Japan v Spain World Cup Group E Betting Guide

The Teams’ Routes to the World Cup

Japan

Nicknamed the Samurai Blue, Japan booked their tickets by finishing second in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) group B World Cup qualification process. Their last competitive fixture played on 14th June 2022 saw them lose in the Kirin Cup final to Tunisia 3 – 0. This was a four-team tournament that included Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Chile. In the last 12 months, they have played 14 competitive fixtures that have seen them win 10, draw 1 and lose three games. In the lead-up to the World Cup, they will participate in the 2022 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship with games against Hong Kong, China PR and South Korea. They also plan a friendly against the USA so take note of the forthcoming fixtures and results to see how they are shaping up for the World Cup.

Spain

The Spaniards remain unbeaten in their last 8 matches extending back to a loss that occurred against France in October 2021. Taking their past form over the past twelve months they have played 13 matches winning 9, drawing 2 and losing two games as mentioned against France and one away to Sweden. Spain will have two Nations League games in September before the 2022 World Cup kicks off and they will be excellent preparation. The fixtures will be played against Switzerland and Portugal.

Japan and Spain have only met on one previous occasion in an international friendly. The game was played in April 2001 with Spain winning the fixture 1 – 0.

Current Odds at mr.play

Spain will be the favourites to win this final round Group E match and you can place a bet on them to win the game. However, if you fancy Japan to create an upset then you can go with the longer odds on offer. If you believe that the game will end in a draw then you can also place a bet against this outcome. Right here at mr.play we have a huge amount of betting markets and options that you can consider for the match between Japan versus Spain.

Team Overviews & Player Profiles

Japan

Defensively, Japan will have to be at the top of their game when they play Spain. Goalkeeper Shūichi Gonda will have it all to do to keep a clean sheet and give his team a chance of getting a result. He has some experience playing in the Austrian and Portuguese European leagues but currently plies his trade with Shimizu S-Pulse in the Japanese J1 League. At 33 years old he is an experienced goalkeeper having played 32 times for Japan.

Apart from avoiding conceding against the Spanish, the Japanese will have to unlock the Spanish defence if they are going to win the game. Takumi Minamino is the Japanese weapon that will be able to pickpocket the Spanish by playing in an advanced attacking midfield role. He will drift around between the Spanish midfield and defence in a free role, passing and moving, picking short passes and looking for the opportunity for that killer pass or shooting opportunity. Minamino made his name playing for Red Bull Salzburg making 136 appearances, scoring 42 goals and winning the Austrian Bundesliga 6 times. He went on to join Liverpool where he won the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup before recently joining French Ligue 1 Monaco. Minamino was included in the AFC Team of the Year in 2020 and has now accrued 42 goals scoring 17 goals.

Spain

There remain question marks as to whether Sergio Ramos will be included in the Spanish squad for the 2022 World Cup. Injuries ruled him out of Euro 2020 but he played in two international World Cup qualifiers for Spain in 2021. After playing over 450 games for Real Madrid, he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 where his medical found him in excellent condition likened to somebody ten years younger. If he can stay fit running up to the World Cup then there is no reason why he will not be included in the Spanish squad. With his experience and as a player who has been capped by Spain the most times with 180, he can be invaluable to Spain having a strong campaign. Ramos is a strong player with great aerial ability and also scores goals registering 23 for his country. Not to mention goals, Ramos also tends to pick up bookings regularly.

With Japan always effervescent and full of running the defensive midfield marshalling capabilities of Rodri may be the difference between the two teams. A tall and dynamic defensive midfielder at 6ft 3in (191cm) he has played his football for Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and became Manchester City’s record signing in 2019 at £62.5 million. He is now a two-time winner of the Premier League with Manchester City and has even started to contribute more goals to his game scoring 7 times last season. A runner-up in the UEFA Nations League with Spain in 2021, he now has 33 caps and 1 goal for Spain. He will be a pivotal player and can be a lynchpin for Spain’s campaign in the 2022 World Cup.

Likely A Tense Fixture with the Pressure on Japan

Japan will play Spain while Germany takes on Costa Rica in the final round of matches in Group E to decide who will make it to the Round of 16. The form of both Japan and Spain has been reasonably good during the past 12 months but that will not hide the fact Spain is the favourite to win this game. Japan’s goalkeeper Shūichi Gonda and attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino will have to be at their best. Meanwhile, Spain will look to control the game through experience and the spine of the team with Sergio Ramos and Rodri ready to play leading roles. The round of 16 will be decided with the Group E winner and runner-up from Japan, Spain, Germany or Costa Rica set to play Morocco, Croatia, Belgium or Canada.