How to watch the Japan vs Mexico friendly on November 17, 2020

November 16, 2020 By Oscar Rojas

Topics: Friendly, Japan, Mexico, TV Schedules, TV Listings

Both these teams will try to end their international year on a high note with a win this Tuesday. Keep track of this match with our detailed guide.

A turbulent 2020 is set to come to an end, and some national teams will have one last chance to prove themselves in front of their peers with one last friendly match this week.

Two of those teams ready to play one more warmup clash are the national teams of Mexico and Japan. El Tri has made the most out of their friendlies in Europe, which have been a vast improvement from their usual matches in the United States, where they usually don't get to face the top elements of their rivals. Even so, Mexico has been able to win three of their four games this year, with the only blip in their record being a 2-2 draw against Algeria.

For this game, coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino will have to deal with a couple of absences, as Atlético midfielder Héctor Herrera will not play against Japan due to a muscular problem. The other absence could be that of Jesús Corona, who picked up some nasty knocks during the weekend in Mexico's 3-2 win against South Korea. Striker Raúl Jiménez and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are expected to lead the line against the Japanese side.

On the other side of the pitch, Japan will put their defensive prowess to test when they make their way into Liebenauer Stadium. The team led by Hajime Moriyasu is yet to concede their first goal of the year, following their one-nil wins against Panama, and Ivory Coast. Added to those games, the Samurai Blue earned a goalless draw against Cameroon last month, in what was the team's first international game of the year.

For this game, coach Moriyasu will only have two strikers available, as Takuma Asano and Musashi Suzuki were the only attackers to be called up by the coaching staff. The team's main absence will be that of Shinji Okazaki, who was left out of the squad since the last international break, when an injury prevented him from joining the Japanese team.

Wihout Okazaki, the team will rely on the skills of Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo, and Leganés' Gabu Shibasaki, who can put the Mexican defense to work with their speed and their ability to pass the ball.

Japan vs Mexico - Head-to-head

This will be the 6th game between these national teams.
The Mexican team has beaten the Samurai Blue four times in their past five meetings.
The only win for Japan against Mexico came in 1996 Kirin Cup, when the Japanese side defeated El Tri with a 3-2 result.
The most recent match between these teams took place in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Mexico took home all the points with a 2-1 score.