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November 18 2024, 13:51 · Alex Sarwar

China PR vs Japan Preview: Team News & Prediction

China PR vs Japan Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Always a big occasion when these two nations meet and China PR have revenge in mind after being thrashed 7-0 by Japan in the reverse fixture.

Kick-off date/time: Tuesday November 19th 2024: UK – 12:00pm / US ET – 8:00am / US PT – 5:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Bet365 & FIFA+ / US – FIFA+

China PR Preview: Back-to-back victories put hosts right back in qualification hunt

China PR have moved into the top four of Group C, following consecutive wins against Indonesia and Bahrain respectively. The Bahrain victory was particularly impressive being away from home, a late goal from Zhang Yuning sealing a 0-1 triumph in Riffa. If they were to force a surprise result in this game, it would move them to within four points of Japan.

Japan Preview: Samurai Blue march on following fourth round three win

It’s now 13 points from five Group C fixtures for Japan, who got back to winning ways with a comfortable 0-4 triumph over Indonesia last Friday. With Australia and Saudi Arabia drawing 0-0, that extended Japan’s lead at the top of the table to seven points with five games remaining. Another victory here brings World Cup qualification well within sight for the Samurai Blue.

China PR Team News: Il-gwan could come into starting line-up after substitute appearance on Friday

PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Wang; Gao, Browning, Jiang, Hetao; Xie, Haoyang, Li, Wei; Abduweli, Zhang

UNAVAILABLE: 

QUESTIONABLE: Lei Li (Injured), S. Wang (Injured)

Japan Team News: Minamino a doubt following half-time substitution

PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Suzuki; Hashioka, Taniguchi, Machida; Doan, Endo, Morita, Mitoma; Maeda, Ogawa, Kubo

UNAVAILABLE: Ueda (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Minamino (Fitness)

Key Stats

  • China PR have won two successive matches for the first time in the current World Cup qualifying campaign.
  • China PR have won six and drawn two of their last nine World Cup qualifying matches at home (L2).
  • Japan are unbeaten in the last 15 international matches between these two teams (W9 D6). Since a 2-0 win for China PR in a friendly match in Tokyo in March 1998.
  • Japan have won 15 and drawn two of their last 17 World Cup qualifying matches. Since their 1-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia in October 2021.
  • Japan have kept 14 clean sheets in their last 16 World Cup qualifying matches.
  • Japan last conceded more than one goal in a World Cup qualifying match in a 2-1 defeat against the United Arab Emirates in September 2016.
  • Japan have won their last eight World Cup qualifying matches outside of Japan without conceding a goal.
  • Japan have won 12 of their last 13 World Cup qualifying matches outside of Japan, with a total of only one goal conceded in the 13 matches.

China PR vs Japan Prediction

This encounter should be significantly more of a contest compared to the one we saw back in September, with China PR a stronger, more confidence team. On the back of two straight wins, confidence and belief within the home side has every reason to be high. But this Japanese team are one of the strongest we’ve seen across the AFC in recent history and such quality within their squad will always lead to chances. The expectation is that Japan will once again be victorious, perhaps not by such a wide margin as the reverse fixtures, but most likely by two clear goals.

China PR vs Japan Tip: Japan to win with -1 handicap