Japan was on the verge of winning their World Cup opener, but a late rally had them surrendering the win to Ivory Coast. In an earlier Group C game, Greece was comfortably trounced by the fast-paced Colombian favorites in the group. Their game against each other could spell the end of one country’s World Cup dreams.
This World Cup has already brought a very high quality, with no ties in the first weekend, a bevy of goals, and a couple eye-bulging upsets (Costa Rica!?). Experts have been wrong and initial brackets altered. And yet, through it all, our Group C predictions remain solid.
Predict the winners of the tournament in a few quick seconds and earn $500 of your own with our World Cup prediction contest, then read on for everything you need to bet what is essentially an elimination game for both teams.
[sc:Soccer ]Greece vs. Japan, World Cup 2014, Group Stage Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Estadio das Dunas, Natal, Brazil
When: June 19, 6:00 PM ET
Line: Greece +203 at Japan +114, tie +218; total 2.0 – view all World Cup lines
Betting on Greece
Greece can walk away from their 3-0 loss to Columbia optimistic about a few elements of their play. For one, they generated several clear-cut opportunities to score.
Greece also had the balance of possession – in part because the Colombians were pushing the counter attack, but also in part because they managed the ball well. The Greeks will want to continue that possession domination against a dangerous Japanese attack.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Georgios Samaras looks to be Greece’s main scorer in the World Cup, but he couldn’t even score a goal whilst left unmarked. Samaras also only has eight goals in 76 appearances for Greece. Ioannis Fetfatzidis also had a golden opportunity to score, but hit the crossbar.
Greece’s strikers will find more opportunities to score in this game with the gaps left by Japan’s flying fullbacks. What will plague them in the coming match is the state of their defense, which will struggle with the speed of Japan.
The Greeks had trouble keeping up with the pace of the Colombians, and the Japanese will only bring more pace.
Betting on Japan
Japan looked good in the first half of their game against Ivory Coast. Their high-pressure offense was controlling the pace, and for a time, the game looked to be Japan’s to lose. They repeatedly cut through the Elephans defense, eventually finding an unmarked Kaisuke Honda, who scored their only goal.
Shinji Kagawa, one of Japan’s main scoring outlets, was left highly ineffectual. He’ll have to follow in Honda’s steps if Japan’s going to have some success for the rest of their matches in the group.
Although Japan started fast, they eventually burnt out as they faded late into the game, most notably when the nation’s talisman, Didier Drogba, came on in the second half. Japan’s defense seemed to actively deflate as the Ivorians poured in two goals within five minutes of Drogba’s entrance – neither of them scored by the former Chelsea man.
If Japan can maintain their mobility and pressure for 90 minutes, they will give the Greeks all they will handle – but indeed sustaining such a pace will be difficult. In the meantime, look for Honda to continue to produce: he has scored or assisted four of Japan’s last five goals in the World Cup.
Writer’s Prediction
The Blue Samurai will soundly outmaneuver the Greek defense and leave enough in the tank to finish the match. Create a betting account and take Japan at +114 as Honda will find himself openings to score the game winner.
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