Preview: Australia vs. Japan - prediction, team news, lineups

Japan will make the away trip on Thursday to face Australia in their penultimate World Cup 2022 qualifying match, where they shall be hoping to move into the top spot within the group.

Meanwhile, the hosts must win this match if they are to have any hope of avoiding the playoffs, as they currently sit three points behind Hajime Moriyasu's men.

Match preview

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Australia currently sit third-placed in Group B heading into the final two games, meaning they require more points if they want to avoid being involved in the playoffs.

That hunt will start on Thursday when they welcome Japan, who sit one place and three points above them, placing real pressure onto the game, as a victory could see the team leapfrog their opponents.

The Socceroos can still win the group if they gain two victories and other results go their way, and an automatic progression to the tournament in Qatar is obviously the preferred route.

However, Graham Arnold's team are not in great form going into this one, winning just once in their previous five, which was a run that began when they last faced Japan.

Draws against Oman, China and Saudi Arabia have left them with a lot to do in the final two matches, but Australia will believe that they have what it takes this week.

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Japan should have plenty of confidence as well, especially since they won when these two teams last met, with Ao Tanaka originally giving them the lead before Ajdin Hrustic equalised, only for Aziz Behich to score a late own goal, granting the Blue Samurai a 2-1 win.

Since that point, Moriyasu's team have won four games in a row, and more impressively have not conceded a single goal during that period, showcasing their defensive qualities.

Shuichi Gonda should have a lot of belief in goal after his recent performances, as will the defenders in front of him, which could prove to be vital on Thursday.

Japan head into this game on the back of a 2-0 victory against group leaders Saudi Arabia during their most recent outing, where Takumi Minamino and Junya Ito got themselves on the scoresheet.

The team have also not lost a match against Australia in any of their previous eight meetings, which is a run that dates back to 2009.

Team News

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Australia were dealt two COVID-19 blows before the squad could even get going as Craig Goodwin and Jackson Irvine had to pull out after testing positive, but this opened up opportunities for Ben Folami and Kenneth Dougall to replace them.

The Socceroos manager himself has also got the virus right now, and will have to watch the match from home as he isolates, while there are also doubts over Tom Rogic's fitness.

Japan have also had a number of players withdraw from these games, with Yuya Osako and Hiroki Sakai both having to miss out through injury, while Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda has not joined up with the squad.

Daichi Hayashi and Shinnosuke Nakatani have been called in, with a third man yet to be named, and these two individuals could end up pushing for some game time across this period.

Maya Yoshida has been able to return for these games, and he can be expected to slot back into the defence, but the Blue Samurai will be without Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injury.

Australia possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Karacic, Degenek, Sainsbury, Grant; Genreau, Jeggo, Hrustic; Boyle, Mabil, Maclaren

Japan possible starting lineup:

Gonda; Nagatomo, Taniguchi, Yoshida, Yamane; Morita, Endo, Tanaka; Ito, Minamino, Hatate

We say: Australia 0-2 Japan

Australia might boast the home advantage here, but Japan are the in-form team, and a victory would guarantee them automatic progression to the World Cup 2022.

The fact they have been so strong defensively as of late, not conceding in four games is something that could prove to be a difference maker on Thursday.