Japan VS Senegal Match Prediction

  • Logo2018-06-24
  • Logo15:00:00
Japan
VS
Senegal

Our Prediction Tip

Senegal will win this match.

Japan and Senegal have faced each other three times in the past, and Japan are yet to beat their African opponents. They drew their first match 2-2 back in 1987, before Senegal won 2-0 and 1-0 in the years either side of their 2002 World Cup appearance.

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Japan vs Senegal Stats

Japan have not beaten Senegal in any of their three previous attempts

After five games without a defeat, Japan have now won their last two games in a row

Senegal have now played four World Cup group stage matches in their history and are unbeaten in all four – two wins and two draws

Senegal have lost just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions

Japan vs Senegal Betting Tips

Japan and Senegal both played well to win their opening matches against the odds, but Japan were undoubtedly helped by the fact they played against ten men for nearly the entire game.

You should take nothing away from their win, but they did concede chances even at 11v10 and Senegal have proved they will take any opportunities that drop their way – Mbaye Niang is off and running in international football, while Sadio Mane will hope to replicate his domestic form.

It means Senegal roll out as favourites for this one, but Japan – who earned their win despite Shinji Okazaki’s injury – should not be underestimated.

A fearless, attacking approach alleviated a lot of the pressure that had built up pre-tournament and new manager Akira Nishino has them playing some good football.

In Shinji Kagawa they have experience and creativity in midfield, while Okazaki and Keisuke Honda were only the bench for the Colombia game, which highlights Japan’s strength in depth.

Nevertheless, Senegal are in a good run of form – just one defeat in 11 matches – and, though Poland gifted them both goals last time out, they fully deserved their win.

With Morocco and Egypt already out of the World Cup after two matches, Senegal now represent Africa’s best chance of having a team from the continent in the World Cup knock-out stages once again.

Senegal can edge this one to make it two wins from two, and continue their World Cup success story by following on from their incredible run in 2002 – their last finals.

Japan vs Senegal Recommended bets with odds

Senegal are favourites to beat Japan, but you can still get a best price of 13/10 from Betfair and Betway on Senegal to win.

Both sides scored twice on the opening day, and boast players with experience in Europe’s top leagues among their attacking line-ups. Both teams to score has been set at 11/10 by 10Bet and a Senegal win and BTTS will fetch 9/2 with Ladbrokes.

With three goals apiece in each of their opening games, a repeat – i.e. over 2.5 goals – will return 16/11 with 10Bet.

As for the goals, Sadio Mane was not on the scoresheet in the opening game, but you can still get a best price of 2/1 from Betfair, Paddy Power and 888sport on Liverpool’s Champions League final goalscorer finding the net at any time against Japan.

Japan vs Senegal Top three bets

1) Senegal to win at 13/10 with Betfair
2) Both teams to score at 11/10 with 10bet
3) Total goals = over 2.5 at 16/11 with 10Bet

Japan vs Senegal Prediction

Senegal and Japan both impressed in their opening games, but it is Senegal who go into this match as favourites. Japan will be no pushovers, but the African team can claim another three points on Sunday.

Correct score prediction: Japan 1-2 Senegal

Correct score best odds: 10/1 (Bet365)

 

Japan Team News

Shinji Okazaki had to resign himself to a late substitute’s role against Colombia due to injury and Japan’s star man is unlikely to be rushed back after Yuya Osako scored in his absence. Hiroki Sakai and Maya Yoshida both started the game despite being on the bench for the recent friendly win against Paraguay.

Japan Key Players

Shinji Kagawa (attacking midfielder) – Scored his 31st Japanese goal against Colombia, having also netted in the win against Paraguay – and grabbed two assists in that game

Takashi Inui (winger) – Scored twice against Paraguay in Japan’s final warm-up match

Yuya Osako (striker) – Only playing because of Shinji Okazaki’s injury, Yuya Osako took full advantage by scoring his eighth Japanese goal in the defeat of Colombia

Japan Previous match

Colombia 1-2 Japan

Japan took full advantage of Carlos Sanchez’s early red card for deliberate handball. Playing 87 minutes against ten men, Shinji Kagawa converted the initial subsequent penalty and, though Juan Quintero levelled with a clever free-kick, Yuya Osako’s goal ensured Japan would take all three points.

Japan Team Form

After five matches without a win, including three straight defeats to Ukraine, Ghana and Switzerland, Japan team have now won two games in a row – both against South American opposition. Takashi Inui scored twice in the 4-2 defeat of Paraguay in Austria before the opening 2-1 win against Colombia last time out.

Japan Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-2-3-1

Senegal Team News

Senegal were rewarded for their faith in Mbaye Niang, despite Moussa Konate scoring in the previous friendly, as Niang scored their winner against Poland. Captain Cheikh Kouyate was another surprise absentee – dropping to the bench as Idrissa Gueye and Alfred N’Diaye lined up in central midfield in his place.

Senegal Key Players

Sadio Mane (winger) – Scored in the Champions League final having been an integral part of the Liverpool attack that fired them there

Mbaye Niang (striker) – A touch of luck about his goal against Poland, but he is now off and running for the national team after eight caps

Kalidou Koulibaly (defender) – Made a big contribution to Napoli’s title challenge in Serie A last season.

Senegal Previous match

Poland 1-2 Senegal

Senegal football team needed a touch of fortune in their win against Poland, with an own goal and a defensive error moving them into a 2-0 lead. Grzegorz Krychowiak pulled one back late one but it was not enough to overhaul Senegal’s overall lead.

Senegal Team Form

Senegal have lost just one of their last 11 matches, but their win against South Korea in their final World Cup warm-up match was their first in five games after a run of three draws and a defeat. They drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan and 0-0 with Bosnia and failed to score again when they faced Luxembourg at the end of last month. A 2-1 defeat to Croatia followed but they returned to winning ways after an own goal and a Moussa Konate penalty in a 2-0 win against South Korea. Senegal then beat Poland 2-1 to kick off the World Cup in style.

Senegal Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line up: 4-4-2

Neither Japan nor Senegal were expected to get their 2018 World Cup campaigns off to winning starts and yet they both claimed three points and stand on the brink of last-16 qualification if they can grab another win. Senegal are favourites with the bookmakers and, having never lost to Japan, you can see why.
Japan have failed to beat Senegal in each of their three previous matches, drawing one and losing two of those previous encounters.

About Japan vs Senegal Match

Both Japan and Senegal upset the odds to win their opening games at the 2018 World Cup and now top spot in Group H is up for grabs when they face each other at Yekaterinburg’s Central Stadium. Japan have never previously beaten Senegal in three previous matches, but this is their first game in a major tournament against each other. Scheduled to take place on Sunday June 24, kick-off is at 8pm local time.