Preview: Japan vs. Serbia - prediction, team news, lineups

Japan will be looking to win their fifth successive international match when they host a friendly encounter against European outfit Serbia on Friday.

The Samurai Blue have won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions, while the visitors are unbeaten in each of their last eight matches.

Match preview

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Since the beginning of 2021, Japan have been scoring goals for fun, particularly in two of their last three Asian World Cup qualifiers.

In March, Hajime Moriyasu's side recorded the second-biggest win in their history when they obliterated Mongolia 14-0, before thrashing Myanmar 10-0 on home soil two months later.

Japan's most recent qualification match saw them win 4-1 at home to Tajikistan, with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Takumi Minamino, Kento Hashimoto and Hayao Kawabe ensuring their 100% record remained intact.

The Samarai Blue remain at the top of Group F, 11 points clear of their nearest challengers Tajikistan, having won each of their seven qualification matches, scoring 41 goals and conceding just one in the process.

Japan, ranked 28th in the world by FIFA, have only ever faced Serbia twice in their history, losing on both occasions without scoring in 2010 and 2013.

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After failing to qualify for Euro 2020, Serbia are facing a quiet few months on the international stage, with just two fixtures in June before they continue their 2022 World Cup qualification campaign in September.

Their first was a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Jamaica, with Strahinja Pavlovic cancelling out Andre Gray's first-half opener.

Serbia were much better in their opening three World Cup qualifiers in March, with a 2-2 draw against Euro 2016 winners Portugal sandwiched between 3-2 and 2-1 victories against the Republic of Ireland and Azerbaijan respectively.

These three results have helped the Eagles move up to second in Group A, level on points with Portugal at the summit.

Dragan Stojkovic's men – ranked 25th in the world by FIFA – are unbeaten in each of their last six international matches across all competitions, with their last defeat on the road against Russia in September 2020.

Team News

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Japan boss Moriyasu has seemingly decided to make Shuichi Gonda his number-one choice goalkeeper, after using different stoppers in three of their last four international matches prior to their victory against Myanmar.

Marseille left-back Yuto Nagatomo could be brought into the starting lineup at the expense of Sho Sasaki, while Shinnosuke Nakatani and Gen Shoji could keep their places at centre-back.

Liverpool's Minamino – who is the top goalscorer in the Asian qualifiers with nine – is expected to start in an advanced midfield role, with either Takuma Asano or Yuya Osako set to lead the line up front.

As for Serbia, attackers Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Tadic, Luka Jovic and Dusan Vlahovic are all notable absentees from the squad, so striker Dejan Joveljic could be handed just his second international cap up front.

18-year-old Nemanja Jovic could join him in attack, while experienced midfielders Nemanja Gudelj and Nemanja Maksimovic – who have more caps than the rest of Serbia's 18-man squad combined – may partner one another in the middle of the pitch.

Japan possible starting lineup:
Gonda; Sakai, Nakatani, Shodi, Nagatomo; Morita, Endo; Ito, Kamada, Minamino; Osako

Serbia possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Petkovic, S. Mitrovic, Spajic, Terzic; Gavric, Gudelj, Maksimovic, Grujic; N. Jovic, Joveljic

We say: Japan 2-0 Serbia

Serbia have been victorious in both of their previous meetings against Japan, winning 3-0 in April 2010 and 2-0 in October 2013.

However, with a depleted squad, the visitors may struggle to pose an attacking threat against the Samurai Blue, and we feel that the hosts have a greater strength in depth to enable them to come out on top in Kobe.