Outright Odds: 300/1
Team F Winners: 16/one
Japan are a tough workforce to predict. Past 12 months they beat European champions Greece and acquired a reputable draw with Brazil in final a long time Confederations Cup but their qualifying campaign was less than convincing.
They missing just when in 12 qualifying matches, away at Iran, and topped the team Total, Nevertheless they only managed to score over two aims against a seriously depleted Indian side and essential last second wins from Oman and Korea DPR.
Such feebleness in qualification noticed the public call for manager Zicos head but the fact they skilled for the Event will preserve the Brazilian soccer legends task In the meanwhile. Japan achieved the next spherical four decades back but they may do effectively to achieve that phase this time all-around.
The 2002 campaign observed Japan defeat a dismal Russia right before narrowly losing out to Turkey in the second round. Legend has it that then-coach Phillipe Troussier selected striker Akinori Nishizawa, who experienced not played within the Event, forward of normal strikers Takayuki Suzuki and Atushi Yanagisawa mainly because it was his birthday. Definitely Zico wouldnt make this kind of mistake?
A United kingdom-based mostly midfield trio of Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers), Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic), Junichi Inamoto (West Bromwich Albion) and when fit, Shinji Ono of Feyenoord presents Japan their finest possibility of good results its the remainder of the group which lacks legitimate Intercontinental class.
The standard strike pairing of 메이저사이트 Naohiro Takahara and Yanagisawa will not get normal club soccer with Hamburg and Messina although the rest of the aspect is built up of citizens of the vastly enhancing J-League. Only 4 in the 23 players in final a long time Confederations Cup squad were based abroad.
The centre half-pairing of Gamba Osakas Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Yokohamas Yuji Nakazawa had been solid throughout a qualification campaign which conceded just five goals but Brazil, Croatia and Australia will provide a Substantially sterner take a look at. Portsmouth flop Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, designed the scapegoat after Pompey missing four-one in your own home to Leyton Orient on his debut, has featured over 80 instances in goal for his country.
Japan may be victims of their own latest achievement and expectation will likely be excellent at this a long time finals. While You can find a lot of talent in midfield, the staff in general is probably not approximately emulating their team topping exploits of 4 several years ago and therefore are not likely to figure from the knockout stages.
Advisable Guess
An unconvincing qualification marketing campaign and an absence of objectives in the two strikers means Japan can't be backed to qualify from the team. In fact, they may be propping up The remainder by the point the a few 1st spherical matches are done and backing versus them could possibly be an even better investment than supporting them.
Croatia to beat Japan @ four/5