The visitors head into their first friendly since 2019 on the back of an unsuccessful World Cup Qualifying campaign, while their hosts have booked their place in this year's tournament and will look to build further momentum.

Match preview

Japan's Takumi Minamino celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 1, 2022 © Reuters

Japan head into a pair of International Friendlies in June on the back of an impressive Asian World Cup Qualifying campaign, booking their spot in the global competition in Qatar.

Following a slow start, in which they suffered defeats to Oman and Saudi Arabia either side of a win over Australia, the Samurai Blue went on to post six straight victories to confirm a top-two finish ahead of Australia.

They rounded off the campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Vietnam at the end of March, as Maya Yoshida saved their blushes somewhat with a second-half equaliser, 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, Hajime Moriyasu's men will aim to build momentum in their friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil and a meeting with Ghana.

Paraguay coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto on February 1, 2022 © Reuters

They welcome a Paraguay team looking to bounce back to form over the summer following a tough run in South America in recent years.

La Albirroja's last friendlies came late in 2019, and they have since gone through World Cup Qualifying and Copa America campaigns, firstly beginning with seven points from their opening six games in the former before heading into the continental competition last summer.

They qualified through the group stage in third place but were quickly dumped out in the opening knockout round at the hands of Peru, as they lost on a penalty shootout after equalising in the dying embers to make it 3-3 in regular time.

Former boss Eduardo Berizzo was dismissed in the following months, and, under the new management of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, they were unable to finish the qualifying campaign on a high, winning just one and losing six of their last nine games to drop to eighth spot and fall well out of contention for the Qatar tournament.

Without having the World Cup looming, Paraguay will simply look to rebuild their confidence with an upturn in form in this round of fixtures.

Japan International Friendlies form:

Japan form (all competitions):

Paraguay International Friendlies form:

Paraguay form (all competitions):

Team News

Japan's Junya Ito celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on January 27, 2022 © Reuters

Japan have called up a strong squad for this round of games, 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, having hit 17 goals in 39 international caps.

The likes of Ritsu Doan and Junya Ito will also be vying for places in the attacking setup, while striker Kyogo Furuhashi's cause may have been harmed by missing large portions of Celtic's title-winning season after starting with eight goals in his first 13 Scottish Premiership appearances, and Bhoys teammate Reo Hatate is absent from the squad.

Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron is set to return to the Paraguay starting XI for Thursday's contest after missing the last round of World Cup Qualifiers.

Angel Romero may lead the line from the outset while brother Oscar Romero is another fixture in their attack, likely lining up on the opposite flank to Almiron.

Captain Gustavo Gomez should displace Omar Alderete and play at the heart of a back four alongside Fabian Balbuena, with Richard Ortiz and Andres Cubas vying to anchor the midfield.

Japan possible starting lineup:
Kawashima; Yamane, Yoshida, Tomiyasu, Nakayama; Haraguchi, Shibasaki; Doan, Minamino, Ito; Asano

Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Silva; Rojas, Balbuena, Gomez, Alonso; Cubas, Ortiz; Almiron, O Romero; A Romero, Gonzalez

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We say: Japan 3-1 Paraguay

Japan boast the stronger of the two squads currently, and, coming in with far more momentum and confidence than their opponents thanks to recent results, we back them to triumph on home soil.

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