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FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) - Japan VS Bahrain Prediction
FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) - Japan VS Bahrain
Match Time:20-03-2025 18:35 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Japan - WWWDWW
The calm and measured 56-year-old coach Hajime Moriyasu has been at the helm of the "Samurai" since the summer of 2018, but is mostly remembered by wider audiences (excluding Japan and the entire Asian region) for his work at the 2022 World Cup, where the Japanese almost pulled off a sensation but lost to Croatia in the penalty shootout during the knockout stages. Nevertheless, since then, Moriyasu has led Japan to 22 wins in 27 matches across all competitions, and in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the "Samurai" steamrolled through Group B in the second stage (six matches – six victories). Now, in the third stage, where each team will play ten matches, Japan leads Australia by a full seven points after six rounds! In fact, their only draw so far came against the Aussies (in a match featuring two own goals!), although Japan clearly dominated the game.
In three groups of the Asian qualifiers, 18 teams play, and aside from Japan, the leaders of Groups A and B, Iran and South Korea, also remain unbeaten after six rounds, with Iran on the same total of 16 points. However, nobody else has a goal difference as impressive as Japan's 22:2. In the entirety of the Asian qualifiers, Japan boasts both the best attack and the best defense. What's more, they only conceded their second goal last round in China, where they secured a convincing 3:1 victory. This win was significant not only in terms of score but also through performance (70% possession, far more shots, and pressing actions – the Chinese players had a misplaced pass every third time, even on home turf!). Although China held out for almost forty minutes, they conceded two goals before the break, and when the hosts tried to spark some intrigue early in the second half, Koke Ogawa quickly extinguished those hopes with a brace. However, the Japanese coach is likely already preparing his team for a more worthy challenge from Bahrain – primarily because the visitors still retain hopes of advancing to the next stage of the Asian qualifiers.
Bahrain - WLDDLD
Group C of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup is fascinating in that it contains a clear dominant team and five other sides with similar claims for the three coveted spots in the next round. China, Bahrain, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia each have six points, while the peaceful Australia (four draws in six matches and the best defense, excluding Japan) is only one point better! Group C is perhaps where the tightest intrigue will unfold in the last four matches: China has the most wins, losses, and conceded goals (and a 0:7 thrashing by Japan at the start of this qualifying stage!), while Bahrain, in this respect, does not particularly stand out.
However, Dragan Talajic's squad shone at the recent Gulf Cup – few expected Bahrain to win! Their last triumph was in 2019, but now, at the start of the group stage in Group B, Talajic’s boys overcame Saudi Arabia, then strategically marched through the tournament, even allowing themselves to lose to Yemen after two wins in their opening matches. This approach allowed them to remain fresh, and in the semifinal, they managed to narrowly beat Kuwait (even with a man down!) - Mohammed Marhoon scored the only goal just fifteen minutes from time. In the final, Bahrain staged a comeback against Oman, winning 2:1, scoring twice in the final fifteen minutes.
Considering this achievement, Bahrain has four wins and one loss in their last five matches. However, there’s another statistic that will surely not please Dragan Talajic – in the last ten direct encounters in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers, spanning two decades (since March 2005!), Bahrain has suffered eight defeats. This includes not merely the 0:5 loss last September, but also a four-match losing streak.
Japan vs Bahrain Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have crossed paths 14 times in all competitions. As expected, the hosts have been the dominant side in these meetings, recording 11 wins. The Reds have two wins to their name and just one meeting between them has ended in a draw.
Samurai Blue are on a four-game winning streak against the visitors and registered a comfortable 5-0 away win in the reverse fixture in September.
Japan have won nine of their last 10 games in the World Cup qualifiers while keeping eight clean sheets.
Bahrain have conceded 10 goals in six games in the qualifiers, with only four teams across three groups in the AFC qualifiers conceding more.
The hosts have the best attacking record in the AFC third-round qualifiers, scoring 22 goals in six games.
Japan possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Seko, Itakura, H Ito, J Ito, Endo, Tanaka, Mitoma; Kubo, Kamada; Furuhashi
Bahrain possible starting lineup:
Lutfalla; Al-Shamsan, Benadi, Al-Hayam, Al-Khalasi; Saeed, Al-Aswad; Madan, Marhoon, Al-Humaidan; Romaihi
Prediction: Japan 4-0 Bahrain
Japan have been virtually unstoppable in World Cup qualifying, including a 5-0 victory against Bahrain in the reverse fixture, leading us to expect a similarly dominant win for the hosts here.
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