Japan vs Venezuela 16/11/18

16 November 2018

Japan will host Venezuela at the Oita Stadium in an international friendly encounter, hoping to extend a 3-game winning run.

After an encouraging World Cup appearance, where they exited the tournament in the round of 16, the Samurai Blue have defeated Costa Rica, Panama, and Uruguay in the friendly challenges. Moreover, Moriyasu’s players have bagged a total of 10 goals in the post-World Cup period, having allowed three goals in the process. All three goals Japan conceded in the last three months arrived in a 4-3 triumph over the South American giants. Apart from a few ‘old-timers,’ Hajime Moriyasu’s prime goal is to establish a new generation by introducing numerous youngsters in the national team. Such an approach has proved to be the right one so far.

Meanwhile, the visitors have miserably failed in their efforts to qualify for the World Cup, having finished bottom of the CONMEBOL qualifying group. After the end of the qualification process, La Vinotinto have featured in five friendly encounters, securing two wins while suffering three defeats in the process. During the last international break, Rafael Dudamel’s players have defeated UAE by two goals to nil after losing to Basque Country by four goals to two. However, Venezuela’s main problem relates to their uninspiring attacking movements, considering they’ve failed to score more than one goal nine times in the previous twelve matches.

Japan squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Schmidt, Shuichi Gonda, Masaaki Higashiguchi

Defense: Genta Miura, Sei Muroya, Sho Sasaki, Ryosuke Yamanaka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Sakai, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida

Midfield: Wataru Endo, Gaku Shibasaki, Genki Haraguchi, Takumi Minamino, Shoya Nakajima, Junya Ito, Toshihiro Aoyama, Kento Misao, Ritsu Doan

Attack: Yuma Suzuki, Koya Kitagawa, Yuya Osako

Venezuela squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Rafael Romo, Wuilker Farinez

Defense: Roberto Rosales, Jhon Chancellor, Yordan Osorio, Luis Mago, Nahuel Ferraresi, Wilker Angel, Bernardo Anor, Ronald Hernandez

Midfield: Jhon Murillo, Yangel Herrera, Yeferson Soteldo, Jefferson Savarino, Tomas Rincon, Junior Moreno, Sergio Cordova, Luis Gonzalez, Aristoteles Romero

Attack: Salomon Rondon, Josef Martinez, Darwin Machis, Andres Ponce