JAPAN
Kawashima
Uchida • Konno • Yoshida • Nagatomo
Hosogai • Endō
Okazaki • Honda • Kagawa
Maeda
MEXICO
Corona
Mier • Rodríguez • Moreno • Salcido
Torrado • Reyna
Santos • Zavala • Guardado
Hernández
With their hopes of reaching the Confederations Cup semi-finals dashed, Japan and Mexicowill face each other at the Mineirao on Saturday playing for little more than to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom of Group A.
Neither team have registered a single point in the tournament so far, but major line-up changes are not expected on either side as they both aim to conclude their fruitless campaigns on something of a high.
Japan, who were eliminated on Wednesday after a devastating 4-3 defeat against Italy, have only one significant change to make, with captain Makoto Hasebe suspended after picking up two yellow cards.
Hertha Berlin’s Hajime Hogosai is the most likely candidate to replace the skipper, who conceded a penalty against the Azzurri, though Kengo Nakamura or Hideto Takahashi could also see action in midfield.
Meanwhile, Jorge Torres Nilo is in line to be dropped by Jose Manuel de la Torre from the Mexico defence, after a terrible performance during their 2-0 loss against Brazil, which ended their chances in the tournament.
In that event, Carlos Salcido is likely to win his 116th cap for el Tri by reverting to a left-back role, with Angel Reyna expected to assume Salcido’s place in midfield.
DID YOU KNOW?
After their first meeting in 1996, which ended in a 3-2 Japan victory, Mexico have won the last three matches between the two sides – including a 2-1 triumph in the 2005 Confederations Cup.
Javier Hernandez has struck Mexico’s only goal of the tournament; a penalty against Brazil. El Tri are scoreless from open play.
Japan hit the woodwork three times against Italy on Wednesday, and ended up losing the match despite holding a 2-0 lead by the 34th minute.
Both teams have qualified for the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments. Japan will also contest the 2014 edition, while Mexico are in Concacaf’s final phase of qualifying for the competition.
PREDICTION
The pressure is off at the Mineirao for both sides, so expect to see a lot of goals as both coaches will probably set their teams up to give the fans a last hurrah before departing the tournament. However, Japan have shown themselves far more capable of putting the ball into the back of the net than Mexico, with four goals to one in Group A, and will likely triumph with the same swashbuckling style that caused Italy so many problems.
Editor's Prediction
Japan 4-2 Mexico
