Japan vs Spain Prediction: Spain to finish top of Group E

On Thursday night at the Khalifa International Stadium, Group E leaders Spain and Group E runners-up Japan will square off in a potentially exciting 2022 World Cup matchup. Neither team was able to win their final group game, as La Roja had to split the points with Germany, and the Blue Samurai were beaten by Costa Rica.

Japan Starting 11 (4-2--3-1): Gonda, Itakura, Yoshida, Yamane, Nagatomo, Endo, Morita, Doan, Soma, Kamada, Ueda.

Spain Starting 11 (4-3-3): Simon, Laporte, Rodri, Alba, Carvajal, Busquet, Gavi, Pedri, Torres, Olmo, Morata.

Last Five Matches: LWLDW

FIFA World Ranking: 24th

Many predicted Japan would beat Costa Rica on Sunday after their surprising 2-1 comeback win against Germany in their initial Group E match. Keysher Fuller scored the game-winning goal for the Central Americans in the 89th minute. The Blue Samurai were eliminated from playoff contention in Group E. Hajime Moriyasu's squad is still alive in their quest to go to the round of 16 for the second straight World Cup. They know that a win against the defending champions Spain would seal their spot. Losing vs La Roja would eliminate them from the tournament, but a draw might put them through if Costa Rica loses or Germany doesn't win by two goals or more. Whether or not the 24th-ranked Japanese national team can pull off another seismic upset on Thursday remains to be seen, but Moriyasu will want to make sure his squad forgets about its most recent outcome and plays as well as it did on the opening day of the tournament.

Last Five Matches: DWWWL

FIFA World Ranking: 7th

Spain had an opportunity to advance to the round of 16 last weekend, but they drew 1-1 with an improved German team in Al Khor. Alvaro Morata, who had scored the decisive goal in a 7-0 opening triumph over Costa Rica, came off the bench to score the game-winning goal against Germany, a first-time flick that went past Manuel Neuer. Niclas Fullkrug came on as a substitute for Die Mannschaft and scored a goal past Unai Simon in the 83rd minute to make the score a draw between the two European powerhouses. The media has been reporting that Spain's head coach Luis Enrique will step down at the end of the World Cup to return to club management, but the 52-year-old is committed to his current position and believes a draw against Japan will be enough for his La Roja side to advance to the knockout rounds for the fifth time in the last six finals. With a perfect record against Asian opponents in World Cup play (five wins, zero losses) and a single loss coming in a penalty shootout to South Korea in 2002, Spain will be optimistic about returning to winning ways on Thursday.

Japan and Spain have only met once, in a friendly match in April 2001, which La Roja won by a 1-0. Also, in eight of their last nine World Cup appearances, La Roja has won their last group game, with 2018's 2-2 draw against Morocco being the lone exception.

Prediction: Japan is an unknown quantity after two games with contrasting outcomes, but Moriyasu's energized squad will take pride in being the underdog, just as they did against Germany, and will want to pull off another shocking victory in Doha on Thursday. Meanwhile, Spain has gotten off to a good start in this World Cup, and even if Enrique decides to switch up his starting lineup, they should still be able to beat Japan.

• Spain to Win and Over 1.5
• Under 2.5
• Both Teams to Score No

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