Japan vs USA Predictions

• This match will be played at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf.
• The USA are conceding an average of 2.5 goals per game in German stadia this century.
• Japan are now unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 matches.

Preparations for Qatar get underway

The Samurai Blue will be making their seventh consecutive appearance at a World Cup in Qatar as they cruised through qualifying, winning 15 matches and losing just once. Most of their squad ply their trade in the top European leagues, with Takumi Minamino playing for Monaco in Ligue 1, forward Kyogo Furuhashi for Celtic and national team captain Maya Yoshida for Bundesliga outfit Schalke.

The United States were plagued with injuries throughout their qualifying campaign and they will be without a few key players in this one too. The likes of Zack Steffen, Antonee Robinson and Tim Weah were all left out of the original squad through injury and now Chris Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers have all withdrawn. However, Gregg Berhalter still has a number of talented players to choose from and they will want to create a feel-good factor by claiming a win.

Goals at both ends is the best play

We think both sides will be competitive but given this one will be played in a neutral venue, it can be tough to predict how this one will go. However, both sides have a poor record when playing German soil and we feel that both teams to score is the standout pick in this encounter.