Japan vs Costa Rica, Worldcup 2022 GROUP STAGE
Overview
Match Preview
Japan vs Costa Rica — Worldcup at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
- Japan 3 games · 5 pts (2026/26)
- Costa Rica 0 games · 0 pts (2026/26)
Match Details
- Referee Stuart Burt
- Referee Michael Oliver
- Referee Simon Bennett
- Referee Benoit Millot
- Referee Jerome Brisard
- Referee Maguette N'Diaye (Senegal)
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Qatar | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Brazil | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Morocco | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Scotland | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Haiti | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Australia | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Paraguay | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Germany | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Ecuador | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Curaçao | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | Japan | 3 | 5 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Belgium | 3 | 5 |
| 26 | Egypt | 3 | 5 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 3 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | Spain | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 |
| 33 | France | 3 | 9 |
| 34 | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 35 | Senegal | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Iraq | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Argentina | 3 | 9 |
| 38 | Austria | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Algeria | 3 | 4 |
| 40 | Jordan | 3 | 0 |
| 41 | Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Congo DR | 3 | 4 |
| 44 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | England | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Croatia | 3 | 6 |
| 47 | Ghana | 3 | 4 |
| 48 | Panama | 3 | 0 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Nov | Costa Rica | H | 0–1 | L |
| 23 Nov | Germany | A | 2–1 | W |
| 24 Jun | Ecuador | A | 1–1 | D |
| 20 Jun | Uruguay | A | 2–2 | D |
| 17 Jun | Chile | H | 0–4 | L |
| 02 Jul | Belgium | A | 2–3 | L |
Key Stats
0%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
0%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
25%
Clean Sheets
Japan this season
Japan this season
Goal Timing (This Season)
Japan
0-15
1/–
16-30
1/–
31-45
1/–
46-60
2/2
61-75
1/2
76+
2/1
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Japan
| Ayase Ueda | 2 G | 1 A |
| Daichi Kamada | 2 G |
Events
Match Events
- 0' Here we go! The referee blows the whistle and Japan launch into their encounter with Costa Rica.
- 5' looks like a favorite considering 0 games won in last 0 matches with its main striker scoring goals.
- 10' Japan international Takumi Minamino has been a key figure this campaign — 0 goals and 0 assists in the Array this season.
- 15' The Array continues to deliver drama. Both Japan and Costa Rica are desperate not to drop points on matchday .
- 20' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
- 25' Japan are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Costa Rica backline.
- 30' It looks surprising Costa Rica does not make any changes. Hidemasa Morita has some obvious troubles when approaching to the goal.
- 35' named a earlier, and opted for a in response. A fascinating tactical duel is developing.
- 40' Celso Borges, a Costa Rica , has 0 bookings this season and will need to keep his discipline tonight.
- 41' A moment of madness from Anthony Contreras on 41 minutes earns him a Yellow card. Costa Rica will be frustrated.
- 42' That is a Yellow card for Costa Rica. Anthony Contreras will be fuming at that decision.
- 44' A moment of madness from Miki Yamane on 44 minutes earns him a Yellow card. Japan will be frustrated.
- 46' Time for substitution for Japan. Ayase Ueda is replaced by Takuma Asano.
- 51' Both teams are passing the ball around with high level of urgency. Japan needs to do something about it to get closer to the goal.
- 56' The home supporters are growing impatient. Japan must find a spark to ignite this game.
- 61' Celso Borges is having his name booked by the referee on 61.
- 62' Costa Rica receives a Yellow card for a hard tackle on 62.
- 62' Time for substitution for Japan. Miki Yamane is replaced by Kaoru Mitoma.
- 65' Brandon Aguilera is ready to make an impact after coming on for Gerson Torres at the 65 minute mark.
- 67' Another substitution for Japan to replace Ritsu Doan by Junya Ito on 67 minute.
- 70' A meaty challenge results in booking for Francisco Calvo on 70.
- 71' The referee has no hesitation. Francisco Calvo is booked for Costa Rica — Yellow card on 71.
- 76' The referee has had an easy afternoon — neither side has been overly physical in the tackle.
- 81' Brilliant from the ! Keysher Fuller makes it 0-1 with a superb finish on 81.
- 82' The Japan manager makes a substitution. Yuki Soma departs to be replaced by Takumi Minamino.
- 84' Poor challenge from Ko Itakura. The referee spots it immediately and shows the Yellow card.
- 89' The whistle greets Celso Borges as he departs to be replaced by Youstin Salas.
- 90' Wataru Endo has been a danger all night but risks an early exit having now seen a Yellow card on 90.
- 90' A tactical swap from Costa Rica — Daniel Chacon on, Joel Campbell off on 90 minutes.
- The points are shared — Japan 0-1 Costa Rica. Honours even.
Lineups
Japan Lineups
Starting XI
- 22
-
8
Ritsu Doan ↓ Junya Ito 67'
-
5
Yuto Nagatomo ↓ Hiroki Ito 46'
- 4
- 13
- 6
- 12
-
2
Miki Yamane ↓ Kaoru Mitoma 62'
-
24
Yuki Soma ↓ Takumi Minamino 82'
- 15
-
21
Ayase Ueda ↓ Takuma Asano 46'
Bench
- 1
- 19
-
18
Takuma Asano ↑ 46'
- 7
- 23
- 3
- 17
- 16
-
10
Takumi Minamino ↑ 82'
-
14
Junya Ito ↑ 67'
- 11
- 20
-
26
Hiroki Ito ↑ 46'
- 25
-
9
Kaoru Mitoma ↑ 62'
Coach
Hajime Moriyasu
Costa Rica Lineups
Starting XI
- 1
- 19
- 6
- 15
- 8
- 4
- 17
- 13
-
12
Joel Campbell ↓ Daniel Chacon 90'
- 7
-
5
Celso Borges ↓ Youstin Salas 89'
Bench
- 18
- 23
- 3
- 16
- 22
-
2
Daniel Chacon ↑ 90'
-
9
Jewison Bennette ↑ 65'
-
14
Youstin Salas ↑ 89'
-
20
Brandon Aguilera ↑ 65'
- 21
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 10
- 11
Coach
Luis Suarez
H2H
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
4 / 4
1.08
Japan xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.18
Costa Rica xG
I would bet for:
Japan or Costa Rica 69% + Under 2.5 goals 61%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Costa Rica win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 2.26
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 87% |
|
13% |
| ± 1.5 | 66% |
|
34% |
| ± 2.5 | 39% |
|
61% |
| ± 3.5 | 20% |
|
80% |
| ± 4.5 | 9% |
|
91% |
Double Chance
Japan or Draw
65%
Draw or Costa Rica
66%
Japan or Costa Rica
69%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Draw at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 1
14.2%
0 – 0
12.7%
0 – 1
Actual
1 – 0
10%
1 – 2
7.6%
0 – 2
7%
2 – 1
6.9%
2 – 0
5.9%
2 – 2
4.2%
1 – 3
3%
0 – 3
2.7%
3 – 1
2.5%
Asian Handicap — Japan
| Handicap | Japan covers | Push | Costa Rica covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 4% | — | 96% |
| -2 | 4% | 9% | 87% |
| -1.5 | 13% | — | 87% |
| -1 | 13% | 19% | 68% |
| -0.5 | 32% | — | 68% |
| +0.5 | 64% | — | 36% |
| +1 | 64% | 21% | 16% |
| +1.5 | 84% | — | 16% |
| +2 | 84% | 11% | 5% |
| +2.5 | 95% | — | 5% |
Clean Sheet
Japan keeps clean sheet
31%
✓
Costa Rica keeps clean sheet
35%
✗
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.