The first of the two matches today, and decidedly the one that people are less interested in watching comes up in just under two hours. That said, the tussle between Paraguay and Japan is not without its points of interest.
(Aside: My brother has lived in Japan for most of the last 10 years, and as my sister-in-law and my nephew Tariq are Japanese and half-Japanese (shout out to Weezer, yo) respectively, my loyalties are with the Samurai Blue. This isn’t to say that I’m telling you to back a team that’s supposedly overmatched, today. Just that I’m making an emotional decision instead of a rational one, here.)
Sports bettors are clearly of the opinion that Paraguay is going to come out victorious, and for good reason. The team has acquitted itself very well since the tournament started, winning once and drawing twice. Though they didn’t beat Italy, they were instrumental in facilitating the defending champions’ exit from the tourney, surviving Group F along with upstart Slovakia.
Japan, however, shouldn’t be thought of as a pushover. Despite being ranked, internationally, lower than all other teams in Group E, they beat Cameroon and tested Cup contenders the Netherlands before losing 1-0. Oh, and then there was their 3-1 walloping of Denmark that got them through. Having watched them play each and every time they hit the pitch, I have to say that while the odds are against them there is absolutely no reason that they can’t prove the better squad today. Their skill is superb, and I think their world ranking has a bit too much to do with what region they play in.
Interestingly enough, neither team has ever advanced past the round of 16 in World Cup play. Japan, in its only trip past the group stage, lost 1-0 to Turkey eight years ago when it co-hosted the tourney. Paraguay has been eliminated at this point in the tournament three times: In 1986, 1998, and 2002.
Prediction: Japan wins 1-0.
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