Home and Away: Japan look a good bet to be first over the finish line

Jonno Turner dons his map and compass as he looks at international action in Japan and Kazakhstan...

We're off to Japan for an early kick off - as they welcome Australia to Tokyo, knowing that a win or a draw will make them the first nation to qualify for the World 

Cup in Brazil next year.

The hosts look set to achieve that goal back in March, but a shock defeat to Jordan denied them the comfort of knowing their place was booked - and they will be
desperate to make amends at the second time of asking.

Alberto Zaccharoni has a wealth of talent to choose from today, and with the likes of Honda, Kagawa, Kiyotake and Okazake all fit and available, he looks set for some
selection headaches here.

Japan line up for this one having swept all before them in this group stage - and five wins from their last six qualifiers on their own patch shows that they are
formidable at home.

But it's not just the results which will give Zaccharoni's side confidence here - it's the manner of those victories, and five clean sheets from their last half a
dozen in front of their own fans underlines their dominance.

Australia travel to the group leaders sitting third in the table - just one point behind second placed Jordan - and will be keen to get a positive result from this
clash.

But with two home games coming up next week, the Socceroos may feel that their best chance of climbing the table is in those outings.

Holger Osieck's side line up for this one in inconsistent form - and just one win from five qualifiers suggests that they may struggle against a Japan side with a
point to prove here.

The visitors have not kept a clean sheet in four outings, and will be keen for their defence to arrest that slump in this one.

Bet 1: Japan (HOME) @ 2.14

Switching our attentions to Kazakhstan now, as they host in-form Bulgaria in an international friendly.

The visitors will go into this clash full of morale, having beaten Japan on their own patch last week - and will be keen to build on that result here.

That makes five unbeaten on the road for Lyuboslav Penev's side, and having had meetings with Hungary, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Denmark in that time, that is
quite the record.

Kazakhstan line up at the Ortaliq Stadion having lost three of their last four - and in the bigger picture, that makes just one win in eight outings.

Miroslav Berenek's side have won only one in six on their own patch, and that suggests that they may struggle here.

And 12 goals shipped in their last four indicates that there could be goals here - against a Bulgaria side which has notched nine in their last three.

Bet 2: Bulgaria (AWAY) @ 1.94

Bet HERE

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