Match Preview: High-flying Japan and Spain face off in Group C supremacy

Japan and Spain will battle it out for top spot in Group C when they face off in Wellington on Monday.

La Roja cruised to a comfortable victory over Zambia in their most recent outing at the Women’s World Cup 2023, while Japan claimed a 2-0 win against Costa Rica on Matchday two.

After easing to a 5-0 win in their opening game against Zambia, Japan added three more points to their tally in Wednesday’s meeting with Costa Rica.

First-half efforts from Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino guided Japan to consecutive victories and sealed their place in the knockout stages.

The 2011 World Cup winners currently sit in second place on goal difference, and they will now be looking to snatch top spot away from Spain.

Futoshi Ikeda’s side know that only a win will do if they want to secure first position and set up a last-16 tie against the runners-up in Group A.

Japan will certainly enter the final group game in a confident mood, having won five of their previous six games, including their last three by a combined 12-0 scoreline.

Like their opponents, Spain are also in high spirits after breezing past Costa Rica and Zambia in their opening two games.

Costa Rica were dispatched on Matchday one via a 3-0 scoreline, and they went on to register five more goals in Wednesday’s meeting with Zambia.

Teresa Abelleira opened the scoring for La Roja, before Jenni Hermoso and Alba Redondo netted two goals apiece to round off a comfortable 5-0 win and secure Spain’s place in the last 16.

Jorge Vilda’s side only need a point to secure top spot, but they will be targeting all three points as they look to continue their winning run.

Since losing 3-2 to Australia in February, Spain have recorded eight consecutive victories, scoring 27 goals and keeping seven clean sheets.

Team News

After coming into the side for the win over Costa Rica, Shiori Miyake is expected to her place in the back three alongside Saki Kumagai and Moeke Minami.

Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano dropped out of the starting lineup on Matchday Two, but she could be recalled to the lineup for Monday’s encounter.

Naomoto is likely to start for a second straight game, and she is expected to be joined in the forward line by Mina Tanaka and Fujino.

As for Spain, Alexia Putellas made her first competitive start since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April, and she is expected to retain her place on the side for Monday’s contest.

With Vilda set to name an unchanged lineup, Redondo will have to settle for a place on the bench despite scoring a brace as a substitute on Wednesday.

Hermoso will continue to lead the line for La Roja, and she will be joined in a front three by Salma Paralluelo and Mariona Caldentey.

In the news

“We’ve not seen Spain at their best yet, I’m certain of that. We need to recover physically and mentally to put in a better performance against Japan. We’re going up against a national team that are similar to us in many ways, but I’m sure the players are going to give it everything and show a very good attitude. That gives me a sense of calm and confidence to tackle what’s coming up.”
Jorge Vilda, Spain head coach

“Our main strength is that we can play our way, whichever players are out on the pitch. Our country won this tournament in 2011 and this generation of players would love to do that too. That’s the ‘motor’ that drives us forward.”
Futoshi Ikeda, Japan head coach

Stats

• Spain are chasing a best-ever group performance at this competition, having never previously won all three games at this stage.
• Japan, for their part, have won six, drawn one and lost just one of their last eight group-stage matches at the Women’s World Cup.
• Jennifer Hermoso is the first Spain player to score at two editions of the Women’s World Cup (2019 and 2023) and she will be keen to add to her goal tally.
• For Japan the goalscoring burden has been shared extensively, with six different players finding the net so far.