Japan vs China Prediction & Betting Tips (5 September)

8th finalist in the last World Cup, Japan clearly has global ambitions and must return to the most prestigious competition on the continent. During the 2nd round of qualifying, it's quite simple, the residents of the country of the rising sun did not flinch and they won all of their six matches. Against Syria 0-5 and 5-0, Myanmar 0-5 and 5-0 and against North Korea 1-0 and 0-3 by forfeit. At the start of the calendar year, the Japanese, on the other hand, disappointed somewhat in the Asian Cup by coming out in the quarter-finals against the Iranians 2-1. On China's side, one day it will be necessary to be able to take a step forward at the international level.

Already, it's more difficult to imagine this team qualifying for a World Cup when we realize its shortcomings in the Asian Cup at the start of the year with two draws and a defeat in the group stage and an elimination at the same time at this stage of the competition. Furthermore, the qualifying matches were not glorious with only two victories against Thailand 1-2 and Singapore 4-1. With 8 points, the Chinese still managed to take the 2nd spot, but in this last salvo, with the best from the continent Japan, Saudi Arabia, or even Australia, we would have to aim for a top 4 to participate in the jump-off. 

Indecent during the 2nd qualifying salvo with his 6 goals on the clock, Ueda (Feyenoord, 12 goals in 26 seasons) is very present for this training course like Asano (Mallorca, 9 goals in 52 caps), Rémois Ito (13 goals in 54 caps) and Nakamura (8 goals in 10 caps) without forgetting to mention the Monegasque, Minamino (21 goals in 51 caps). Captain Endo (Liverpool) was also called up like Doan (Fribourg, 10 goals in 50 caps), crack Kubo (Real Sociedad), Kamada (Crystal Palace, 7 goals in 33 caps), Morita (Sporting) and Mitoma (Brighton, 7 pawns in 20 capes). In the defensive sector, the captain with 137 caps, Nagatomo (37 years old) responded favorably to the coach's call as did Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Taniguchi (Saint-Trond in Belgium), and Machida (Union Saint-Gilloise) . Absent are Tomiyasu (Arsenal, 42 selections), Ito (Bayern Munich), Hashioka (Luton), midfielders Soma (5 goals in 14 caps), and Kawamura (Salzburg), not selected. The injured Furuhashi (Celtic, 5 goals in 21 seasons), Kawabe (6 seasons), Atsuki Ito (Gantoise, 3 caps), and Sano (Mainz) remained in their clubs to receive treatment. It's simple, the majority of players called up for this internship play in the country in local teams.

Wu Lei (36 goals in 97 caps) remains the most dangerous player in the offensive sector. Mention to Yuning (5 goals in 32 games). The particularity of this group is very clearly inexperience since apart from Wu Lei who easily exceeds the bar of 40 selections, no other player reaches it. A boy like Linpeng (105 caps) was not called up in the same way as players present in June in this case, Shihao (4 goals in 30 caps), Ai Kesen (4 goals in 19 caps), Hao (6 sel), Weijun (1 sel), or even midfielder Tianyi (6 selections).