And so we move on to the last day of the 2nd Round matches at this World Cup. And a couple of interesting matches we have too! We have 2 of the suprise packages so far up against each other.
Paraguay v Japan, Kick-Off 3pm UK Time
Defence
Paraguay's first choice back 4 have a wealth of experience at this level and contain a couple of names that may be familiar to Premier League followers. Sunderland's Paulo Da Silva is a certain starter and Wigan's young defender Antonin Alcaraz may well appear from the bench if required. Justo Villar in goal also has 76 caps and the whole defence is very used to playing together. And as anyone that watched England's shmabolic performance at the back against Germany will surely recognise, that can be very important! They conceded 16 goals in 18 qualifying games, which was second best only to Brazil in their qualifying group. They have only conceded 1 goal in 3 group games too. Although in a group containing the lesser lights of Slovakia and New Zealand and a woefully impotent Italy that isn't saying much.
Now, lazy stereotyping would have you believe that Japan are all midgets who would be outmuscled by Graham Norton. But this simply isn't true and I have been very impressed in particular with their 2 centre backs in this World Cup. Marcos 'Tulio' Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa have been strong in the air and have stood up to everything thrown at them. Komano and Nagamoto have both looked solid at either full-back position too. They only conceded 2 goals in 3 group games against the more fancied teams of Cameroon, Denmark and Holland and that shouldn't be under-estimated.
Midfield
In midfield Paraguay play with 3 central midfielders, so far Victor Caceres, Enrique Vera and Christian Riveros have played every match. These 3 provide a platform for Paraguay's 3 very attacking forward to stay upfield and pose problems for opposition defences. Riveros in particular has impressed me so far with his intelligent passing and it looks like Steve Bruce's South American contacts have brought him another gem to the Premier League. Enrique Vera has played in many South American leagues and is now 31 so he brings the experience to the midfield.
Japan have a couple of names in midfield that readers might recognise in Junichi Inamoto and Shunsuke Nakamura. Inamoto came over to Arsenal and never really got a game before moving to Fulham and West Brom and only fitfully impressing. Whilst he doesn't regularly start he has a lot of experience in the national team with over 80 caps however and is very used to his team-mates. Ex-Celtic dead ball specialist Shunsuke Nakamura also plays and whilst his spell for Espanyol in Spain after leaving Celtic was unsuccessful he has regained some form on-loan in the J-League. The captain Makoto Hasebe has been playing regularly in Germany for Wolfsburg and has impressed so far, being linked with movess to Italy and the Premier League. Endo and Matsui make up the numbers in midfield and whilst neither will set the world alight, they are very capable players who know the system well. The real star is Keisuke Honda, now of CSKA Moscow in Russia. He has a brilliant free-kick in his array of skills and often pops up with goals. The manager Okada has moved him further up the pitch in a more familiar role to that he plays at his club and has seen his international form really improve. I think the game will be decided in midfield and I fancy Japan to do it having hit top form in their last outing against Denmark. I think if Honda plays well he has the ability to turn this game in Japan's favour.
Attack
Paraguay can call on players from some of Europe's major leagues in their attack. Roque Santa Cruz of Man City starts in a central role with Nelson Valdez of Borussia Dortmund and often Edgar Benitez or Oscar Cardozo also on the right hand side of the 3. Personally I think Santa Cruz is a hugely over-rated player who has had 1 good season in his whole career, at Blackburn, and I would rather see Lucas Barrios of Dortmund or Cardozo of Benfica playing there. However, Santa Cruz is a mainstay of this side and a national hero so that probably weighs on the managers mind somewhat. They only scored 3 goals in the group stage and I think this relative lack of firepower may cost them today.
Japan only play with one man up front and that man has changed a lot recently! Morimoto of Catania in Italy is the young striker that future hopes hang on and he has looked very good in a struggling Catania team. I would imagine the starter will be either the experienced Okubo or the younger Okazaki. I think in a game of this magnitude the manager Okada will turn to the experienced Okubo and look to the midfield to weigh in with their fair share of shots too. Okazaki boasts 17 goals in 31 internationals though and many in Japan are calling for his inclusion. Personally I think the latter man's credentials make him a must, but with the current fashion for hard-working, but non-scoring forwards very much en vogue Okubo will probably get the nod to start.
Betting
Even though both teams have looked relatively solid at the back I fancy there to be goals in this one! I would back over 2.5 goals at a widely available 6/4. I also think their might be a sending off and that can be backed at 11/4 with Bet365. Bet365 also price up a Man Of The Match market and I would look at the favourite Keisuke Honda at 4/1 for that as I think he's the man that can decide this game with a moment of skill or a great freekick. Both teams to score holds appeal at 6/5 with Betfred for me too.
I'll be back later with my preview for the later kick-off between Spain and Portugal.
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