Home   >   Previews   >   World Cup Preview: Japan v Greece

World Cup Preview: Japan v Greece

By on June 19, 2014

Greece and Japan will both have to be more clinical if they want to advance to the Round of 16 – both sides were guilty of missing vital opportunities in their opening defeats against Ivory Coast and Colombia, respectively.

Japan never really got the rhythm to their game that had been anticipated prior to the tournament with big names such as Shinji Kagawa failing to turn up when it mattered. They were also unlucky to be on end of two quality crosses from Serge Aurier, who put a solid at Right-Back for African nation Ivory Coast.

Greece were simply guilty of failing to maintain the strong defensive record that had got them to the tournament. In the qualification stages they conceded just four goals in comparison to three in just one World Cup game. All three Colombia goals were preventable, particularly the third which was only scored due to loose marking from a corner. They were also guilty of failing to take their chances as Georgios Samaras, Dimitris Salpingidis and Theofanis Gekas all wasted vital opportunities.

This game does play into Japan’s hands; they are the better footballing side of the two and their slick passing football should be enough to break the Greek resistance.  Greece are also coming into the game on the back of a training ground bust-up in the Greece camp between PAOK’s Giorgos Tzavellas and Olympiakos’s Yiannis Maniatis.

Speaking to the media, Southampton and Greece defender Maya Yoshida said: “The result of the first game was not the one we had expected, but we still have two games and all we have to do is to beat Greece, so I am concentrating on it.

“It has been three and a half years since I joined Japan as an international and I have been working hard for this World Cup.

“So it is disappointing and frustrating if just only one defeat changed everything. We can come back in the tournament with the last two games because we can do better.”

Team News

Japan– Yoshito Okubo could replace Yuya Osaka up front after impressing against Ivory Coast as substitute, while veteran Yasuhito Endo could start the game after playing the final 36 minutes against Ivory Coast.

Greece- Greece could make a change at left-back, with Georgios Tzavelas the obvious alternative to Jose Holebas, who had a poor game against Colombia.

Kostas Mitroglou and Ioannis Fetfatzidis may also earn recalls.

About James Cartwright

Sports Journalism student - Long suffering Boro and Steelers fan.