Japan’s lack of defensive solidity is cause for concern. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last eight matches and as they gear up for the World Cup, the Samurai Blue are expected to struggle.
While the draw was somewhat favourable – Group H is one of the most difficult to predict, with Japan drawn with Colombia, Poland and Senegal – Japan are the favourites to exit at the group stage. By getting the group favourites out of the way first, however, Japan may well be confident of progression to the last-16 stage.
As Mexico, Iceland and Switzerland proved, the underdog has a chance of upsetting the odds, but even then, Japan’s recent inability to shut opponents should play into Colombia’s hands. Jose Pekerman’s side is crammed with attacking quality and while Japan will strive to keep things tight, Colombia have the means to put the Samurai Blue to the sword.
Their attacking personnel, should they click for Tuesday’s match, will be confident of putting a key three points on the board. Indeed, while Colombia are favourites to win, there is value in backing the South American powerhouse.
Colombia -1 is available as high as 3.4 with SpreadEx and that is certainly worth a punt on Tuesday. In James Rodriguez, Falcao, Juan Cuadrado, Carlos Bacca and Luis Muriel, Pekerman has players plying their trade in Europe’s top five leagues that can really hurt Japan on Tuesday and if they exceed expectations, you’d expect Colombia to come away as winners here.
