Tokyo Olympics 2020 U-23 Football 1/2 finals: Japan vs Spain. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more

5 years AGO
Japan Spain
The game will be played with empty stands, as in all previous matches

The semi-finals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic football tournament will take place this Tuesday. The Samurai will face the Red Fury and find out who is stronger. The match starts at 16:30 IST.

Japan have a very solid performance at their home Olympics. A confident first place in the group and only 1 conceded goal in four games. But will they stand a chance against Spain?

Japan U23 News & Current Form:

Team Japan qualified for the Olympics for the second consecutive time. At the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the team failed to make it out of the group, despite beating Sweden and drawing with Colombia. 

The hosts had a successful start to the tournament, defeating South Africa (1-0) and Mexico (2-1), before the Rising Sun thrashed France (4-0). In the first leg of the play-offs, Japan beat New Zealand 1-0 on penalties. 

Spain U23 News & Current Form:

After winning the 1992 Olympics, the Spanish national team made only one appearance in Atlanta, where they failed to reach the playoffs. Six of the players who represented the national team at UEFA EURO 2020 have now arrived in Tokyo, plus the experience of some of the La Liga players has clearly been helpful.

However, the Furia Roja have yet to show their mettle. The team defeated Australia in the group stage and drew twice. In the quarterfinals, the Red Fury had a tough job beating Côte d’Ivoire. In that game, it was only in extra time that the Spaniards earned a ticket to the semi-finals (5-2).

Japan U23 vs Spain U23 Head-To-Head Record: 

The last time the U23 teams met in London was at the 2012 Olympics, when Japan claimed a stunning 1-0 victory in the group stage.

Japan U23 last matches: W-W-W-W

Spain U23 last matches: D-W-D-W

Japan U23 vs Spain U23 Predicted XI: 

Japan U23 (4-2-3-1): Kosei Tani; Hiroki Sakai, Ko Itakura, Maya Yoshida, Reo Hatate; Wataru Endo, Ao Tanaka; Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo, Kaoru Mitoma; Ayase Ueda. 

Spain U23 (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Oscar Gil, Eric Garcia, Pau Torres, Marc Cucurella; Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Pedri; Mikel Oyarzabal, Rafa Mir, Dani Olmo.

Japan U23 vs Spain U23 Prediction: 

The two teams drew 1-1 in a friendly three days before the start of the Olympics. The Spaniards were at the peak of their acclimatisation at the time and Luis de la Fuente’s side have been slowly but surely improving since then. The Spanish had already played with fire in the quarterfinals, but eventually ended that tough match with a heavy win.

The Japanese, on the other hand, seem to have lost the momentum and physicality on which the hosts won all three games in the group stage. In the quarterfinals, the Japanese could not score in 120 minutes against the humble New Zealand team and won only on penalties.

Spain are in great form and in high spirits after a dramatic quarter-final. It will be close but we think La Roja’s chances of qualifying for the final are better.

ParimatchNews staff prediction: 

It is better to stick to the cautious ‘Spain to qualify’ (Parimatch offers 1.65 for this scenario).

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