Ivory Coast is pitted against the clinical Japan team in the second game of Group C. This is one team to have the worst of luck when it comes to World Cups. In 2006 they were in the same group as Netherlands and Argentina and in 2010 they were grouped with the likes of Brazil and Portugal. They couldn’t get past the group stages despite the presence of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Didier Zokoro. They are an aging squad with all the three aforementioned players most likely making their last appearance in the World Cup stage; hence they would hope to end their career on a high. On the other hand, Japan has reached the last 16 stages in two of the last three World Cups and will be do one better this time around. The clinical Japanese side has beat Belgium 3-2 in their pre-World Cup friendlies. So it is natural for them to expect to go further in the tournament that they have ever been.
Players to look out for: Didier Drogba, despite being 36, will play a huge role in his team's attack along with Salomon Kalou and Gervinho. The gentle- giant Yaya Toure, who helped his club Manchester City lift the EPL with also some blistering performances will be crucial in his team’s performance, although it’s a bit uncertain whether or not he will start the game. It remains to be seen how well the defenses of Kolo Toure and the veteran Zokora hold up against the pacy Japanese attack. Among the Japanese, Keisuke Honda is a prospect as he is known to up his game at such critical instances. Also to watch out for is the forward Shinji Kagawa, who has made a name for himself in the European footballing circuit.
Teams head-to-head:
Japan and Ivory Coast have played three games of which the Asians have won in two and the Africans in one.
Probable line-ups: Ivory Coast: Barry; Aurier, K Touré, Zokora, Boka; Tioté, Y Touré, Serey Die; Kalou, Drogba, Gervinho.
Japan: Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Konno, Nagatomo; Hasebe, Endo; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Kakitani.
Prediction: Ivory Coast in spite of having good squad has failed to rise up to the occasion, evident from their two previous World Cup appearances. They may do so this time but an ageing squad like theirs has very less chance against the quick and clinical Japanese. The Asians are favorites to win the match.
Final Score Prediction: Japan 2 - Ivory Coast 1
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