World Cup 2014 Group C preview: Japan vs Ivory Coast

In what may well be one of the most electrifying encounters of the group stage, Lamouchi will also have Ivory Coast idol Didier Drogba available for selection, with the former Chelsea forward 11/2 to be first scorer. The 36-year-old has been warned not to expect an automatic starting spot, but with 20 goals in all competitions for club and country this term, the striker is still expected to spearhead the African nation’s attack.

Competition will be provided by Wilfried Bony, who has an even more impressive record of 25 goals for Swansea this season.

Fans of the Elephants will be hoping their exciting attacking options, which also include Drogba’s former clubmate Salomon Kalou and ex-Arsenal attacker Gervinho, can take advantage of a technically excellent, but defensively suspect Japan team.

Blue Samurai boss Zaccheroni, who boasts a managerial resume including Italian giants AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Lazio, has revelled in ridding Japan of their reputation as a functional, dull, compact side.

After slumping out of the last World Cup following a stalemate, and subsequent penalty shootout pain, against Paraguay, the East Asian outfit have undergone a change of identity. Zaccheroni has transformed the team and promised they will be aggressive in attack, with his key men Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa leading the way.

AC Milan’s Honda, and Manchester United man Kagawa, both failed to shine consistently for their clubs in this campaign. The duo are still revered by their nation, however, and will be expected to shoulder their side’s creative burden.

At 10/1 to be first scorer, nimble Kagawa will provide the guile, and pull strings from an inside left berth, overlapping with Inter Milan’s Nagatomo, and allowing Honda to retain his role as the team’s heartbeat.

The former CSKA Moscow star has already proven he can lead by example, starring in South Africa 2010, with one of his trademark free kicks powering Japan past Denmark, and a further strike sealing victory against Cameroon.

Striker Shinji Okazaki, 7/4 to score anytime, could emerge as the main danger man, however, having bagged 15 goals for Bundesliga outfit Mainz this term.

Japan are 15/8 to win against an Ivory Coast spine with a huge amount of experience, so will be relying on the proven quality of Kagawa and Honda to push them over the line, in what promises to be an intriguing encounter.