SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) clinched their sixth straight World Cup berth and their sixth overall appearance with a 2-0 win over Australia on Thursday 31 August in the FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Final Round from goals by forward ASANO Takuma (VfB Stuttgart) and midfielder IDEGUCHI Yosuke (Gamba Osaka).

With a victory over Australia, Japan have extended their points to 20 with an overall record of 6 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. Moving four points clear from second-placed Saudi Arabia and third-placed Australia, the Japanese squad have secured a top place in Group B regardless of the result of the last qualifier match against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday 5 September.

In the press conference which was held a day prior to the match, coach Vahid HALILHODZIC has suggested that there might be a change in starting XI by commenting, 'We will be starting with players that our opponents are not aware of.' In a match that a win would guarantee a spot in the World Cup, Samurai coach has employed a 4-3-3 formation and placed three players in midfield with HASEBE Makoto (Eintracht Frankfurt) in an anchor position and Ideguchi and YAMAGUCHI Hotaru (Cerezo Osaka) as wide midfielders. Additionally, the Bosnian manager has started OSAKO Yuya (1.FC Koeln) as centre forward and wingers Asano to the right and INUI Takashi (SD Eibar) to the left on attacks.....

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