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Horse Racing Japan vs Vietnam Predictions: Tips and Best Bets Preview
The tournament favourites kick-off their campaign on Sunday January 14th, with Nathan Joyes on hand to provide his Japan vs Vietnam predictions and tips in our best bets preview.
Prior to their warm-up friendly against Jordan, Japan have won their last nine matches, while Vietnam have contrasting form, losing four of their last five. With high ambitions to go deep into the Asian Cup, Hajime Moriyasu will want to deliver a statement to the other competing nations.
If Japan vs Vietnam predictions isn’t enough for you, Nathan has also turned attentions to China vs Tajikistan and Australia vs India on bettingexpert – both well worth your time.
Japan vs Vietnam Predictions and Tips Preview
- Japan vs Vietnam Tip 1: Japan HT/FT, BTTS No & Over 2 Goals
- Japan vs Vietnam Tip 2: Ayase Ueda to Score & Japan to Win by 2+
- Japan vs Vietnam Tip 3: Japan -1.5 HT Result
In this article:
- Japan vs Vietnam Team News Preview
- Japan vs Vietnam Stats Preview
- How to watch Japan vs Vietnam
- Safer Gambling
Japan vs Vietnam Tip 1: Japan seeking redemption
Qatar, Asian Cup, Sunday, January 14th, 11:30 (UK)
Japan are comfortably outright favourites to go on and win the Asian Cup. With Iraq their second match, arguably their trickiest one out of the three group matches, they won’t settle for anything less than three points against Vietnam.
The favourites have been in prolific form in 2023. Convincing wins over Germany, Turkey, Canada and Tunisia in friendlies all caught the eye. Back in their World Cup qualifiers, routine 5-0 victories over Myanmar and Syria were expected, but the manner in which they won the games was very pleasing.
Their possession-based approach is a joy to watch, and they don’t let up when they are ahead. If they sense blood, they’ll keep on attacking until the final whistle. Moriyasu likes his team to play with a tempo, demanding his midfielders play passes that break the lines and find the gaps exposed behind them.
Yet this competition is a marathon, not a sprint. Expect changes to be made and that rhythm slightly interrupted, which may quieten down Japan’s attacking threat in the final 30 minutes, where the game should already have been decided.
Don’t be fooled by recent head-to-head meetings, where Vietnam have often held their own. A team made up purely of domestic players will struggle with Japan’s European-based squad, which will look to dominate from the off.
The odds are extremely short, but by backing Japan to lead at half-time and win and keep Vietnam at arm’s length, we should be onto a winner.
- Japan vs Vietnam Tip 1: Japan HT/FT, BTTS No & Under 5.5 Goals
- Best Odds: 1.75
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 9/10
Japan vs Vietnam Tip 2: Feyenoord forward to fire home
We can’t be 100% sure who will start for Japan, but we have a fairly good idea based on their recent competitive fixtures. Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda hasn’t quite had the campaign he’d have hoped for domestically since his move from Cercle Brugge.
The 25-year-old, who scored 22 in 40 domestic appearances in Belgium, has only fired in one for his new club. However, his confidence hasn’t been knocked at all when he’s been on international duty.
A 50-minute hattrick against Myanmar, before a 40-minute brace against Syria, has shown what a sharpshooter he can be. With the likes of Junjya Ito, Takefusa Kubo and Takuma Asano in behind, Ueda is going to get plenty of chances in front of goal on Sunday.
Japan, as the odds heavily suggest, will likely dominate from start to finish, and Ueda will want to get up and running from the first match. Not only will this help his cause to win the Golden Boot, but it’ll also help cement his place in the knockout stages.
Possessing an array of finishes in and outside the box, it’ll be a surprise to see the talented forward fail to get on the scoresheet – especially if Japan find the back of the net more than once.
Back Ueda to find the back of the net and to add more juice, combine his team to win by two goals across the 90 minutes.
- Japan vs Vietnam Tip 2: Ayase Ueda to Score & Japan to Win by 2+
- Best Odds: 1.73
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 8/10
Japan vs Vietnam Tip 3: Dominance expected from first whistle
If you are to look at previous head-to-head records, this bet may need some convincing. However, it’s important to note Vietnam’s squad has been on the slide for a while. They’ve had a fairly decent 2023 campaign, but don’t be fooled by wins over Hong Kong and Indonesia.
In their recent World Cup qualifier vs Iraq, Vietnam fell to a 1-0 defeat in the 97th minute. However, the visitors fully deserved to leave Hanoi with all three points. Vietnam didn’t have a single shot compared to Iraq’s 15. There was no attacking threat, and it constantly felt as though it was only a matter of time before they conceded.
A 6-0 drumming vs South Korea in October, where their opponents led 2-0 at half-time, is a more accurate reflection of their encounter vs Japan and how it might play out. South Korea had 20 shots in the first half, and Vietnam were lucky it wasn’t more when the referee blew his whistle.
Japan’s 5-0 over Syria shows their professionalism against teams who put ten men behind the ball. They didn’t break the deadlock until the 32nd minute and finished 3-0 up by half-time.
Japan have a job to do, and they’ll know they are up against a different, albeit weaker, Vietnam side, and they are capable of putting the game to bed by half-time.
- Japan vs Vietnam Tip 3: Japan -1.5 HT Result
- Best Odds: 2.02
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 8/10
Japan vs Vietnam Predictions odds via bet365 as at 10:00, January 9th, 2024. Odds may now differ.
Japan vs Vietnam Team News Preview: No Mitoma for the favourites
Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma will miss out as he’s currently sidelined and has missed his club’s last three matches. However, aside from his absence, which will be a big loss for Japan, Moriyasu has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Liverpool’s Endo has travelled, whereas previous red Takumi Minamino has also been selected within the 23-man squad.
As already mentioned, Vietnam’s entire squad is domestically based, and they’ll have a tough afternoon on Sunday before facing Indonesia in a must-win match.
Japan vs Vietnam Stats Preview: Japan whitewash looks firmly on the cards
- There’s been six head-to-heads since 1973; Japan has won five of them.
- Japan kept four clean sheets against Vietnam in that timeframe.
- Vietnam has failed to score in four of their last five matches.
- Japan has won HT/FT in their last nine games.
- Japan’s Ayase Ueda has scored four in his last two competitive matches.
How To Watch
- Japan vs Vietnam, Asian Cup.
- Date and Time: Sunday, January 14th, 11:30 (UK)
- How to Watch or Stream on TV (UK): bet365
SAFER GAMBLING
At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.
