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Japan - Betting Preview
30/03/2006
Although having to speak to his team through an interpreter, Zico has moulded a compact, skilful and exciting team capable of matching most sides on their day. As with a number of the nations competing in World Cup 2006 Japan's lack of strength throughout the squad could be their ultimate undoing. The Blues' coach has identified their first game as the most important "We could reach the semi-finals, but beating Australia in our first game could be crucial," he said in a recent magazine interview. Both sides will see the clash in Kaiserlautern in the afternoon of Monday June 12 as their most important knowing they might get little against Brazil later in the round robin system. Japan face Croatia in their second game in Nuremburg six days later in what will be their most physical game. Croatia are also very well organised and an interesting game of footballing chess should develop. It will be difficult going into the final game knowing they need to beat Brazil on June 22 in Dortmund to progress though history may be with them as Norway did just that in France in 1998 coming from a goal down to beat the already qualified future finalists.
If they finish second in the group they will face a game against a team from one of the "Groups of Death" Italy, Ghana, the Czech Republic or the United States.
To qualify from Group 3.75
Not to Qualify from Group 1.25
Top Japan Goalscorer
details to follow...
1st - Australia 2nd - Japan 126.00
1st - Japan 2nd - Brazil 17.00
1st - Japan 2nd - Croatia 101.00
1st - Japan 2nd - Australia 126.00
1st - Croatia 2nd - Japan 101.00
1st - Brazil 2nd - Japan 5.50
Blues to win Group 15.0
Japan to win World Cup 2006 300/1