In the Group D of the Asian Cup, Japan is the favorite to win the championship against Vietnam. It is worth noting that many of the players in the Japanese team play for top European clubs, such as Liverpool midfielder Hikaru Endo and Arsenal defensive midfielder Kenyo Tomoyasu, who are clearly a step above the rest. However, given the intensity of the first group stage match, the Japanese team may save their strength so as not to jeopardize their subsequent campaign for the title. It is assumed that Japan will win by a narrow margin. With the hot weather, the home team's morale seems to be low, while the total goals scored in the past four meetings between the two sides have not exceeded two goals, with an average of only 4.5 goals, which is enough to stabilize the win. (Stay tuned for the exciting live coverage on HOY TV 76 Sunday night at 7:30 p.m.)
Japan is a regular winner of the Asian Cup, having won the tournament four times, the highest number of times. their excellent performance at the 2022 World Cup and their record of winning all of their last 10 matches have made them a strong and powerful team. In the group stage, they can easily qualify without having to go all out. Manager Mori Baoichi may adopt a more solid strategy to avoid player injuries and retain their stamina for the knockout rounds. With this win, Japan only need three points to reach the target, so there is no need to over-exert themselves and fight against their opponents in the game.
