Ivory Coast Vs. Japan Betting Odds And Prediction: Who Will Win Their First Match Of FIFA World Cup 2014? [POLL]

Japan and the Ivory Coast open up their World Cup 2014 campaign against each other on Saturday night and both teams will be looking to start the tournament on the right foot with a win in the very open group C. Yaya Toure, the star Ivorian midfielder and African Player of the Year will most likely start after recovering from a thigh injury he sustained in mid-April. Japan will rely on midfielders Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa to dominate possession and drive attacks forward.

For the neutral observer this match should be open and attacking. Both teams will look for early goals to set the tone, which will be very important. The Ivorians will look to play balls up into forwards Didier Drogba and Gervinho and will do what they can to maintain possession in the attacking third. Defensively, the Ivory Coast will need to remain organized as they have still yet to make it out of the group stages in their World Cup history.

The Japanese are lacking in strength up front so a goal will be crucial. Look for all creative plays to be generated from the midfield with Kagawa and Honda the two main creators. Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni always has something up his sleeve and knows how to use his substitutions as tactical game-changers. The Japanese strength in midfield, though, is countered by weaknesses in both defense and attack.

I believe that the game will be open and free-flowing. Yaya Toure is, without a doubt, the strongest player on the field and the Ivorians will need his technical abilities and tactical prowess to stand a chance against the organized Japanese. That said, The Ivorians should take all three points.

My Prediction: 2-1 Ivory Coast.

Betting Odds: (courtesy of www.bovada.lv)

Ivory Coast: Pick (-125) Moneyline (+155)
Japan: Pick (+105) Moneyline (+190)
Draw: +220