Ecuador VS Japan Match Prediction

  • Logo2019-06-24
  • Logo23:00:00
Ecuador
VS
Japan

Our Prediction Tip

Japan will win this match.

Ecuador meets Japan here for the second time ever, with the only prior meeting taking place in March of 2006 as Japan won 1-0.  

ECU vs JPN Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Ecuador are at 11/10 to win, a draw is at 12/5, and a Japan win is at 12/5.

- Top two teams from each group advance to quarterfinals.  Two best third-place teams also progress.

Group C currently sees the name of Chile on top, and they have six points to show so far.  They will win the group with a point or a win, the latter of which would help Japan a lot.  Should Japan win here, it would give them four points, which is a decent number and could put them in the knockout rounds.  Ecuador does have a chance, but it’s not a big one as they can get only three, at most, and will also need to make up for a poor goal difference so far.

Ecuador have endured a torrid time of late.  They didn’t play for nearly an entire year after the end of 2018 Russia qualification, and they then soon had reality smack them in the face.  They lost to Qatar and then drew Oman.  Since a couple of wins back in November of last year, they have went through four losses, three in a row now, and two draws.  Overall, it’s a total of four wins, three draws, and five losses, which does not make for pretty viewing.

Japan didn’t bring their very best to this tournament, so you didn’t really think they would have a great chance, but they have so far defied expectations.  Even in the 4-0 loss to Chile, they gave as good as they got and conceded twice late on.  Against Uruguay, they deserved their point, even if they did hang on late.  They have a chance to move on, and that’s all you can really ask for.  The fact they have only one win from their last four outings is a little scary, but overall they have 12 wins, four draws, and five losses in the last year, so it’s not too bad at all.  

Ladbrokes have both teams scoring at 4/6.

Over 2.5 goals, via Betfair, is at 1.86.

Ecuador vs Japan Prediction

Ecuador are just a huge mess right now and are a far cry from the team they were about a decade ago that could trouble some of the world’s best.  Japan are experimenting, but they see themselves to a win and a possible knockout round place.

Correct Score Prediction: Ecuador 1-2 Japan

Ecuador Team News

Hernan Dario Gomez will be missing center back Gabriel Achillier after he was sent off in the loss to Chile in the 89th minute of Friday.  A rash of other disciplinary problems follow them as well, with Roberto Arboleda, Pedro Velasco, Angel Mena, Carlos Gruezo, and Jhegson Mendez all on yellow cards here in what is likely to be their last match of the tournament.

Ecuador Key Man

Enner Valencia may not be playing his football in England’s top flight anymore, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to be a menace in the South America.  He scored his side’s only goal, so far, from the spot against Chile, though it wasn’t enough to earn them what could have been a vital point.  Winger Romario Ibarra is another to keep watch on here.  He scored twice in qualification, and they will need someone to help provide service and create openings for Valencia and co. to score if they are to forge a path to the knockout rounds.  

Ecuador Team Form

Ecuador have three losses and two draws in their last five matches:

1-2 loss vs Chile
4-0 loss vs Uruguay
3-2 loss at Mexico (Fri)
1-1 draw at Venezuela (Fri)
0-0 draw at Honduras (Fri)

Ecuador Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-5-1

Japan Team News

Hajime Moriyasu will be very pleased with his side’s draw with Uruguay, which gives them a chance to make the quarters in surprise fashion given the lack of strength in his side.  Four men have picked up yellow cards in the group so far, including right back Teruki Hara, center back Naomichi Ueda and midfielders Shoya Nakajima and Yuta Nakayama.

Japan Key Man

The first man brought up here can be none other than Koji Miyoshi, who will come into this match with bags and bags of confidence after he scored twice against Uruguay to put his team in front.  Though it wasn’t enough for the Blue Samurai to win, he’ll be viewed as a danger man here.  Up front leading the line will be Shinji Okazaki, a man that could make a major difference.  His presence and experience alone means you’ll never have an easy moment at the back, and the Leicester man could well prove vital here.  

Japan Team Form

Japan have two draws, a loss, and two wins in their last five matches:

2-2 draw vs Uruguay
0-4 loss vs Chile
2-0 home win vs El Salvador (Fri)
0-0 home draw vs Trinidad & Tobago (Fri)
1-0 home win vs Bolivia (Fri)

Japan Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-4-2

With Ecuador playing as poorly as they have been of late, and with Japan showing themselves to be real fighters that are up for it, you have to place the invited guests as slight favorites here. They know they have a legitimate chance of moving on, if they can win, and they will have the country of Brazil behind them as they seek a shock place in the quarterfinals. It's certainly a far better showing than last time around, and they'll see to it that everyone remembers this trip.
Ecuador haven't won any of their last six matches now after their loss at the hands of Chile, their second in a row in the Copa America.