Australia vs Japan World Cup Qualifying Tips, Prediction & Preview

Andrew Hendrie: Jun 22, 2022

The Socceroos are tasked with a must-win game as they host Japan in a crucial World Cup qualifying game on Thursday night in Sydney.

Australia vs Japan Tips, Prediction & Preview

Australia vs Japan free World Cup qualifying prediction, tips and preview – Japan have seen under 2.5 goals in their last four games…

Australia vs Japan H2H Prediction

Australia vs Japan Tips

Best Draw & Under 2.5 goals odds $3.75 with bet365

Japan have won their last five games
Australia have drawn three of their last four games
Australia and Japan have drawn their last two World Cup qualifying games in Australia
Japan have seen under 2.5 goals in their last four games

Australia vs Japan Same Game Multi

Minamino was the first goalscorer in Japan’s last game vs Saudi Arabia

Australia vs Japan Match Details

🌏 Competition: World Cup Qualifying
🗓 Date: Thursday March 24
⏰ Time: 8.10pm AEDT
🏟 Stadium: Stadium Australia

Australia vs Japan Head to Head (last five matches)

12/10/21: Japan 2-1 Australia
31/8/17: Japan 2-0 Australia
11/10/16: Australia 1-1 Japan
18/11/14: Japan 2-1 Australia
25/7/13: Japan 3-2 Australia

Australia vs Japan Preview & Prediction

It’s crunch time for the Socceroos as their automatic World Cup qualifying hopes hang in the balance ahead of Thursday night’s showdown with Japan at Stadium Australia.

Australia had been cruising towards direct entry and one of the top two spots in Group B, but a run of just one win in their last five games have left them languishing in third place.

That means Graham Arnold’s side need to beat both Japan and Saudi Arabia in their final two group games in order to ensure a direct passage to Qatar 2022.

Failure to do so would mean Australia must defeat the third-placed team in Group A before going on to face the fifth-placed South American team in a two-leg home-and-away playoff to reach the World Cup finals later this year.

Attack and the lack of a genuine goalscorer has been the Socceroos’ biggest issue for years now, with Uruguayan-born striker Bruno Fornaroli set to make his debut for Australia as the team continue their desperate search for goals.

Fornaroli has been one of the A-League’s most prolific strikers for Melbourne City and Perth Glory and Socceroos fans will be hoping he can translate that form to the international stage.

Preparation has been far from ideal for the Socceroos, with coach Arnold forced into isolation due to a positive COVID-19 test, while Craig Goodwin and Jackson Irvine are also unavailable.

Throw in the fact experienced and star midfielders Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy are also sidelined and the Socceroos head into this clash without some key individuals.

Meanwhile, Japan have recovered after a slow start to the qualifying campaign and come into this encounter having won their last five consecutive matches.

Japan have kept a clean sheet in their last four victories, including a big 2-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia in their last outing.

Japan have a host of talent at their disposal, led by Liverpool star Takumi Minamino, who got on the scoresheet in the win over Saudi Arabia.

VERDICT:

It’s a massive ask for the Socceroos to win this, even with home ground advantage. Australia are missing various key players and have been in poor form as of late, including going down 2-1 away to Japan in the last meeting.

The last two World Cup qualifying meetings in Australia have resulted in a 1-1 draw and we think a similar result could be on the cards here.

Japan have seen under 2.5 goals in their last four games, while Australia have shared the spoils in three of their last four. The Socceroos can get on the scoresheet, but it’s unlikely they will be able to keep Japan at bay, so back a share of the spoils in Sydney (Best Draw & Under 2.5 goals odds $3.75 with bet365.)

Australia vs Japan Stats

Japan have won their last five games
Australia have drawn three of their last four games
Australia and Japan have drawn their last two World Cup qualifying games in Australia
Japan have seen under 2.5 goals in their last four games

Australia vs Japan Best Bet

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