English
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
NederlandHosts Japan Women face Great Britain Women on the second matchday of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the game to be played at the Sapporo Dome with an 11.30am kickoff BST.
Team GB currently top Group E after victory on Wednesday, and Japan sit two points behind them after drawing with Canada in the opening round of fixtures this summer.
Match preview
© Reuters
Japan's home tournament did not get off to a good start, allowing Canada's Christine Sinclair to score after just six minutes on Wednesday, a lead which the Canadians held for 78 minutes.
Asako Takakura's side had to rely on Arsenal's new signing Mana Iwabuchi to strike after 84 minutes had been played to earn a point for the hosts, the game eventually ending as a 1-1 draw.
That game was a fairly evenly-matched contest throughout, both teams registering three shots on target, but Japan did have a golden opportunity to equalise earlier in the game from the penalty spot.
Mina Tanaka was brought off the bench after half time and had an immediate impact by winning her side a penalty after Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe fouled her in the 18-yard box, but the Canadian rectified her mistake by saving Tanaka's spot kick.
Japan's opponents on Saturday Great Britain got off to the perfect start against Chile on Wednesday, recording a 2-0 win at the Sapporo Dome and a dominant performance from Hege Riise's side.
Manchester City striker Ellen White opened the scoring at the Tokyo Olympics after 17 minutes when club teammate Lauren Hemp knocked down a cross by Lucy Bronze, setting up White to finish off the well-worked move.
Team GB were comfortable throughout the game, dominating the possession and limiting Chile to just one shot on target which was easily gathered by goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.
There was a little bit of concern over the lack of gametime the Great Britain team had managed together, having played just one warm-up fixture, but the starting lineup had seven Man City players featuring in it, which came in handy for the second goal also.
Another Bronze cross ended in a goal for GB, after the right-back picked out White who connected well to finish past Christiane Endler in the Chile goal.
Manager Riise said after the game that she believes her team's performance has sent a statement message to their Olympic rivals that Great Britain are a strong contender for a gold medal, and she was full of praise for all of her players.
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Japan played a 4-4-2 formation against Canada, with Iwabuchi leading the line alongside Yuika Sugasawa, who is likely to retain her starting spot despite being replaced by Tanaka at half time on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich defender Saki Kumagai is the most experienced player currently in the Japanese squad having earned 115 caps, and Iwabuchi is the top goalscorer that still represents the nation, and both are definites in Takakura's starting 11.
Chelsea's Fran Kirby was left out of the 18-strong squad for Wednesday's clash against Chile as she is suffering from a slight injury, but the GB staff are hopeful that the winger will be available on Saturday, even if she is only fit enough to start on the bench.
Steph Houghton captained the side in the opening fixture, but the armband will be passed on to either Kim Little or Sophie Ingle on Saturday as the trio share the responsibility during the Olympics this summer.
Hemp was substituted off after 68 minutes on Wednesday, and it is believed that move was to save some of her energy for the Japan fixture and she is certain to start again this weekend having caused the Chile defence many problems.
After scoring a brace on the opening day, White will be looking to add more goals on Saturday and pursue the Golden Boot at the Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Women possible starting lineup:
Ikeda; Kitamura, Minami, Kumagai, Shimizu; Hasegawa, Nakajima, Miura, Shiokoshi; Iwabuchi, Sugasawa
Great Britain Women possible starting lineup:
Roebuck; Daly, Bright, Houghton, Bronze; Weir, Ingle; Hemp, Little, Kirby; White
We say: Japan Women 2-2 Great Britain Women
Great Britain's defence was not tested much against Chile, but Japan will pose a bigger threat and put Riise's side under more pressure which could see Iwabuchi score a few more goals for her country.
However, Great Britain also have a lot of attacking prowess in their ranks and will be confident that they can use the pace of Hemp to good effect on Saturday.
