🌍 FIFA World Cup · World

Tunisia – Japan Prediction

Tunisia

L L L D W

22:00

20 Jun · Sat

Japan

D W W W W

Venue: Estadio BBVA Referee: TBA

Betting Tip

3 picks

Top Pick

Total Team 1 Under:1.5 Tunisia under 1.5 goals 70% confidence

1.16odds

Tunisia have scored just twice in their last five (0.4 average) and been beaten 5-1 and 5-0, while Japan concede only 0.4 a game and beat England and Scotland.

Back this tip

X2 80%

Japan or draw

2.58 odds

Total Team 2 Over: 0.5 80%

Japan over 0.5 goals

1.16 odds

Tunisia VS Japan Prediction

Tunisia and Japan meet at Estadio BBVA on 20 June from opposite ends of the early-tournament spectrum, and the gap between them looks considerable. Tunisia were dismantled on the opening day and arrive low on confidence and goals, while Japan produced one of the more impressive results of the first round and look organised, dangerous and assured. For the North Africans this is already approaching last-chance territory; for Japan it is an opportunity to take command of the group with a second strong showing.

Tunisia badly short of goals

Tunisia's form makes for grim reading. A 1-5 loss to Sweden followed a 0-5 hammering by Belgium and a 0-1 defeat to Austria, leaving them averaging a paltry 0.4 goals scored while conceding 2.2 a game. They have managed just two goals across their last five, and against quality opposition their attack has been almost non-existent, offering little support to a defence that has been overrun repeatedly. There is organisation in them on their better days — a goalless draw with Canada hints at it — but the overall trajectory is alarming, and facing a side as sharp as Japan is a daunting way to try to arrest the slide.

Japan sharp and well-drilled

Japan, by contrast, look in excellent shape. A 2-2 draw with the Netherlands showcased their quality, and it sits atop a run of clean, controlled wins over Iceland, England and Scotland, with their attack averaging 2.2 goals and the defence a miserly 0.4. They press intelligently, move the ball quickly and rarely give opponents an easy route to goal, the hallmarks of a side that knows its identity. Against a Tunisia team this short of confidence and cutting edge, they will fancy their chances of controlling the game and adding to a goal tally that already looks among the healthier in the group.

Prediction: Japan to control, Tunisia to struggle

With Tunisia so toothless and Japan so well-organised, this Tunisia versus Japan prediction focuses on the hosts' lack of output. Having failed to score more than once in any recent match, Tunisia staying under 1.5 goals is the soundest read of the night. Two supporting angles follow: Japan, comfortable winners against England and Scotland, avoiding defeat via the double chance, and the Asian side getting on the scoresheet themselves with over 0.5 of their own against a defence that has leaked heavily all summer. A second defeat would all but end Tunisia's hopes, and against a Japan side that has beaten England and Scotland while conceding just 0.4 a game, halting their slide represents about as difficult an assignment as the group could offer.