In a wide-open group, Japan and Ivory Coast face-off today with very different attack minded football styles and will likely put on an exciting game in the team’s opening game in the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The Elephants of the Ivory Coast have one of the world’s most talented midfielders, Yaya Toure, and don’t forget his brother Kolo who provides plenty of experience at the back. Up front is where the power lies for the Elephants with Didir Young at right back along with Serge Aurier and the aging Didier Drogba, who may no longer be the force of nature he once was but is certainly to score if given the chance.
The best team in Asia, Japan, is a skillful and attack-minded team. They performed well in last year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil, showing they can compete and are likely to cause problems for all of their group opponents.
Japan’s formation is a wide attacking style of football, key to their game is their midfielder Keisuke Honda. Honda operates centrally and has the freedom to drift across the pitch, he’ll look to leverage his outstanding ball control and awareness to create combinations passes with Japan’s other three attacking players.
Another attacker Shinji Kagawa, who plays on the left of their attacking midfield, uses pace and power to deliver accurate crosses into the box. Kagawa’s game is more based on close control and forward movement. He’ll try to pull opposition defences out of shape by drifting inside off the flank, and get into goal scoring positions himself.
Make no mistake; with so much attacking firepower the Ivory Coast Elephants have the capacity to trample almost anyone. The Elephants are ready, willing and capable of beating Japan and winning the Group prize.
Japan:
Ivory Coast:
