Uruguay vs Japan
Copa America
Date: Friday, 21 June 2019
Kick-off at 00.00 UK/ 01.00 CET
Venue: Arena do Grêmio (Porto Alegre).
Prediction of Uruguay vs Japan
Uruguay is the most successful team in this competition with 15 titles, while Japan is an invitation from Asia. The latter might be the top dog on their continent, but taking a heavyweight in Latin America, in their own backyard will prove to be a completely different story.
The start itself was a wrong move for Japan, with them losing 4-0 to Chile, while Uruguay rose to high confidence with a 4-0 win over Ecuador. Luis Suarez's side won their last four games in a row and scored 14 goals from this match while keeping a clean sheet in all four.
Japan, on the other hand, have not won in four of their last six matches and failed to score in three of their last five matches.
Coming to their face-to-face meetings, South America won three of the last four clashes, and scored two or more goals in all meetings so far.
By all means, the extraordinary favorite is Uruguay.
Tips for Uruguay vs Japan betting
Uruguay will continue a good start to the Copa America, while they have the potential to meet the weakest team in the tournament. Can Uruguay win an impressive victory over the Japanese team that is not strong here? Japan took the opportunity to test their young players in this tournament, something that would seem to backfire after their 4-0 defeat to Chile in their opening match. Will we see another gap in the class between Japan and one of the South American giants here?
Uruguay advanced to a 4-0 win over Ecuador in their opening match, making a mockery of bets that made them look the same. Now bookies have changed their attitude, making Uruguay a heavy favorite to win this meeting. That was no surprise, given that this was an impressive Uruguayan team at the World Cup last summer, with their trip to the quarter-finals coming thanks to their confidence in the youth. That has marked the young side to impress in this tournament.
Japan does not get the same return from their trust in youth. They have brought some experienced players to the Copa America amid a group of potential future customers. However, their problems were silenced in a 4-0 hammering by Chile in their first match. After seeing their first-choice squad beaten in the Asian Cup final earlier this year, 2019 quickly turned into a year to forget the Japanese national team.
The way in which they are pulled apart by the Chileans who have their own problems shows that Japan will struggle in this matter. The Uruguayans should have a little trouble adding to the 14 goals they have scored in their last four matches. However, their defense was just as impressive in that round. Uruguay have won their last four games without conceding, something they will add here.
Uruguay were able to complete their last Copa campaign with a 3-0 win over Jamaica, while in recent years it has been good for their tough back line. They made the World Cup quarter-finals after keeping clean sheets in their three group matches. We hope they do the same thing against Japanese teams who are less serious in attacking talent, so we went with Uruguay to win to zero in this match.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- Uruguay have won four and lost two of the seven previous meetings with Japan. This will be the first competitive meeting between the two countries.
- Japan's opening defeat was their toughest defeat in four years - also losing 4-0 to South American opponents in a 2014 friendly match against Brazil.
- Blue Samurai is still looking for the first Copa America victory after losing twice and drawing in his previous appearance in 1999.
- Uruguay have won their last four matches with three goals or more - the first time in their history La Celeste has managed to run like that.
- Luis Suarez helped eight goals in seven Copa America appearances, producing the fifth and third assist in Ecuador's defeat.
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