The Asian champions came from behind to beat Costa Rica 3-1 at Raymond James Stadium in Florida on Monday. After trailing 1-0 at the half-time break, Japan recorded their fourth consecutive win thanks to goals from midfield trio Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Kagawa and Yoichiro Kakitani.
Zaccheroni is under no illusion Japan and especially their strikers must be more clinical in front of goal if they are to make an impact at the FIFA World Cup, where they will face Colombia, Greece and Ivory Coast in Group C.
Team News:
Japan: Manager Alberto Zaccheroni want to get a good game against Zambia. His team just won Costa Rica 3-1 at USA. Although Japan were leaded at half time, but they scored 3 goals in second half, these 3 goals came from Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Kagawa and Yoichiro Kakitani. Japan are working really hard practicing for World Cup 2014. Their morale are very good.
Zambia: Joshua Titima will be the keeper of Zambia when the key keeper Kennedy Mweene will miss the match due to hamstring injury. They beated Uganda 2-1 in their last game in March.
Match Facts:
Japan could play with formation 4-2-3-1, while Zambia will use system 4-4-2 for this match.
Probable Lineups:
Japan: 1 Eiji Kawashima, 15 Yasuyuki Konno, 2 Atsuto Uchida, 6 Masato Morishige, 22 Maya Yoshida, 14 Toshihiro Aoyama, 16 Hotaru Yamaguchi, 4 Keisuke Honda, 10 Shinji Kagawa, 13 Yoshito Okubo, 18 Yuya Osako
Zambia: Joshua Titima (goalkeeper), Chama Bronson, Himonde Hichani, Chongo Kabaso, Mboi A Emmanuel, Mtonga Ondwani, Tembo Fwayo, Lungu Chisamba, Katongo Christopher (Captain), Mulenga Jacob, Mayuka Emmanuel
Prediction: 2-0
Japan have won 4 games in a row after the draw 2-2 against Netherlands. Zambia also won 4 consecutive games, but they were unable to win in the last 3 meetings between these 2 sides. I think the hosts win need a positive result before the upcoming competition. Japan head coach could use the best eleven for the game. So i back the hosts in Asian handicap.
Japan are unbeaten in their past five games, having drawn against the Netherlands (2-2) and beaten Belgium (3-2), New Zealand (4-2), Cyprus (1-0) and Costa Rica since qualifying for the World Cup.
And the Asian giants will be boosted by the news that Zambia's number one goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene will miss the game due to injury.
Mweene, capped 79 times by the national team, sustained a hamstring injury while playing for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns in an invitational tournament in Namibia.
Zambia have won four of their past five games in all competitions but are yet to beat Asian opposition in three recent fixtures.
The African nation have lost to Jordan (1-0), Saudi Arabia (2-1) and South Korea (2-1) since August 2012.
Though, Japan will have to be cautious of Patrice Beaumelle's men, who stunned the world when they won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after prevailing on penalties against Ivory Coast.
Zaccheroni is under no illusion Japan and especially their strikers must be more clinical in front of goal if they are to make an impact at the FIFA World Cup, where they will face Colombia, Greece and Ivory Coast in Group C.
Team News:
Japan: Manager Alberto Zaccheroni want to get a good game against Zambia. His team just won Costa Rica 3-1 at USA. Although Japan were leaded at half time, but they scored 3 goals in second half, these 3 goals came from Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Kagawa and Yoichiro Kakitani. Japan are working really hard practicing for World Cup 2014. Their morale are very good.
Zambia: Joshua Titima will be the keeper of Zambia when the key keeper Kennedy Mweene will miss the match due to hamstring injury. They beated Uganda 2-1 in their last game in March.
Match Facts:
Japan could play with formation 4-2-3-1, while Zambia will use system 4-4-2 for this match.
Probable Lineups:
Japan: 1 Eiji Kawashima, 15 Yasuyuki Konno, 2 Atsuto Uchida, 6 Masato Morishige, 22 Maya Yoshida, 14 Toshihiro Aoyama, 16 Hotaru Yamaguchi, 4 Keisuke Honda, 10 Shinji Kagawa, 13 Yoshito Okubo, 18 Yuya Osako
Zambia: Joshua Titima (goalkeeper), Chama Bronson, Himonde Hichani, Chongo Kabaso, Mboi A Emmanuel, Mtonga Ondwani, Tembo Fwayo, Lungu Chisamba, Katongo Christopher (Captain), Mulenga Jacob, Mayuka Emmanuel
Prediction: 2-0
Japan have won 4 games in a row after the draw 2-2 against Netherlands. Zambia also won 4 consecutive games, but they were unable to win in the last 3 meetings between these 2 sides. I think the hosts win need a positive result before the upcoming competition. Japan head coach could use the best eleven for the game. So i back the hosts in Asian handicap.
Japan are unbeaten in their past five games, having drawn against the Netherlands (2-2) and beaten Belgium (3-2), New Zealand (4-2), Cyprus (1-0) and Costa Rica since qualifying for the World Cup.
And the Asian giants will be boosted by the news that Zambia's number one goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene will miss the game due to injury.
Mweene, capped 79 times by the national team, sustained a hamstring injury while playing for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns in an invitational tournament in Namibia.
Zambia have won four of their past five games in all competitions but are yet to beat Asian opposition in three recent fixtures.
The African nation have lost to Jordan (1-0), Saudi Arabia (2-1) and South Korea (2-1) since August 2012.
Though, Japan will have to be cautious of Patrice Beaumelle's men, who stunned the world when they won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after prevailing on penalties against Ivory Coast.
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