Ivory Coast v Japan tips, predictions, lineups and free bets (World Cup Group C)

Tuesday, 07 September 2021 17:15
Written by David Bet

Ivory Coast will go head-to-head with Japan at Arena Pernambuco in Recife for their first match of Group C. This article contains a complete IVORY COAST v JAPAN betting preview with tips, predictions, best odds, probable line-ups, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the match!

Betfred Mobile: £10 no deposit free bet (use your mobile device!)

IVORY COAST v JAPAN BETTING PREVIEW

Ivory Coast ended the African World Cup qualification round unbeaten and granted their ticket to Brazil at the expenses of Senegal on two playoff matches. Last week, the Ivorians defeated El Salvador by 2-1 thanks to goals from Drogba and Gervinho. A few days earlier, anywya, they were defeated by Bosnia and Herzegovina by an identical result.

Yaya Toure remains a doubt with the hamstring injury he suffered on the last day of the season with Manchester City. Gervinho and Kalou will support Drogba in attack while Swansea's striker Wilfried Bony might be initially benched.

Japan topped their Asia region qualifying group ahead of Australia, winning five and drawing two of their eight matches. Shinji Okazaki was a key man for Japan in reaching World Cup 2014, the midfielder notching an impressive eight goals in 14 matches in qualifying. They have won their last four games, against New Zealand, Cyprus, Costa Rica and Zambia and they arrive at the World Cup with a lifted morale.

Captain Makoto Hasebe has totally recovered from his injury, but it remains to be seen if he will start the match. Shinji Kagawa should start alongside Keisuke Honda and Hiroshi Kiyotake in midfield, despite featuring sporadically for Manchester United last season.

Japan have recently been involved in 3-2, 4-2 and 4-3 matches and Ivory Coast’s last three games have gone over 2.5 goals with 11 of their last 12 seeing both teams score. Five of Japan’s last six matches have also seen both teams score

IVORY COAST v JAPAN PROBABLE LINEUPS

Ivory Coast (4-3-3): Barry; Aurier, Kolo Touré, Zokora, Boka; Tioté, Yaya Touré, Serey Die; Kalou, Drogba, Gervinho.
Japan (4-2-3-1): Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Konno, Nagatomo; Hasebe, Endo; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Kakitani.