Brazil vs Spain
The Olympic Men’s Football final takes place on August 7 in Yokohama, Japan between Brazil and Spain. Brazil won the last Olympic Men’s Football tournament five years ago in Rio while Spain were last finalists in 2000 in Sydney. The match promises to be an intriguing match up between two sides who were both heavily backed pre-tournament but who will walk away with the gold medals? Read on for more analysis, match predictions and betting tips.
Brazil come into the final having beaten Mexico on penalties in Kashima on Tuesday. Convincing winners of their group thanks to big wins against Germany and Saudi Arabia, the South Americans have lived up to their billing as a pre-tournament favourite.
Brazil come into the final having beaten Mexico on penalties in Kashima on Tuesday. Convincing winners of their group thanks to big wins against Germany and Saudi Arabia, the South Americans have lived up to their billing as a pre-tournament favourite.
Everton forward Richarlison has a big part of that success and is the leading scorer in the tournament with five goals so far. Brazil have preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Richarlison rotating at the head of the attack with Ajax winger Antony and Hertha striker Matheus Cunha, while their defence has been anchored by veteran full back Dani Alves. The question for Andre Jardine will be how to rotate his side to get the best of the Spanish back line which has conceded just three goals throughout this tournament.
Like the European Championship, Spain have been the draw specialists. Their 1-0 defeat of Australia in the group stage is their only win to come in 90 minutes and they have only scored three of their eight goals in this competition in regulation time. They had a momentary scare against Ivory Coast, going behind 2-1 in injury time in the quarter-final only for Rafa Mir to equalise just after coming on.
Mir has only made two league appearances for his club Wolverhampton Wanderers, spending much of his time out on loan but three goals in that Ivory Coast quarter-final has got tongues wagging asking if he can step up to a bigger role at a bigger team. He replaced Marco Asensio in the team for the semi-final but it was the Real Madrid winger who came off the bench to win the semi-final for his team.
Brazil and Spain Betting Odds and Predictions
Brazil come into the final as favourites but only marginal ones, which isn't surprising considering both the strength of the two teams on paper and just how much football some of these plaeyrs have played. Richarlison came into this tournament having played at the Copa America, while if picked this match will be Pedri's 73rd of an incredible season for the teenage midfielder. With so many games coming in such quick time, it's no surprise that the bookmakers think this will be a close low-scoring affair, and we think this final will echo both the Copa America and European Championship finals in being a tense, gritty affair.
Editor's Pick
We're backing the draw at 3.40
