Why this matchup matters

Two football ideas, one impossible night

Howard Kendall's Everton 1984/85 bring 4-4-2 and direct attack with set pieces. Philippe Troussier's Japan 2002 answer with 4-4-2 and technical midfield with high press; the matchup is decided by which side can impose that identity without exposing its weakest transition.

EvertonHoward Kendall · 4-4-2 · Direct Attack · Set PiecesJapanPhilippe Troussier · 4-4-2 · Technical Midfield · High Press

400 alternate nights

Everton vs Japan

Model lean: Everton

Signature score

1–1

average goals 1.521.43

39%
Everton
27%
Draw
34%
Japan

Most likely scores

  1. 1–111.3%
  2. 2–19.3%
  3. 0–17.8%
  4. 2–27.2%
  5. 1–06.8%
  6. 1–26.3%

Match profile

xG1.631.37
Shots14.512.2
Poss50%50%
CS24.5%25%
BTTS56.8%
Over 2.556.5%

Goals in 400 matches

  1. EvertonG/m
  2. Sharp2040.51
  3. Gray1410.35
  4. Sheedy700.17
  5. Steven650.16
  1. JapanG/m
  2. Yanagisawa1790.45
  3. Suzuki1270.32
  4. Nakamura650.16
  5. Nakata630.16
Home XIEverton1984/85Howard Kendall · 4-4-2
87OVR

XI

  • STGraeme Sharp86
  • STAndy Gray84
  • LMKevin Sheedy86
  • CMPeter Reid86
  • CMPaul Bracewell82
  • RMTrevor Steven84
  • LBPat Van Den Hauwe80
  • CBKevin Ratcliffe84
  • CBDerek Mountfield80
  • RBGary Stevens80
  • GKNeville Southall90
Bench · 4
  • CMAlan Harper76
  • STPaul Wilkinson74
  • LBJohn Bailey74
  • GKJim Arnold72
Away XIJapan2002Philippe Troussier · 4-4-2
82OVR

XI

  • STTakayuki Suzuki76
  • STAtsushi Yanagisawa78
  • LMShunsuke Nakamura84
  • CMJunichi Inamoto80
  • CMShinji Ono84
  • RMHidetoshi Nakata86
  • LBKoji Nakata76
  • CBRyuzo Morioka78
  • CBNaoki Matsuda80
  • RBAkira Narahashi76
  • GKSeigo Narazaki80
Bench · 3
  • LBAlessandro Santos78
  • GKYoshikatsu Kawaguchi78
  • RBDaisuke Ichikawa74

Ratings

Attack86
Midfield86
Defence84
Goalkeeping90
Chemistry92
Overall87

Ratings

Attack80
Midfield84
Defence80
Goalkeeping80
Chemistry88
Overall82

Your turn

Simulate this matchup

The teams are already selected. Run the match yourself for a fresh seeded result, or test the matchup 100 times.

XI

  • STGraeme Sharp86
  • STAndy Gray84
  • LMKevin Sheedy86
  • CMPeter Reid86
  • CMPaul Bracewell82
  • RMTrevor Steven84
  • LBPat Van Den Hauwe80
  • CBKevin Ratcliffe84
  • CBDerek Mountfield80
  • RBGary Stevens80
  • GKNeville Southall90
Bench · 4
  • CMAlan Harper76
  • STPaul Wilkinson74
  • LBJohn Bailey74
  • GKJim Arnold72
VS

Tap a player for PAC SHO PAS DRI DEF PHY

XI

  • STTakayuki Suzuki76
  • STAtsushi Yanagisawa78
  • LMShunsuke Nakamura84
  • CMJunichi Inamoto80
  • CMShinji Ono84
  • RMHidetoshi Nakata86
  • LBKoji Nakata76
  • CBRyuzo Morioka78
  • CBNaoki Matsuda80
  • RBAkira Narahashi76
  • GKSeigo Narazaki80
Bench · 3
  • LBAlessandro Santos78
  • GKYoshikatsu Kawaguchi78
  • RBDaisuke Ichikawa74
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