Japan vs Paraguay Match Analysis and Prediction

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Japan will be playing host to Paraguay at the Sapporo Dome on Thursday for an international friendly game.

The hosts have secured their spot in this year’s World Cup and will look to build further momentum, while Paraguay head into their first friendly since 2019 off the back of an unsuccessful World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Japan enter a pair of international friendlies in June off the back of an impressive Asian World Cup Qualifying campaign, claiming their place in the global competition in Qatar.

After a slow start in which they suffered defeats to Oman and Saudi Arabia either side of a victory over Australia, Hajime Moriyasu’s side went on to record six straight victories to secure a top-two finish ahead of Australia.

They finished the campaign with a 1-1 draw at home against Vietnam at the end of March, before seeing themselves drawn in a tough group with Germany and Spain alongside the winner of the playoff between Costa Rica and New Zealand.

Ahead of that competition, the Samurai Blue will be looking to build momentum in their friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil and an encounter with Ghana.

They face a Paraguay outfit seeking to bounce back to form over the summer following a tough run in South America in recent years.

Paraguay’s last friendlies came late in 2019, and they have since gone through World Cup Qualifying and Copa America campaigns, firstly starting with seven points from their opening six matches in the former before entering the continental tournament last summer.

They qualified through the group stage in third spot but were quickly seen off in the opening knockout round at the hands of Peru, as they lost on a penalty shootout after equalising in the last minutes to end the game in a 3-3 draw in regular time.

Japan vs Paraguay head to head

The two national teams have previously met on six occasions across all competitions, where Japan have claimed three victories while Paraguay have won twice, and they have drawn once. Japan have scored seven goals and conceded six. Japan have won in all their last three meetings in friendly matches.

Japan 0-0 Paraguay 27/05/08

Paraguay (P)0-0 Japan 29/06/10

Japan 1-0 Paraguay 04/09/10

Japan 4-2 Paraguay 12/06/18

Japan 2-0 Paraguay 05/09/19

Japan latest home form

Japan have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Vietnam in their last home game in the World Cup Qualifiers. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded three.

Japan 0-1 Oman 02/09/21

Japan 2-1 Australia 12/10/21

Japan 2-0 China PR 27/01/22

Japan 2-0 Saudi Arabia 01/02/22

Japan 1-1 Vietnam 29/03/22

Japan latest away form

Japan have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having won each of their three most recent matches. They managed to defeat Australia 2-0 in their last away game in the World Cup Qualifiers. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded one.

China PR 0-1 Japan 07/09/21

Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan 07/10/21

Vietnam 0-1 Japan 11/11/21

Oman 0-1 Japan 16/11/21

Australia 0-2 Japan 24/03/22

Paraguay latest home form

Paraguay have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their six most recent matches. They defeated Ecuador 3-1 in their last home game in the World Cup Qualifiers. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded four.

Paraguay 2-1 Venezuela 10/09/21

Paraguay 0-0 Argentina 08/10/21

Paraguay 0-1 Chile 12/11/21

Paraguay 0-1 Uruguay 28/01/22

Paraguay 3-1 Ecuador 25/03/22

Paraguay latest away form

Paraguay have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having failed to win any of their eight most recent matches. They lost 2-0 to Peru in their last away game in the World Cup Qualifiers. In their last five matches, they have conceded twelve goals without scoring.

Chile 2-0 Paraguay 11/10/21

Bolivia 4-0 Paraguay 14/10/21

Colombia 0-0 Paraguay 17/11/21

Brazil 4-0 Paraguay 02/02/22

Peru 2-0 Paraguay 30/03/22

Japan news

Japan have called up a strong squad, with Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu fit to be included after his struggles with injuries towards the end of the Premier League season.

He could partner captain Maya Yoshida at the heart of a back four, while Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino is a star man going forward.

Paraguay news

Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron is set to return to the Paraguay starting XI for this contest, while Angel Romero may lead the line.

Captain Gustavo Gomez should displace Omar Alderete and play in the back four alongside Fabian Balbuena, with Andres Cubas and Richard Ortiz vying to feature in midfield.