Yet to drop a point or even concede a goal across the entirety of 2026 World Cup qualifying, Japan face their toughest examination yet on Tuesday, taking on Australia in Group C of the third round at the Saitama Stadium.
Hajime Moriyasu's men conquered Saudi Arabia 2-0 in their most recent contest, while the Socceroos made it third time lucky with a 3-1 triumph over China last time out.
Match preview
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After breezing through the second round with four successive wins over North Korea, Myanmar and Syria, Japan have picked up exactly where they left off in AFC World Cup qualifying, and Moriyasu's side have been unyielding throughout the preliminary process so far.
September saw the Samurai Blue ease to a 7-0 obliteration of China and 5-0 annihilation of Bahrain, and even though Saudi Arabia would ostensibly pose more of a challenge on Thursday, Japan maintained their perfect points and defensive record in clinical fashion.
Goals either side of the half-time whistle from Daichi Kamada and Koki Ogawa kept Japan cruising at the top of Group C with maximum points, five clear of upcoming opponents Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, meaning that they will remain top no matter what transpires here.
With 10 rounds in total, the Samurai Blue must wait a little while longer to officially confirm their spot at the 2026 global gathering, but it would take an almighty collapse for Japan to relinquish their hold on a top-two spot, which will guarantee direct qualification.
Even the third and fourth-placed sides will have the safety net of the fourth round, but for a Japan team that has scored 28 goals and conceded none in their last seven games, nothing less than the gold medal position will do.
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While Japan have been blowing their opponents away ever since qualification began, Australia got off to a false start in the third round last month, falling to a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain before being held to a goalless stalemate against Indonesia on matchday two.
In the wake of those disappointing results, the long-serving Graham Arnold stood down from his position after six years as head coach, handing the reins over to former national team defender Tony Popovic - a familiar name to Crystal Palace fans from the early 2000s.
The former Eagles captain got off to an ideal start in the hotseat on Thursday, as even though Xie Wenneng broke the deadlock for China, Lewis Miller responded on the stroke of the break before Craig Goodwin and Nishan Velupillay completed the Socceroos turnaround.
Australia are now one of three teams on four points in Group C, although their superior goal difference to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain means that the coveted runners-up spot is currently theirs, although Indonesia are also just one point behind the perennial World Cup participants.
The head-to-head column does not make for positive reading for Australia either, as they have been beaten in each of their last three clashes with Japan and are winless in nine against the Samurai Blue, whose last defeat in this fixture came back in 2009 courtesy of a Tim Cahill brace.
Team News
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Despite being called up to the squad for October's internationals, 38-year-old defender Yuto Nagatomo - Japan's second-highest capped men's player in history with 142 - was not nominated to the matchday squad against Saudi Arabia, leaving his participation here up in the air.
Former Liverpool and current Monaco winger Takumi Minamino was taken off at half time in the success over Saudi Arabia, although it is unclear whether that was a forced or tactical choice from Moriyasu, who has Takefusa Kubo and Junya Ito waiting in reserve.
Assuming Minamino is in peak condition, the ex-Reds attacker ought to join Kamada as part of the supporting cast up front, although Ogawa now has a case to start over Ayase Ueda following his goal off the bench last week.
As for Australia, Portsmouth attacker Sam Silvera was forced to sit out the win over China due to suspension - having picked up his second booking of qualification against Indonesia last month, but the 23-year-old is now available again.
Silvera's return is timely, as Nestory Irankunda was forced off with an unspecified injury at half time against China, although it remains to be seen whether his concern is serious enough to rule him out of Tuesday's game.
Either way, Riley McGree and goalscorer Velupillay are competent options to step into the attack, while Jackson Irvine sports the captain's armband from the middle of the park.
Japan possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Taniguchi, Machida, Itakura; Doan, Endo, Morita, Mitoma; Minamino, Kamada; Ogawa
Australia possible starting lineup:
Gauci; Souttar, Deng, Rowles; Miller, O'Neill, Irvine, Behich; Goodwin, McGree; Duke
We say: Japan 2-0 Australia
Every foe that has stood in Japan's way so far has left with their tails tucked between their legs, and a similar tale should unfold on Tuesday, in spite of Australia's superior quality compared to some of their Group C rivals.
Despite their statement win in midweek, the visitors are still finding their feet under Popovic and do not pack as much of a punch up front as their unblemished hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
Iran
Kyrgyzstan
North Korea
Qatar
UAE
Uzbekistan
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Oman
Palestine
South Korea
Australia
Bahrain
China
Indonesia
Japan
Saudi Arabia
