Ivory Coast v Japan World Cup prediction and betting tips-1X2

Match	Date	Selection	Bet	Odds	Bet now
Ivory Coast v Japan World Cup prediction and betting tips-1X2 World Cup 2014, International	15/06/2014 03:00	full time result	Japan	3.00	Bet at B
Betting prediction was written by Colin

IVORY COAST V JAPAN : QUALIFICATION

Ivory Coast qualified for the finals by beating Senegal 4-2 in a two legged play-off, after they topped a group with a (4-2-0) record which included Morocco in the African section. Japan topped their Asian section ahead of Australia with a (5-2-1) group record.

THE IVORY COAST SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Sylvain Gbohouo (Sewe Sport), Mande Sayouba (Stabaek).Defenders: Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Souleman Bamba (Trabzonspor), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Constant Djakpa (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ousmane Viera (Caykur Rizespor).Midfielders: Cheick Tiote (Newcastle), Serey Die (Basel), Ismael Diomande (Saint-Etienne), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Max Gradel (Saint-Etienne).Forwards: Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Wilfried Bony (Swansea), Gervinho (Roma), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Giovanni Sio (Basel), Mathis Bolly (Fortuna Dusseldorf).

Ivory Coast have bundles of experience and with Yaya Toure in midfield, and an exciting attack expect entertainment in their matches. Defensively though they do not look strong enough, and this frailty could prove their downfall.

THE JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart)Midfielders:Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan)Forwards: Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz 05), Yuya Osako (1860 Munich), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale), Manabu Saito (Yokohama Marinos)

On their day Japan are more than a match for any side, and this will be one of the most settled squads heading for Brazil. Key man is Milan midfielder Honda who pulls the strings, and is ably aided by Man Us Kagawa and Okazaki who plays his club football for Mainz. A weakness is their defending of set pieces, and against the more physical sides especially this could prove their undoing.

WARM UP GAMES

Just a couple of warm up games for the Ivory Coast, both 2-1 scorelines, one a win one a loss. The first was a 2-1 loss to fellow finalista Bosnia in the USA, when a largely second string eleven started the game in a 4-4-2 formation. They were 2 down until an injury time Drogba strike pulled one back, and they followed it up with a 2-1 win over El Salvador when the 5-4-1 tarting line up was much more in line with what will take the field in the finals. They dominated the game against limited opposition, though will be dissapointed at conceding late. Yaya Toure took no part in either game but expect him to start for sure when the big one commences.

Japan have enjoyed three warm up wins on their way to the finals, and it will have boosted confidence for sure. A 4-5-1 formation beat Cyprus 1-0 in a game they dominated, and should have won by a bigger margin than a sole Uchida strike. Next up was a 3-1 win against fellow finalists Costa Rica, where a 4-2-3-1 set up came from a goal down to strike three times in the final half hour of the game despite having less possesion and fewer chances. They rounded things off with an exciting 4-3 win against Zambia, when another different formation 4-4-1-1 was tried. They trailled 2-0 here before coming back to win, but against African opposition it will have served as a stark reminder defensively of how they need to improve on this showing for the fist game against the Ivory Coast

MATCH ANALYSIS

A very close call this one between two very talented sides both with an eye on reaching the knockout stages at least. Not too many teams will boss possession more than Japan, and this could lead to them unlocking the suspect Ivory Coast defence here to begin their Group C campaign with a win. One of the more entertaining games this could well be though, so expect a few goals with both defences looking suspect. The key for Japan will be trying to nullify Yaya Toure, and if they can achieve this as well as controlling possesion the way they can, then I feel they will prove the better side and can win this game and put themselves in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages.

IVORY COAST V JAPAN: BETTING TIPS 1X2

3.00(2/1)Bet365 offer on a Japan win and this is the best bet for me on what should prove one of the more entertaining games of the first phase. Talented attacks in both teams take on less than convincing defences, and Japan can prevail by scoring more than the Ivorians.

Take Japan at 3.00(2/1)Bet365 to get the win in this Group C clash

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