Outright Odds: 300/1
Team F Winners: 16/one
Japan can be a difficult team to predict. Final year they beat European champions Greece and gained a credible attract with Brazil in final yrs Confederations Cup but their qualifying marketing campaign was less than convincing.
They shed just as soon as in 12 qualifying matches, away at Iran, and topped the group General, but they only managed to attain more than two ambitions in opposition to a seriously depleted Indian aspect and necessary last minute wins from Oman and Korea DPR.
These feebleness in qualification saw the public demand manager Zicos head but The very fact they certified for that tournament will save the Brazilian football legends occupation In the interim. Japan reached the next spherical four decades back but they will do nicely to achieve that phase this time about.
The 2002 marketing campaign noticed Japan defeat a dismal Russia right before narrowly dropping out to Turkey in the 2nd spherical. Legend has it that then-mentor Phillipe Troussier selected striker Akinori Nishizawa, who experienced not performed within the tournament, forward of normal strikers Takayuki Suzuki and Atushi Yanagisawa as it was his birthday. Definitely Zico wouldnt make such a blunder?
A UK-primarily based midfield trio of Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers), Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic), Junichi Inamoto (West Bromwich Albion) and if healthy, Shinji Ono of Feyenoord gives Japan their finest chance of results its the rest of the crew which lacks correct international class.
The regular strike pairing of Naohiro Takahara and Yanagisawa usually do not get regular club football with Hamburg and Messina when the rest of the facet is designed up of citizens in the vastly bettering J-League. Only 4 of the 먹튀검증업체 23 players in previous a long time Confederations Cup squad have been primarily based abroad.
The centre half-pairing of Gamba Osakas Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Yokohamas Yuji Nakazawa were being sound through a qualification campaign which conceded just 5 ambitions but Brazil, Croatia and Australia will provide a Significantly sterner check. Portsmouth flop Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, created the scapegoat following Pompey misplaced 4-1 at home to Leyton Orient on his debut, has showcased more than 80 periods in goal for his country.
Japan could possibly be victims of their unique the latest accomplishment and expectation are going to be terrific at this yrs finals. Although There's an abundance of talent in midfield, the workforce in general will not be as many as emulating their team topping exploits of 4 yrs ago and are unlikely to determine in the knockout stages.
Recommended Bet
An unconvincing qualification marketing campaign and a lack of plans in the two strikers means Japan can't be backed to qualify from your team. Actually, they may be propping up The remainder by the point the a few 1st round matches are done and backing versus them may very well be a far better investment decision than supporting them.
Croatia to defeat Japan @ four/5