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Plenty of goals should be expected in the opening match of group C as the Ivory Coast clash against Japan. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 11.00am (AEST).
On paper, the Ivory Coast and Japan possess the strongest squads coming out of the African and Asian continent. Both teams are well served by a host of European stars plying their trade in some of the biggest clubs in the world.
For Japan, AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda and Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa headline a talented Japanese squad that can certainly trouble the top teams when on song.
The Japanese play an attractive brand of football and will fancy their chances of qualifying out of the group stages despite being in an open group which also contains Colombia, Greece and the Ivory Coast.
The Ivory Coast on paper should be targetting at least a round of 16 birth. This is a team possessing players that have achieved enormous success playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Yaya Toure was Manchester City’s best player last season, leading the side to their second Premier League title in three seasons. He is one of the best midfielders on the planet when on song.
Upfront, Didier Drogba and Gervinho ensure that the Ivory Coast will ask plenty of questions of the Japanese defence today. Drogba in particular will be keen to cap off his last world cup with a strong showing in Brazil.
With both teams a good chance of progressing past the group stages, today’s contest should see both teams switched on from kickoff.
While both squads are pretty evenly matched, the Ivory Coast do possess the higher quality personnel. Yaya Toure and Drogba have both won the Champions League and certainly have the big game temperament to lead the Ivory Coast to victory.
Ivory Coast to win 2-1