World Cup 2022 qualifying-Asia is back in action this Thursday as Japan take on China Saitama, kickoff is set for 27th January 2022 13:00 EAT.
Japan is in the second place in group B of the Asia World Cup Qualifiers with 12 points after six matches, winning four of their last five games so far in the campaign. Hajime Moriyasu’s team bounced back instantly when they took on China in the first group meeting between these two sides, as Yuya Osako netted the only goal of the game in Qatar.
Japan gets into this fixture on the back of 0-1 WC Qualifiers against Oman. In that game, Japan had 64% possession, 14 shots with four of them on target and a goal scored by Junya Ito 81’. Oman got four shots with none of them on target.
China is in the fifth spot with 5 points in the last 6 matches played. Out of the five matches they have won only one, drawing in two and losing in two. The stats tell the story, and China has been scored against in 6 of their last 6 games, with opponents netting 11 goals in all.
In their last fixture, China drew 1-1 in the WC Qualifiers – Asia match with Australia. In that game, China had 35% possession, 9 shots with four of them on target and a goal scored by Wu Lei 70’(P). Australia got nine shots with five of them on target and a goal scored by Mitchell Duke 38’.
Japan vs China head to head
Since 2005 these two teams have played 10 times against each other. Japan has five wins a five matches has ended in shared spoils while China is yet to taste their first victory.
- China 0:1 Japan 07/09/21
- China 1:2 Japan 10/12/19
- Japan 2:1 China 12/12/17
- China 1:1 Japan 09/08/15
- Japan 3:3 China 21/07/13
Home
- Oman 0:1 Japan
- Vietnam 0:1 Japan
- Japan 2:1 Australia
- Saudi Arabia 1:0 Japan
- China 0:1 Japan
Away
- China 1:1 Australia
- China 1:1 Oman
- Saudi Arabia 3:2 China
- China 3:2 Vietnam
- China 0:1 Japan
Japan Team News
Hajime Moriyasu’s side will not be able to call upon the services of Maya Yoshida and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injuries.
China Team News
The visiting side gets into this fixture with a fully fit squad.
Prediction and Odds
China looks unlikely to pose problems for Japan as they enter this meeting on a three-match winless streak.
- Japan win
- Goals over 2.5
- Both teams to score
