Japan vs China
27 January 1000hrs
Football – Spain – La Liga
Pick Japan to win to nil
Bookmaker Coral
Odds: 7/10 odds taken 2000 GMT, Tuesday 25 January
Japan know this is a must win game as they look to maintain their top two position in Group B as World Cup qualification nears the end, China will try and cause a shock with their chances looking very remote.
Table of Contents
Japan Preview – Can Japan make it four straight wins in qualification and stay ahead of Australia?
With Australia and Saudi Arabia also in their qualification section, this was always likely to be a close fought thing for Japan and that’s the way it’s proving. With four games to go they sit in second place – four points adrift of Saudi Arabia and one point clear of the Aussies. The top two will secure qualification to the World Cup at the end of the year whilst the third place team will enter the treacherous playoffs, ending against the fifth place team in South America qualifying.
Japan will feel they could and perhaps should be in an even better position than they are. A 1-0 loss at home to Oman to begin this phase got them off to the worst possible start and their first home loss in World Cup qualification in 11 matches.
Against the big two in the group, Japan left Saudi Arabia with nothing following a 1-0 loss but did get the better of Australia at home back in October. They face both those teams in the reverse fixtures after this game and providing they can do the business here, look like being the defining matches of this group.
Goals have been in short supply for a nation so traditionally dominant as Japan. The only game they have scored more than one goal was that win at home to Australia.
China Preview – Could China cause a shock and keep alive their very faint hopes of a top three finish?
Whilst it’s still conceivable that China can make it into the top three it is looking very unlikely. They are currently fifth in the group, kept off the bottom only by Vietnam who are yet to win a point. China are six points behind third place Australia with just one win from their six matches to date. Unsurprisingly, that came against the Vietnamese, winning 3-0 at home.
To their credit, China have managed to pick up points against both Oman and Australia courtesy of a pair of 1-1 draws at home. After this game they travel Vietnam before ending their campaign in March with fixtures at home to Saudi Arabia and away to Oman. So whilst they will probably fall short of a top three spot, they can have a say in who does qualify.
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Wins away from home have been hard to come by for China in recent campaigns. They have won six of their last 15 World Cup qualifiers on their travels with the most recent coming against Guam last year.
China’s last and only appearance at the World Cup finals was in 2002 – ironically when it was held in Japan and North Korea.
Japan vs China Betting Advice
Although this is one of these games where Japan are expected to rollover China en route to pivotal games against their biggest rivals for qualification, their form in the group to date suggests it is not going to be as easy. Japan are struggling for goals and have adopted a more cautious style which means lesser nations remain in games.
China have already proven that they can mix it with the top teams on this continent but those results and performances are overwhelmingly at home.
Key Facts – Japan vs China Betting Tip
- Japan hold a one point lead over Australia in the race for qualification to this year’s World Cup
- China have managed just one win in six qualifiers so far (3-2 against Vietnam)
- Japan were narrow 1-0 winners when the teams met back in September
I expect this game to follow a similar pattern to Japan’s previous wins where they do just enough without excelling. Back them to win to nil, something they have done in three of their four victories in this group.
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