Japan vs Croatia Betting Preview

Both Japan and Croatia lost their opening Group F matches against Australia and Brazil respectively and while the scorelines in question suggest that Japan lost more caste in defeat of the two, that isn't necessarily the case.The 3-1 scoreline by which Australia beat Japan rather flatters them and doesn't tell the whole story in the slightest as, for much of the game, Zico's men were firmly in control and held a 1-0 advantage until the 84th-minute at which point Tim Cahill scored for Oz and sparked an unlikely revival for Guus Hiddink's charges.Fact is, Japan had squandered countless opportunities to put the game to bed and had settled into cruise control with the objective of simply maintaining their one-goal advantage when Hiddink's inspired substitutions delivered the unexpected goods.The fact that the Japanese had taken their collective foot off the pedal served as to accentuate Australia's victory and, had they not endeavoured to settle for a 1-0 win, the result could easily have been completely different.Croatia, meanwhile, emerged from their bout with reigning champions and tournament favourites Brazil with plenty of credit. They lost 1-0 but had a good few chances in the second half to draw level with their illustrious rivals, with Klasnic, Kovac and Prso all making their presence felt and getting shots on target.These two nations have locked horns twice and the score stands at one win apiece with the Croats gaining a 1-0 verdict in the 1998 World Cup a year after Japan beat them 4-3 in a thrilling clash in the Kirin Cup.I can understand why Croatia are favourites to win this fixture as a literal interpretation of their narrow defeat at the hands of Brazil makes for impressive reading. However, it's fair to say that the Brazilians were not firing on all cylinders in that match. Indeed, their performance was laboured by their own exalted standards.Furthermore, although they are tenacious and play with industry, the Zlatko 'Cico' Kranjcar-coached side do appear to lack that all-important killer instinct in front of goal - although Prso is a more than able striker, he lacks the clinical finishing ability that Davor Suker brought to the side before retiring.As such, I have little hesitation in suggest a small punt on Japan at a very tempting 5/1 with Bet365. In Takahara and Yanagisawa in particular, the 2004 AFC Aisa Cup victors have the requisite firepower to capitalise on the chances that their hugely talented midfield are likely to create, and their prospects of winning this fixture are being unwisely undermined by bookmakers.Verdict - 1pt Japan to beat Croatia @ 5/1 (Bet365)