Japan vs Costa Rica World Cup lineup, starting 11 for group stage match at Qatar 2022

Toby Miles

Japan vs Costa Rica World Cup lineup, starting 11 for group stage match at Qatar 2022 image

Japan's place in the Round of 16 and Germany's shock World Cup exit could be confirmed on Sunday in Qatar, but first the Samurai Blue must beat Costa Rica. 

Takuma Asano's clinching goal against 2014 World Cup winners Germany sent shockwaves from Qatar to Berlin, and left Hansi Flick's side requiring a result against in-form Spain to stay in contention. 

To pile the pressure on Germany, Japan now know that if they beat Costa Rica — who were demoralised in a 7-0 thrashing by the Spanish — they could secure back-to-back trips to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history. 

Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams ahead of the match.

MORE: How to watch Japan vs. Costa Rica

Japan vs Costa Rica confirmed lineups

Costa Rica's implosion against Spain could be partly blamed on their team being in a transitional phase, with a mixture of raw inexperience and veterans in their squad.

Coach Luis Fernando Suarez makes two changes to his starting side as part of a switch to a more attacking set up in Al Rayyan.

Japan will look to capture more of what the Germans couldn't handle in the opener, but some minor injuries have forced Hajime Moriyasu into five starting changes.

Below are the projected starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on November 27.

Japan confirmed starting 11

(4-3-3, right to left): 12. Gonda (GK) — 2. Yamane, 4. Itakura, 22. Yoshida, 5. Nagatomo — 8. Doan 6. Endo, 13. Morita — 21. Ueda 15. Kamada 24. Soma

  • Injured: Sakai
  • Suspended:

Hiroki Sakai was substituted off with 15 minutes of the opener remaining, and has skipped training with a hamstring problem since, and the Urawa Red Diamonds defender is not risked from the start in this tie.

Takuma Asano's fitness was a concern in the build-up to the World Cup but after coming off the bench and scoring the winner against Germany, and he again starts on the bench.

Costa Rica confirmed starting 11

(4-4-2, right to left): 1. Navas (GK) — 18. Watson, 15. Calvo, 6. Duarte, 8. Oviedo — 4. Fuller, 5. Borges, 17. Tejeda, 13. Torres — 7. Contreras, 12. Campbell

  • Injured: None
  • Suspended: None

Costa Rica's star man, goalkeeper Keylor Navas, was an injury concern in the build-up to the World Cup but despite the misery of conceding seven goals, he didn't seem to be struggling with any physical issues against Spain. 

Japan vs Costa Rica World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on Japan and Costa Rica's World Cup squads in Qatar (caps correct as of start of Qatar 2022):

Japan

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 1 Eiji Kawashima Strasbourg (FRA) 39 95
GK 12 Shuichi Gonda Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 33 34
GK 23 Daniel Schmidt Sint-Truiden (BEL)  30 11
DEF 5 Yuto Nagatomo Tokyo (JPN) 36 138
DEF 22 Maya Yoshida Schalke (GER) 34 122
DEF 19 Hiroki Sakai Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)  32 72
DEF 16 Takehiro Tomiyasu Arsenal (ENG) 23 29
DEF 2 Miki Yamane Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 28 15
DEF 3 Shogo Taniguchi Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 31 14
DEF 4 Kou Itakura Borussia Monchengladbach (GER) 25 13
DEF 26 Hiroki Ito Stuttgart (GER) 23 6
MID 7 Gaku Shibasaki Leganes (SPA) 30 60
MID 6 Wataru Endo Stuttgart (GER) 29 43
MID 10 Takumi Minamino Monaco (FRA) 27 44
MID 14 Junya Ito Reims (FRA) 29 38
MID 8 Ritsu Doan Freiburg (GER) 24 29
MID 15 Daichi Kamada Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 26 22
MID 11 Takefusa Kubo Real Sociedad (SPA) 21 20
MID 13 Hidemasa Morita Sporting (POR) 27 17
MID 17 Ao Tanaka Fortuna Dusseldorf (GER) 24 15
MID 9 Kaoru Mitoma Brighton (ENG) 25 9
MID 24 Yuki Soma Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 25 8
FWD 18 Takuma Asano Bochum (GER) 27 37
FWD 21 Ayase Ueda Club Brugge (BEL) 24 11
FWD 25 Daizen Maeda Celtic (SCO) 25 8
FWD 20 Shuto Machino Shonan Bellmare (JPN) 23 4

Costa Rica

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 18 Esteban Alvarado Herediano (CRC) 33 24
GK 1 Keylor Navas PSG (FRA) 35 107
GK 23 Patrick Sequeira CD Lugo (SPA) 23 2
DEF 15 Francisco Calvo Konyaspor (TUR) 30 75
DEF 6 Oscar Duarte Al-Wehda (SAU) 33 70
DEF 4 Keysher Fuller Herediano (CRC) 28 29
DEF 16 Carlos Martinez San Carlos (CRC) 23 5
DEF 22 Ronald Matarrita FC Cincinnati (USA) 28 52
DEF 8 Bryan Oviedo Real Salt Lake (USA) 32 74
DEF 3 Juan Pablo Vargas Millonarios (COL) 27 11
DEF 19 Kendall Waston Saprissa (CRC) 34 61
DEF 2 Daniel Chacon Colorado Rapids (USA) 21 8
MID 20 Brandon Aguilera Guanacasteca (CRC) 19 4
MID 9 Jewison Bennette Sunderland (ENG) 18 7
MID 5 Celso Borges Alajuelense (CRC) 34 154
MID 25 Anthony Hernandez Puntarenas (CRC) 21 2
MID 21 Douglas Lopez Herediano (CRC) 24 2
MID 10 Bryan Ruiz Alajuelense (CRC) 37 144
MID 14 Youstin Salas Saprissa (CRC) 26 3
MID 17 Yeltsin Tejeda Herediano (CRC) 30 73
MID 13 Gerson Torres Herediano (CRC) 25 12
MID 24 Roan Wilson Grecia (CRC) 20 2
MID 26 Alvaro Zamora Saprissa (CRC) 20 2
FWD 12 Joel Campbell Club Leon (MEX) 30 118
FWD 7 Anthony Contreras Herediano (CRC) 22 8
FWD 11 Johan Venegas Alajuelense (CRC) 33 80

Toby Miles

Toby Miles Photo

Toby joined Sporting News in 2022 ahead of the World Cup, bringing previous sports writing experience at MailOnline and UEFA. An Englishman and Chelsea fan still fuming about Frank Lampard's 2010 ghost goal but never afraid to say 'It's Coming Home'.