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Power and routine of the Ivory Coast vs. speed and agility of the Japanese

The Africans have lots of experience, toughness, and great forwards, but Japan can be dangerous too. They came to Brazil in high spirits following the preparation games wins

This is the third consecutive World Cup for Ivory Coast, and finally, the draw is not as bad for them as it was in Germany and South Africa, where they had to play top teams as early as the group stage.

It's the last chance for Didier Drogba, and probably Yaya Toure, as the key players at Ivory Coast, to get past the group stage of the greatest competition in the world. Their motivation will, therefore, be high, and the first game against Japan in Recife very important. Japan are a tough team to play with, they're fast and if the opponent allow it, they can cause damage.

Because of that, Ivory Coast are expected to enforce their tough game, the style which usually causes Japan a great deal of problems. Toure and the rest of midfield will try to be dominant, and try and stop Japan from creating opportunities. Drogba, Gervinho, and Bony are the three exquisite forwards at the African team, and even though not all three will probably make it in the starting line up, coach Lamouchi will have them on the bench if things don't turn out as he expected.

- We've learned a lot of lessons in the last two World Cups. We are much more experienced now, and know how to play tournaments such as this one - Kolo Toure said. His brother Yaya was having some problems with an injury, but he'll be ready for Japan, as well as all the other players ad Lamouchi's team.

- Yaya Toure is still not at his best, but he'll play, of course. He is very important for our game, and this opening game is extremely important. Three points would be a huge step towards the next round, and we hope to win both three points today, and to reach the next round - Lamouchi said, and added that his team will play in an offense oriented 4-3-3 formation.

Japan were the first team to officially secure a position at World Cup. From that moment on, they did 11 preparation games, having lost only one. They're on a five game winning streak currently, which caused a great deal of optimism among the players. Keisuke Honda, their greatest star's statement 'we'll surprise the world, we can make it at least to quarter final' became legendary, but the well-experienced Italian coach Zaccheroni is more realistic and more cautious. He said that 'in the end, it's the quality that decides the winner'. The Japanese are not among the favorites, not even in this group.

Granted, the Italian coach improved their tactics and defensive game, but Japan are not a defense oriented team. They are well aware that when it comes to strength, quality, and height, they can't compare to the opponent, but their ability to run, to fight, and the psychological stability they posses can create a closer game today. Defense is the weak link at Ivory Coast, and the persistent Japanese won't be afraid to attack, and to use their speed to try and get past the opponent's defense line.

The Japanese won't only try to record a goalless draw, they will try to score, because even a point after this game would be very important, and they are well aware that with as strong and offensively powerful opportune as Ivory Coast, it's hard not to concede. 

- This is a close group, we can hope to reach the next round, but the wins in the preparation games can't fool us. Focus in defense is important, each goal we concede could be crucial against such a psychically strong opponent - Zaccheroni said. His team will be in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

- It's time to show what we can do at top level. The atmosphere at the team is great, and each of us can be a hero. But, more importantly, we have to stand up as a team. I think we can play actively against the Ivory Coast - said Okazaki, who scored 8 goals in Japan's qualifying games. Southampton's center back warns about the dangerous Ivorian forwards.

- Their four top players are either forwards or midfielders, which means we have to focus on defense, and have to be careful about it when we attack. We always have to stay close, not let them fool us. I've played against many great players, but this is the most important game of my carrier, everyone at the team thinks so, and we want it to be a success - Yoshida said.

These teams met three time so far. Japan won two of those games 1-0, but their last meeting, four years ago was a win for the African team (2-0). All of those were friendly matches, but the Japanese played African teams twice, and won both times. In 2002, they beat Tunisia 2-0, and in 2010 Cameroon 1-0.

I see the Ivorians as the favorites to top this group. They have a very good and experienced team and the draw has put them in a group with no clear favorites. Colombia are no the favorites in my opinion, especially after they lost Falcao. It will probably turn out that 4-5 points will be enough to go through and I'm pretty sure they can collect that amount in this group. They have the biggest attacking potential in this group and I think they will be able to capitalize on it.

Japan are physically quite weaker than the African team. First and foremost, there's Drogba, who will give Japan a lot of trouble, and who likes contact. I expect a high-pace game with a lot of individual attempts that will mostly end as fouls. Referee Usses awards many fouls and yellow cards, and I expect that the Japanese will commit more than 12,5 fouls, which is the margin. Friendly matches aside, they are almost always over that margin. When it comes to their matches against African teams - they've committed 15 fouls against Zambia in a friendly match, in the last WC against Cameroon 20. Against the better opponents lately - Belgium 16, the Netherlands 12, Serbia 14 - those were all friendly matches. That Drogba and others are quite the trouble gets obvious is we take a look at their opponents'stats in the last games - Belgium 21, Senegal 16 and 15, Mexico 13. I'm not taking into consideration the preparation match against El Salvador, which was hardly competitive. Only a few fouls were committed then,since everyone was just trying not to get injured. Also, all of their opponents in the last WC went over this margin.

The start of the competition has shown that the bookies have been off the mark when they decided to send the odds for overs skyrocketing on account of tropic climate. It's obvious these teams have prepared well and we haven't seen any counter-effects. Today, we will see two ambitions attacking teams looking fr a win, and they will play in moderate Recife, an evening match at about 25 degrees Celsius and I think we have a chance for a new over. The Coast have gone over 2.5 in last 5 out of 7 games and they scored and conceded a goal in all of them, Japan have 6 out of 7 and they kept only 1 clean sheet. Had the other bet not come up at the last moment, my recommendation would be over 2.25 for 4 or 5 units.

I wouldn't say the Ivorians are the favorites when it comes to possession, especially not with half-ready Toure. Lamouchi has ended his predecessor's experiments and has turned the Ivorians into a vertical attacking team that we have seen in the last two tournaments. The Japanese are much more patient, surprisingly strong in technical terms and I think the chances here are the same, at the very least.