Game 23 Preview: Japan vs. Greece

JAPAN vs. GREECE

 Date: June 19, 2014

Time: 6:00 p.m. EDT

Venue: Estadio das Dunas, Natal

Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 1-0-0 Japan

Last Match: 2005 Confederations Cup (Group Stage). Japan def. Greece 1-0.

Line: Japan +110

Group C Preview here.

Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.

Team Profiles 

World Ranking: Japan (46th), Greece (12th)

Managers: Alberto Zaccheroni (JPN), Fernando Santos (GRE)

Captains: Makoto Hasebe (JPN), Giorgos Karagounis (GRE)

World Cup Appearances: 5 (JPN), 3 (GRE)

Best Finish: Japan (Round of 16, Last in 2010), Greece (Group Stage, Last in 2010)

Qualifying Records: Japan (8-3-3, GF: 30, GA: 8), Greece (9-1-2, GF: 16, GA: 6)

Previous Game Results

Japan

June 14th - Ivory Coast def. Japan 2-1

Greece

June 14th - Colombia def. Greece 3-0

Rosters

Injuries/Discipline

Japan: Masato Morishige (Yellow Card), Maya Yoshida (Yellow Card)

Greece: Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Yellow Card), Dimitris Salpingidis (Yellow Card)

Overview

Do-or-die time for both teams having lost their first matches. A loss in their second game would almost certainly eliminate either team so look for an offensively charged contest in Natal. Well, at least as offensive as Greece can make it.

Japan gets the next crack at a Greek defence that was uncharacteristically shaky in their opener against Colombia, a game that has perhaps given Japan a blueprint for defeating the Greeks.

Whereas Colombia made Greece pay on the wings, look for Japan to try and attack Greece through the centre of the field with their speed and passing. It's not the most advisable strategy against the Greek central defence but Japan have a midfield full of dynamic offensive players who will be looking to get the Greek defenders out of position before attacking the goal.

Greece should employ their standard 4-3-3 (4-5-1 in reality) as they focus on locking down their end of the field before pushing forward as a unit in attack. Greece were surprisingly successful going forward against Colombia but got away from what they are in doing so resulting in a 3-0 loss. They need a win desperately in this game but they know they can not afford to be too aggressive again in the Japanese side of the field.

No major injury concerns for other team but would anticipate changes in both squads to try and find a winning formula in this game.

Personnel

In the Japanese Third: Gekas was an absolute waste of a spot against Colombia and would expect to see Mitroglou up front today. Greece got quality pressure from their midfielders but Japan were surprisingly comfortable in the back, only failing to deal with height which Greece don't have (at least not to the same degree). Advantage: Japan

In the Midfield: Fully expect Greece to sit back and harry Japan until they can force a turnover. That's fine for Japan. They can pass the ball in the midfield all day. Advantage: Japan.

In the Greek Third: Colombia performance notwithstanding, I'm willing to give Greece the benefit of the doubt here. Japan have explosive play-making and finishing when they get inside but I'm not sure how much they will be able to in this game. Advantage: Greece. Maybe.

Goalkeeping: Who knows? They combined for 5 goals allowed in their openers and at least 2 of those should have been saved in all likelihood. Neither stood out in their first match and neither is renowned for being in the world's elite. Advantage: Even.

Japan will win if:

They like playing through Honda in the middle (and for good reason) but they need to get out wide with Kagawa and Okazaki in this game. The Greece full backs were beaten time and again by Colombia outside and they then worked their way in from goal side. If Japan want to attack up the middle then they do so at their own peril. Would recommend they stay out wide like Colombia and attack the Greek area from the side as opposed to up front.

Greece will win if:

This section is always so difficult for a team that sees all goals (for or against) as being the worst thing ever. Japan isn't likely to press too high up the field themselves so they can likely leave their wingers a bit higher rather then collapse them down as well and put 9 guys behind the ball. Greece were able to get in to the Colombian third by getting the ball up to their attacking midfielders and allowing them to counter-attack. Same strategy should be at play here.

Prediction

Colombia somehow made a Greece game watchable. Here's hoping Japan does the same. I think Japan does eventually find their way in to the Greek goal and then they punish them for pushing higher up once Greece is behind.

Japan 2-0 Greece.