Sunday 15/06/2014, 03:00, World Cup Group C, Ivory Coast vs Japan
Ivory Coast vs Japan Betting Preview
The Ivory Coast has a formidable generation of offensive players, but most of them are aging and this is very likely to be the last World Cup they attend. Pressure can be crushing when you know that you have one more chance to make an impact, but the African team has a genuine chance to achieve something remarkable. The first obstacle is Japan, a consistent squad that knows how to defend against aggressive opponents, while being dangerous enough on counterattack.
Ivory Coast vs Japan Betting Odds
Ivory Coast 2.60, Draw 3.00, Japan 2.80
Ivory Coast vs Japan Betting Tips
Group C is by far the easiest one at the World Cup, with Colombia being favorite to prevail with or without Falcao. The Ivory Coast will probably fight for the second place and in order to secure passage to the next stage, they will need to defeat Japan in the opening game.
The Asian nation is their strongest counter candidate for second place, while Greece is clearly the underdog in this group. Even so, the Europeans could stun opponents with their defensive game and the Ivory Coast needs to avoid a late group stage thriller.
Drogba, Traore, Bony and Gervinho are all fit to play and they will pair upfront in different formats, but Drogba is unlikely to play for 90 minutes. He is 36 years old and clearly on a downtrend, but as long as he stays healthy he will be given a change to make World Cup 2014 memorable.
Japan lacks players capable of single-handedly defeat opposing teams, but together pack quite a punch and have an experienced coach. If the Japanese are to have any chance of surviving the group, they will need to collect points against Greece and the Ivory Coast.
Key Facts
- Bony had a formidable season with Swansea and Kalou was just as impressive for Lille, so they could pair up in the opening game
- The Ivory Coast won the last friendly game against Japan in 2010 by 2-0
Ivory Coast vs Japan Betting Odds Prediction
The Ivory Coast will come out firing on all cylinders, hoping to score and early goal and they wouldn't hesitate to field three strikers to get the job done. This could easily backfire against the highly organized Japanese team, but punters can still makes some money regardless of outcome. Instead of picking winners in this fixture, they could bet on more than 2 goals to be scored at even odds and have the wager refunded if the game ends 1-1, 0-2 or 2-0.
Bet: Over 2 goals @ 1.95 with Pinnacle Sports
