Japan and Spain clash in a massive battle for the top spot in Group C after both sealed qualification to last-16 with back-to-back wins.
JPA-W vs SPA-W Match Details
Date: Monday, 31 July 2023
Time: 12:30 (IST) / 19:00 (NZST)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
JPA-W vs SPA-W Match Preview
Japan and Spain have completely dominated Group C easily outscoring their opposition Costa Rica and Zambia. The pair have also kept clean sheets in both of their games so far. However, a shutdown in the final group match could be in jeopardy when these two will lock horns in the fight for supremacy. Japan followed their 5-0 thrashing of Zambia in the opener with a 2-0 win over Costa Rica. While it was not another goal fest from Nadeshiko after they brought the gear down in the second half, the main aim was to get the job done. They did by Hikaru Naomoto’s 25th-minute strike and 19-year-old Aoba Fujino's thundering near-post finish only moments later. Even with a much-changed side with the game against Spain clearly in mind, Japan maintain the same tempo in the first half at least. Qualified to the knockouts for the fifth time and last four consecutively, Futoshi Ikeda's side are looking to secure the top spot by making it three out of three. La Roja will be a gigantic task in that regard, leading the group on goal difference. But having won five out of their last six games and scoring 12 goals without reply, Japan will know a thing or two to prevent an equally technical opposition.
The Nadeshiko advanced to the last-16 after Spain smashed Zambia 5-0 as well later in the day. Teresa Abelleira began the scoring with a pile driver from long range before Jenni Hermoso and substitute Alba Redondo bagged a brace to help them with another huge win. Indeed, the result secured Spain’s place in the last-16. This time La Roja made sure they add more finishing touches to their chances than they did in the 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in the first match. The team know they need more of it in the big clash against Japan to decide the winners of the group. Spain are in a fantastic run of games by not losing since February this year and scored a massive 29 goals in their last six matches without conceding. In fact, the 3-2 defeat to Australia is the only ever suffered since the Euros last summer with just five goals leaked in that period. They have recorded eight consecutive victories as well. This makes them a feared opponent not showing any signs of slowing down, even with all their off-filed issues and still some key players missing. Spain know they have to continue their task on Monday and set up a last-16 tie with the runners-up in Group A.
JPA-W vs SPA-W Predicted Lineups
JPA-W: Ayaka Yamashita; Shiori Miyake, Saki Kumagai, Moeke Minami; Risa Shimizu, Yui Hasegawa, Fuka Nagano, Jun Endo; Aoba Fujino, Hinata Miyazawa; Mina Tanaka
SPA-W: Misa Rodriguez; Ona Battle, Irene Paredes, Ivana Andres, Olga Carmona; Aitana Bonmati, Teresa Abelleira, Alexia Putellas; Salma Paralluelo, Jenni Hermoso, Mariona Caldentey
JPA-W vs SPA-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Yamashita (8)
DEF: Shimizu (8.5), Paredes (8.5), Battle (7.5)
MID: Fujino (7.5), Putellas (9), Hermoso (9), Miyazawa (9), Bonmati (8.5)
FW: Tanaka (9), Endo (8.5)
Vice-captain: Hinata Miyazawa
Captain: Jenni Hermoso
