Qatar 2022: Blue Samurai look to quench Red Fury as Japan take on Spain in final group game

01:45 - 01 December 2022

Group E goes to the wire with Spain taking on Japan with qualification up for grabs

Group E will go down to the wire as Spain and Japan, two teams who had amazing opening games, vie for group superiority and a round of 16 berth.

Both teams could qualify with a draw, but after a crazy matchday 11, they will know that winning their game without having to worry about other fixtures is the best way to secure qualification into the round of 16, so the onus will be on both Spain and Japan to come out with a goal-getting mindset.

Japan vs Spain Head-to-Head

Spain and Japan have never met in a competitive fixture, so 2022 will afford both countries the opportunity to start a new rival with a must-win group stage game, the matchstick that could ignite a keg of gunpowder.

Players to watch

Japan

Takuma Asano

Former Arsenal forward Takuma Asano scored one of the goals of the tournament to sink Germany in Japan’s first group game, and came off the bench against Costa Rica in their second game to add some much-needed life to an otherwise dull Japanese frontline.