Japan are unlikely to reproduce the form that saw them crowned world champions eight years ago according to the bookmakers.
888Sport offer 17/1 (18.0) about them in the outright winner market but Asako Takakura's side are expected to come out on top in their opening Group D clash.
Latest Odds
Argentina are 28/1 (29.0) underdogs to pull off what would be a monumental shock in Paris. This will be their first World Cup outing in 12 years and promises to be a special occasion.
Sitting 30 places above their opponents in the Fifa rankings, Japan are just 1/12 (1.08) to pick up maximum points. The draw is priced at 17/2 (9.50).
Team News
This will be Japan's first World Cup since the retirement of record goalscorer Homare Sawa, who represented the national side in six consecutive tournaments having made her debut in 1993 aged just 15.
Partly due to a period of inactivity between 2015 and 2017, Carlos Borrello has a somewhat inexperienced squad to work with this summer. Augustina Barroso and Mariana Larroquette have 36 caps to their name, but eight of the 23-player squad are yet to reach double figures for the national team.
Preview
It's tough to know what to expect from an Argentina team that have played very little football in recent months compared to most sides heading to France.
A 3-1 win over Uruguay in their final warm-up fixture was the first time the South Americans had found the net in four matches, having previously lost to Australia, New Zealand and South Korea without troubling the scorers.
GoalJapan have seen goals at both ends in eight of their last 10 matches but given the struggles of their opposition, the quote of 7/4 (2.75) about a repeat seems short enough.
888Sport offer 17/20 (1.85) that Takakura's side win by at least three goals, demonstrating just how one-sided the bookmakers believe the game will be.
However, given the favourites have won just one of their previous five games, it's tough to make a strong case for them blowing away the outsiders, even though there is expected to be a gulf in class between the pair.
Predictions
While Japan should come out on top, there is little value in siding with the favourites, especially at such prohibitive prices. Instead, a small play of under 3.5 goals at 8/11 (1.73) could be the best course of action for punters.
Argentina don't pose much of a threat in the final third but they have avoided heavy defeats in their recent matches against far superior opposition and look capable of doing so again.
Given their winless run, Japan would likely be satisfied with a straightforward win, as opposed to going all out for an emphatic wide-margin of victory.
Under 3.5 goals at 8/11 (1.73) for a 1pt stake with 888Sport
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