Outright Odds: 300/1
Team File Winners: 16/1
Japan are a difficult team to predict. Final 12 months they conquer European champions Greece and attained a reputable attract with Brazil in last decades Confederations Cup but their qualifying marketing campaign was under convincing.
They misplaced just when in 12 qualifying matches, absent at Iran, and 메이저사이트 topped the team Total, but they only managed to score more than two goals against a severely depleted Indian side and necessary last second wins in opposition to Oman and Korea DPR.
These feebleness in qualification noticed the general public call for manager Zicos head but The actual fact they competent with the tournament will help save the Brazilian soccer legends work In the interim. Japan achieved the 2nd round 4 years in the past but they will do nicely to succeed in that stage this time all over.
The 2002 marketing campaign observed Japan defeat a dismal Russia before narrowly losing out to Turkey in the second round. Legend has it that then-coach Phillipe Troussier chose striker Akinori Nishizawa, who had not played within the Match, ahead of standard strikers Takayuki Suzuki and Atushi Yanagisawa since it was his birthday. Definitely Zico wouldnt make this kind of error?
A British isles-dependent midfield trio of Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers), Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic), Junichi Inamoto (West Bromwich Albion) and if in shape, Shinji Ono of Feyenoord gives Japan their ideal chance of accomplishment its the remainder of the team which lacks legitimate Global class.
The frequent strike pairing of Naohiro Takahara and Yanagisawa usually do not get frequent club football with Hamburg and Messina while the remainder of the aspect is designed up of people from the vastly enhancing J-League. Only 4 with the 23 players in final years Confederations Cup squad were being dependent overseas.
The centre half-pairing of Gamba Osakas Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Yokohamas Yuji Nakazawa were being stable during a qualification marketing campaign which conceded just five ambitions but Brazil, Croatia and Australia will supply a A great deal sterner examination. Portsmouth flop Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, manufactured the scapegoat following Pompey misplaced four-1 at your home to Leyton Orient on his debut, has featured above 80 occasions in target for his region.
Japan could possibly be victims of their very own latest results and expectation is going to be excellent at this many years finals. Though There exists an abundance of talent in midfield, the team as a whole might not be as much as emulating their team topping exploits of four years in the past and therefore are unlikely to figure in the knockout stages.
Proposed Bet
An unconvincing qualification marketing campaign and a lack of goals with the two strikers signifies Japan can't be backed to qualify in the team. Actually, they might be propping up The remainder by the time the 3 initial round matches are completed and backing versus them can be an even better expense than supporting them.
Croatia to beat Japan @ four/5