Saudi Arabia vs Japan Predictions

• Saudi Arabia are undefeated in ten World Cup qualifiers for 2022 (Won 8, Drawn 2).
• Japan have not conceded a goal in their five qualifiers on foreign soil.
• Japan are without talented winger Takefusa Kubo through injury.

Injured talents increase chances of stalemate

Japan know another World Cup qualifying loss could be catastrophic for their chances of making the finals and must try to avoid that fate against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Thursday.

The Samurai Blue have already lost once in the group and sit three points behind the hosts and Australia with only the top two guaranteed a place at Qatar 2022.

A 1-0 slip-up against Oman – a team which the Saudis earned a 1-0 win against – looks like it could be costly, although there are still 24 points to play for.

They must face Herve Renard’s men without one of their most creative talents as Olympic Games star Takefusa Kubo is injured.

Breaking down a Saudi Arabia side that have only conceded once in five home qualifiers won’t be easy.

The Green Falcons are a good counter-attacking side and will surely welcome the fact that Japan, even with the relatively cautious Hajime Moriyasu in charge, should attack because of their greater need of three points.

The hosts will miss winger Salem Al-Dossari, who played well in their two earlier group wins, through injury too – and we don’t expect this to be a high-scoring affair.

Japan can point to five straight ‘away’ clean sheets, although their 1-0 win over China was played on neutral turf.

Our belief is that, in all likelihood, this contest ends in a draw that keeps both teams in the mix for qualification and the 0-0 correct score play is favoured because of the two sides’ strong defensive records.