Saudi Arabia vs Japan Prediction & Betting Tips (10 October)

Saudi Arabia is emerging following the arrival of many stars in its local championship "Saudi Pro League" and is campaigning to obtain the rights to the 2030 World Cup. At present, we cannot yet talk of a top world level selection although it participated in the previous edition of the World Cup in Qatar , notably defeating Argentina in the opening, crowned at the end of the tournament. Engaged in the Asian Cup at the start of the year, the Saudis were finally eliminated quite early in the competition by the South Koreans, at the round of 16 stage, after the penalty shootout. Qualified to play this 3rd round, we can also recall that Saudi Arabia did not manage to finish first in its group during the 2nd round behind Jordan with 13 points each but a goal average lower than the Jordanians. In this 3rd round, the former selection led by Hervé Renard was padlocked by a weak Indonesian opposition at home 1-1 but resplendent against China on the road in the process victory 1-2 at ten against eleven for more than a hour of play.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, Japan set up a project a few years ago now and respects it to the letter and the results are starting to pay off, notably during the 2022 World Cup where the Japanese selection accessed the round of 16, which is clearly not nothing on a CV with an elimination against Croatia after a fateful 1-1 penalty shootout after extra time. From now on, the Japanese hope to qualify again for the next world championship in 2026 and they quite simply achieved a perfect in the 2nd round by gleaning 18 points out of 18 possible, i.e. six victories in six matches and left on the same bases in this 3rd tour with two successes in two matches against China 7-0 , and manita sauce against Bahrain 0-5. 

As we said above, the Saudi League is booming following the massive arrivals of stars playing in the best European championships . The first of them to have made the move to Arabia is obviously called Cristiano Ronaldo. For example, of the 28 players called up for this October training course, only three play outside the local championship, these are the defender of AS Roma, Abdulhamid (38 sel), and midfielders of Beerschot (Belgium) Faisal Al-Ghamdi (9 caps) and Al-Sahafi (1 small cap to his credit, 20 years old). Author of 4 goals in the 2nd qualifying round, Al Shehri (Al-Ittihad, 15 goals in selection and partner of Benzema) responded favorably to the coach's call as did Feras Al Brikan (9 goals in 43 caps) and the executives Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal, 23 goals in 88 games), Al-Malki (34 caps), and Al-Nassr midfielders and teammates of Portuguese legend Ronaldo , Ghareeb (3 goals in 30 games) and Al -Khaibari (23 capes). On the other hand, present in September for the first salvo, the goalkeeper Al-Owais (58 sel) was not called up, the same for Al-Amri (injured), for Al-Muwallad (17 goals in 80 caps), Ali ( 13 sel), and the attacker Al-Hamdan (Al-Hilal, 5 pawns in selection).

Note that midfielder Kanno (57 SEL) will not play this match (suspended following his red against China in September). Among the Rising Sun selection, certain players play in the best European championships at image of the starting goalkeeper Suzuki (Parma, SA), the defenders Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bundesliga), and Sugawara (Southampton, PL), without forgetting the crucial midfielders like Endo (captain, Liverpool), Minamino (Monaco, 23 goals in 61 capes), Junya Ito (Reims, 14 goals in 56 seasons), Doan (Fribourg), the crack Kubo (Real Sociedad), Morita (Sporting), Tanaka (Leeds), Mitoma (Brighton), without forgetting to mention Keito Mitoma ( Reims) or even striker Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord, 14 goals in 28 caps). In terms of absences, previously summoned, Takai (1 sel) finally had to give up (injured) along with Sano (injured since March), Kawabe, Atsuki Ito and Celtic striker Furuhashi (all absent since November 2023, minimum). On the other hand, Asano (Mallorca, 9 goals in 53 seasons), Hosoya (6 caps) and defender Nakayama (22 caps) paid the price for the coach's choices.