Japan vs Costa Rica Prediction & Betting Tips (27 November)

After the great feat against Germany, coach Hajime Moriyasu's Japan returns to the field as leaders of Group E of Qatar 2022 to freeze qualification for the round of 16 and at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyah they face on the second day of the grouping Costa Rica. The Central Americans have "broken bones" after the heavy 7-0 collected on their debut against Spain, the worst knockout in their history like Mexico-Costa Rica in 1975.

The match is scheduled for Sunday 27 November at 11 Italian.

Many elements of this Japanese selection evolve on the Old Continent. Among them are defenders Yoshida (Schalke 04, captain) and Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), midfielders Endo (Stuttgart), Shibasaki (Leganes), Morita (Sporting), Kubo (Real Sociedad), Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mitoma (Brighton) and Doan (Fribourg), as well as forwards Maeda (Celtic), Ueda (Cercle Bruges) and Asano (Bochum). On the other hand, the central defender Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield, 17 sel) had to decline his summons because injured. In addition, some players from this team wear the colors of Ligue 1 clubs such as the goalkeeper Kawashima (Strasbourg) who should take place on the bench, Junya Ito (Reims, 38 caps) and Minamino (Monaco, 44 ​​caps, 17 goals) . The latter is also the most decisive player in the group called up this year to go to Qatar. Former Marseillais Sakai and Nagatomo are also on the list, unlike Osako (Vissel Kobe, 57 caps, 25 goals), Furuhashi (Celtic) and Haraguchi (11 goals in 74 selections), not retained by the coach.

The Costa Rican coach did not know how to choose between the young generation and the old faces well known in the country. We therefore find in this group the emblematic doorman of PSG Navas (107 sel), defenders Calvo (Konyaspor, 75 sel), Duarte (Al-Wedha, 70 sel) and Oviedo (Real Salt Lake, 74 sel), midfielders Borges (Alajuelense, 154 caps, 27 goals) and Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense, 144 caps, 29 goals) and forwards Campbell (Leon, 118 caps, 25 goals) and Venegas (Alajuelense, 80 caps, 11 goals). Otherwise, all the other players present in this team are relatively unknown in Europe since they play in the rather weak domestic championship. Note however the absence of Bochum defender Cristian Gamboa (79 caps) who did not have the favor of his coach.