Japan vs. Oman - prediction, team news, lineups

Japan welcome Oman to the Suita City Stadium on Thursday for the first game of the third round of AFC qualification for the 2022 World Cup.

The hosts are one of the big favourites to progress from Group B - along with Australia - but they will not have things as easy as they did in the second round.

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Japan are looking to continue an impressive record of qualifying for the finals of every World Cup since making their debut at the 1998 tournament in France.

They are well-placed to do so, as top seeds of Group B, after topping their group in the previous round with a 100% record and a frankly ridiculous goal difference of +44.

A large portion . . .