Tuesday 24/06/2014, 22:00, World Cup Group C, Japan vs Colombia
Japan vs Colombia Betting Preview
Japan faces the group favorite in the final match, but this is actually a good thing for the Asian nation. They are credited with the third chance to advance to the next stage, closely behind the Ivory Coast, which has a better head to head record and some experienced players to rely on. Salvaging a point against Colombia would be enough for Japan and this is the result that they will be aiming for tonight.
Japan vs Colombia Betting Odds
At Bet365
Japan 4.10, Draw 3.40, Colombia 1.90
Japan vs Colombia Betting Tips
The Japanese can consider themselves fortunate not to play against Falcao, but it would be a mistake to assume that without its most prolific striker, Colombia is a pushover. By this time it should be fairly obvious that the South Americans are a potent offensive formation capable of scoring two goals against any team in this group.
This means, that even if Japan takes an early lead, they could well lose the match if they allow Colombia to take the initiative completely. Bacca and Martinez are great strikers but they have a single flaw, as neither of them is a clinical forward that can convert few scoring opportunities.
In a nutshell, Colombia needs to provide the two strikers with plenty of useful balls for them to fully take the team ahead. This is why, coach Pekerman is going to take a leap of faith and go all in for the final match of the group stage, instead of playing it safe and waiting on the opponents to commit a mistake.
The Japanese don't have too many athletic strikers and Honda is by far the most experienced player in their rotation, which leaves them at a clear disadvantage. What the Asian nation has in abundance is motivation and discipline, two key ingredients in the recipe for success. Their players can compete at the same level for 90 minutes, but even so they are not great at defending a narrow lead.
Key Facts
Japan won the last five friendly games and scored a total of 15 goals while allowing 8
Japan is yet to score a goal against Colombia, with the South Americans winning once and drawing the Kirin cup fixture
Japan vs Colombia Betting Odds Prediction
Japan are not the kind of opponents to exercise constant pressure, but they can defend effectively against teams reluctant to take more chances upfront. As World Cup odds go, 1.90 for Columbia to win 3 points against Japan are good enough to make this wager worth considering. It is imperative for the South Americans to win the group stage, in order to avoid a much more difficult match in the phase of last 16.
Bet: Colombia @ 1.90 with Bet365
