TEAMS - IVORY COAST: Barry; Boka, Zokora, Kalou, Tiote, Gervinho, Bony, Aurier, Yaya Touré, Serey, Bamba. /// JAPAN: Kawashima, Uchida, Honda, Nagatomo, Morishige, Okazaki, Kagawa, Yamaguchi, Hasebe, Osako, Yoshida.

Another free kick in a dangerous position for the Ivory Coast. Toure is lining it up 25 yards out..

STAT: The Elephants were unbeaten in 2014 World Cup qualification, winning five and drawing three.

The juggernaut that is Yaya Toure powers into the Japan area, leaving a couple of players in his wake. The midfielder looks to cut it back but there are too many defenders in his way and a moment of peril for the Japanese ends well for them. Toure was screaming for a hand ball there as he appeared to flick his cross against an arm.

PHOTO: Honda takes on Kalou.

Proof of how important Honda is to the Japanese cause.

It's in Yaya territory.... but the Man City midfielder curls it over the wall and a couple of metres of the bar.

Yoshida booked for a late foul on Serey Die. A free kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out for Ivory Coast.

More Japan pressure sees them have more joy down that right... Ivory Coast are at sixes and sevens here! Anywhere will do as they hack it clear.

The corner is just about cleared by Ivory Coast who have gone to pieces sinces conceding.

SAVE! Uchida is given acres of space on the right of the area and cuts inside before drilling in a low shot that Barry beats away.

So long the pin-up boy of Japanese football, Honda has now scored more goals than anyone in the World Cup finals. He has a total of three to his name.

Another superb strike in this Wiorld Cup full of goals! It comes a little bit against the run of play, but Japan won't care!

GOAL! Japan lead! The African side fail to fully clear their lines and when the ball is worked to Honda on the edge of the box he fizzes an unstoppable shot into the corner.

A half chance as Okazaki flicks on for Kagawa but he can't get it out of his feet and Ivory coast clear...

This is better from Japan. Corner ball to be taken by Honda.

Cheick Tiote clatters into Shinji Okazaki. A clumsy challenge by the Newcastle man.

The rain is beginning to pour down as Honda arrows a cross into the box. Easy for Boubacar Barry to come and gather.

Ivory Coast having a lot of the ball early on. Japan happy to sit off and allow them possession, perhaps wary of the pace on the counter attack.

The incessant beat of the African drums provide an atmospheric backdrop to this encounter. Both sides still feeling their way into it but you sense the Ivorians may have the greater threat.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: These sides have met three times before, all in friendlies; Japan won the first two 1-0, before Ivory Coast won 2-0 in the most recent meeting in 2010

A real clash of cultures here as Asia meets Africa, but the Ivory Coast fans are equally imaginative with their costumes/matchday get-ups.