Preview: Japan Women vs. Spain Women
Japan Women and Spain Women will battle it out for top spot in Group C when they face off in Wellington on Monday.
La Roja cruised to a comfortable victory over Zambia in their most recent outing at the Women’s World Cup 2023, while Japan claimed a 2-0 win against Costa Rica on Matchday Two.
After easing to a 5-0 win in their opening game against Zambia, Japan added three more points to their tally in Wednesday’s meeting with Costa Rica.
First-half efforts from Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino guided Japan to consecutive victories and sealed their place in the knockout stages.
The 2011 World Cup winners currently sit in second place on goal difference, and they will now be looking to snatch top spot away from Spain.
Futoshi Ikeda’s side know that only a win will do if they want to secure first position and set up a last-16 tie against the runners-up in Group A.
Japan will certainly enter the final group game in a confident mood, having won five of their previous six games, including their last three by a combined 12-0 scoreline.
Like their opponents, Spain are also in high spirits after breezing past Costa Rica and Zambia in their opening two games.
Costa Rica were dispatched on Matchday One via a 3-0 scoreline, and they went on to register five more goals in Wednesday’s meeting with Zambia.
Teresa Abelleira opened the scoring for La Roja, before Jenni Hermoso and Alba Redondo netted two goals apiece to round off a comfortable 5-0 win and secure Spain’s place in the last 16.
Jorge Vilda’s side only need a point to secure top spot, but they will be targeting all three points as they look to continue their winning run.
Since losing 3-2 to Australia in February, Spain have recorded eight consecutive victories, scoring 27 goals and keeping seven clean sheets.
Japan Women Women’s World Cup form:
WW
Spain Women Women’s World Cup form:
WW
We say: Japan Women 1-3 Spain Women
After claiming maximum points in their opening two games, Japan and Spain will both enter Monday’s contest in a positive mood, but we think that La Roja will have enough firepower to finish the group stage with another victory.