First take on last in Group B of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers, as Japan welcome Vietnam to Saitama Stadium 2002 for their final qualifying match on Tuesday afternoon with kickoff at 13:35.
Both sides head into the match with their fates in the World Cup qualification already sealed. Japan have already booked their place in the World Cup Qatar edition as they sit at the summit of Group B with a point above Saudi Arabia and six above the third-paced Australia.
The Samurai Blue head into the match in a good mood having narrowly claimed a 1-0 win over Australia in their previous qualifying fixture on Thursday, with substitute Kaoru Mitoma netting the only difference in the final minutes of the clash.
Japan have now won all their last six qualifying matches in a row while have only lost two of their nine Group B matches and will be looking to extend the run and maintain their status in the Group.
Meanwhile Vietnam have already been eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers as they sit at the bottom of Group B with just three points from their nine matches so far. They failed to build on their only group win against China last time out as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Oman at home on Thursday.
The defeat marked their eighth defeat in Group B and they probably will be in for the ninth on Tuesday as they are facing a daunting task against a rampant Japan, who have won each of the last four meetings between the teams since 2007.
Japan vs Vietnam head to head
As mention above the two sides have met in four encounters since 2007 with Japan winning in all encounters.
- Vietnam 0-1 Japan 11/11/21
- Vietnam 0-1 Japan 24/01/19
- Japan 1-0 Vietnam 07/10/11
- Vietnam 1-4 Japan 16/07/07
Home
- Australia 0-2 Japan
- Japan 2-0 Saudi Arabia
- Japan 2-0 China
- Oman 0-1 Japan
- Vietnam 0-1 Japan
Away
- Vietnam 0-1 Oman
- Vietnam 3-1 China
- Australia 4-0 Vietnam
- Thailand 0-0 Vietnam
- Vietnam 0-2 Thailand
Japan team news
Japan will be without Yuya Osako, Hiroki Sakai, Daizen Maeda and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injuries.
Vietnam team news
Vietnam will be without Tran Dinh Trong and Nguyen Van Vi due to injuries, while Bui Tan Troung, To Van Vu are unavailable due to Covid-19 and Nguyen Thanh Chung is suspended. Nguyen Tien Linh is a doubt.
Prediction and odds
- Japan win
- Both sides to score (no)
- Goals under 2.5
