Japan vs Uruguay

New National Stadium forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking inter-confederation friendly between Japan and Uruguay.

Despite reaching the World Cup knockouts for the second tournament running for the first time in the nation’s history, Japan failed to qualify for a first-ever quarter-final appearance, courtesy of a gut-wrenching penalty defeat to Croatia in the round of 16. However, Japan’s stellar showings in Qatar, highlighted by a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Germany in the group stages, proved enough to keep long-serving boss Hajime Moriyasu at the helm. But despite going from strength to strength in December’s showpiece, an underwhelming record across their last four international friendlies (W1, D1, L2) cannot inspire much confidence in the ‘Samurai Blue’ camp. That run includes a brace of scoreless appearances against South American sides Brazil (L) and Ecuador (D), emphasizing the size of the task at hand.

In the meantime, Uruguay will be looking to put the disappointment of a frustrating World Cup group-stage exit behind them under caretaker manager Marcelo Broli. Unfortunately for the visitors, the new cycle will have to start without a host of serial winners, including Luis Suarez, Diego Godin, and Edinson Cavani. On top of their absences, Broli cannot call upon the services of Darwin Nunez and Ronald Araujo, casting doubt on his bid to help ‘La Celeste’ defy a topsy-turvy form across their last five internationals, including friendlies (W2, D1, L2). However, the South Americans have excelled in their recent exhibition matches, winning three of the last five (D1, L1) and conceding just once during this stretch. Indeed, excluding their World Cup fiasco, the visitors have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five away games (W4, D1).