Japan v Spain betting tips: La Rojita must up game for shot at gold
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Japan v Spain betting tips and odds
Olympic hosts Japan can guarantee at least a silver medal with victory against 11/8 tournament favourites Spain in Saitama on Tuesday.
Despite having six members of their Euro 2020 squad in Japan, Spain were close to being knocked out by Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals but are 23/20 to win inside 90 minutes.
You can click on the link for a preview of the other semi-final between Mexico and Brazil, but let’s look at the markets and odds in our Japan v Spain betting tips.
Match Odds
Spain started the group stage with a goalless draw against Egypt and an 81st-minute goal against Australia secured their only victory inside 90 minutes at the tournament having later drawn 1-1 with Argentina.
A draw is priced at 11/5, but Japan have won all but one of their four games and conceded just once so we go 5/2 on a victory for the hosts and 5/4 on them to qualify.
A 1-0 victory against South Africa was followed by 2-1 and 4-0 wins against Mexico and France which meant they topped the group with a perfect record.
🇲🇽 14-goal Mexico
🇧🇷 @richarlison97 & the defending kings
🇯🇵 The shutout specialist hosts
🇪🇸 @Pedri & the possession masters💥 A heavyweight semi-final line-up is set!#OlympicFootball | #Olympics | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/qVdPsFeIQ4
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 31, 2021
However, a goalless draw against New Zealand at the end of extra time ensured a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory to advance to the last four.
With Japan having conceded just once at the tournament, we go 5/6 on at least one team not to score in a rematch from the group stage at London 2012 which the Asian side won 1-0 at Hampden Park.
Three of Spain’s four matches have been level after 90 minutes and the last two produced goals at both ends so a draw and both teams to score is 10/3, while the hosts are 6/1 to win and both teams to score bearing in mind it took a 93rd-minute equaliser from substitute Rafa Mir to send the game into extra time against Ivory Coast.
Talking Tactics
Defender Oscar Gil returns from suspension for Spain and he is likely to replace Oscar Minguez who went off with a thigh injury on Saturday.
Dani Ceballos is unlikely to have recovered from an ankle injury so teenager Pedri, winner of the young player of the tournament at Euro 2020, is set to start in midfield once again in a 4-3-3 formation.
Wolves striker Mir’s hat-trick against Ivory Coast means he may get the nod ahead of Marco Asensio, playing up front with Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Japan have generally played a 4-5-1 with Daichi Hayashi playing as the lone striker in all of the games apart from the win against France when they had already qualified for the quarter-finals.
Match Info
Where: Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
When: 12:00, Tuesday 3rd August
How to watch: Discovery +
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
