals in 59 appearances) are in excellent form. However, Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the game due to a knee injury.
- China: Wu Lei remains the team’s top scorer, with 36 goals in 97 matches, but China will miss key players like Zhang Linpeng and Wu Xi.
Predicted Lineups:
Japan (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Osako
- Defense: Taniguchi, Itakura, Machida, Doan
- Midfield: Endo, Tanaka, Nakamura
- Attack: Kubo, Minamino, Ueda
China (4-4-2):
- GK: D. Wang
- Defense: Yang, Zhu, Browning, Liu
- Midfield: Wu, Jiang, S. Wang, Xie
- Attack: Fernandinho, Yuning
Market Analysis (Odds):
- Japan to win: 1.09 (-901) with a 91.7% probability of success.
- China to win: 34.00 (+2500), reflecting their underdog status.
- Draw: 11.00 (+1000).
- Over 2.5 Goals is favored due to Japan’s high-scoring nature at home.
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Both Teams to Score (BTTS): “No” is a favored option at 1.50 (-200), given China’s poor scoring record.
Check the latest odds at our trusted sportsbooks in India:
Both Teams to Score (BTTS): “No” is a favored option at 1.50 (-200), given China’s poor scoring record.
Check the latest odds at our trusted sportsbooks in India:
Fun88 - Parimatchย
- 10Cric
Predictions:
- Final Score Prediction: Japan 3-0 China.
- Best Bets: Japan to win, and Japan to win by -1.5 or even -2.5 on the Asian Handicap. BTTS “No” is also a solid option.
Japan’s strong form, both offensively and defensively, should see them cruise to a routine victory against an underperforming China. Given their ability to control possession and create numerous chances, a comfortable 3-0 win seems likely.