Spain to edge Japan in final Group E fixture
Japan vs Spain - 01/12/2022
5419
World Cup Group E is nicely poised ahead of the final day of group-stage play in the group. Spain lead Group E with four points from six points on offer, but any one of the four teams in the group can still win it.
Japan are second in the group with three points from two games. After shocking Germany with a come-from-behind 2-1 win, the Blue Samurai disappointed with a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica. The same Costa Rica that was defeated 7-0 by Spain to open Group E.
Spain followed up their big win against Costa Rica with a 1-1 draw with Germany. Alvaro Morata’s goal was cancelled out by a Niclas Fullkrug with seven minutes left on the clock.
Japan and Spain met just once previously with the game played in 2001. Spain edged the Blue Samurai 1-0 in the fixture.
Morata and Ferran Torres lead Spain in goals with two apiece. Morata did not start the game versus Germany but came on for Marco Asensio. Manager Luis Enrique will use his favoured 4-3-3 formation.
Enrique could use Morata as the team’s starting forward, but Asensio started both group-stage games as the team’s No 9.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu has left fans angry due to his squad selection for the opening matches of the tournament. Monaco forward Takumi Minamino has not started a match nor has Takuma Asano. Both players helped Japan turn around the game against Germany.
It is unlikely Moriyasu will alter the starting XI versus Spain. He will likely play the same conservative starting XI against Spain due to the quality La Roja offer. Asano has one goal in the World Cup which came after being a second-half substitute.
Three of the four games in Group E finished with over 1.5 goals scored. All four ended with more than 0.5 goals scored. Two of the four games ended NO BTTS in Group E.
Spain are unbeaten in four straight games in all competitions. La Roja lost just one of their 11 matches in 2022 ahead of the final match in Group E.
Japan are winless in three of their last four games and started the World Cup in poor form. The Blue Samurai are not being helped by the decisions of Moriyasu.
Spain should edge Japan in a tight game. The match will see Spain top Group E with seven points and punch their ticket to the round of 16 to play the runner-up of Group F.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
WC
163945
2
0 - 1
2.22
25°
1.40
8.50
4.50
1.40
no
no
no
2 - 1(0 - 1)
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