- Recent form: Japan won 2 of their last 3 away games (W2, D1) and hold a 2-0 H2H record against Tunisia from Friendly International Matches 2024/2025.
- Tournament form: Japan are unbeaten in their last five games (W4, D1) and drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their opening game in Group F.
- Tunisia form: Tunisia have won one of their last five matches in all competitions (W1, D1, L3) and sit bottom of Group F following their 5-1 defeat to Sweden.
Japan look to bounce back in Monterrey
Japan enter this matchup as clear favorites, and should have more than enough quality and cohesion to beat Tunisia at Monterrey Stadium, Mexico. Hajime Moriyasu's long-serving Samurai Blue have become a formidable unit over the last few years, and possess an abundance of flexibility to adapt to all situations.
Tactics and style:
Japan can play with a fluid back three with the wing-backs pushing on, moving the ball quickly and efficiently through vertical passing lines.
Players:
- In terms of players, Daichi Kamada leads the line with his clinical finishing and creative instincts, while Koki Ogawa provides a masterful assist, and he has already registered an assist in Japan's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
- On the other hand, Tunisia have a creative spark in Hannibal Mejbri who will look to contribute, having already assisted the Eagles of Carthage in this competition.
- However, their main threat is Omar Rekik, who also scored their only goal in Group F so far.
Samurai Blue can outplay The Eagles
This matchup represents a classic clash between a high pressing system and a low block, and it's anyone's guess which side will come out on top. Tunisia have struggled for form in the last couple of months, and sit on a worrying three-game losing streak ahead of this clash.
Manager and approach:
Hervé Renard's men have shipped 11 goals and scored just once across their past three defeats, and the newly appointed manager will have his work cut out for him to improve their results. Renard, appointed on June 16th 2026, will most likely set up in a compact block and try to frustrate Japan before hitting them with quick counter attacks and directness from set-pieces.
Japan's odds of 1.5 are extremely short, but we feel that they should have the quality and the cohesion to outplay a disorganised Tunisia side in this fixture. The 2.12 odds for Over 2.5 goals looks fair, while we're also going for both teams to score at 2.14, with Tunisia not completely incapable of breaking down this Japanese side.
