Spain were our pre-tournament pick for gold at the Tokyo Olympics and we’re sticking with them to edge out Brazil in Saturday’s final. Both teams have had to work hard to get through the knockout stages but the best two squads in the tournament will feature in the decider.
Japan were beaten in the 2012 bronze medal match but are fancied to edge out Mexico on home turf in this summer’s third-place play-off. Both teams narrowly failed to upset the odds at the semi-final stage and we just feel the hosts may now be more fired up for this contest.
USA have laboured for much of the women’s event at the Tokyo Olympics but may improve with the pressure off when taking on Australia. Bronze medals are up for grabs, but this is still a chance for the Stars and Stripes to relax a bit and open up more in Kashima.
Spain found their shooting boots just in time to see off Ivory Coast and can build on that by beating Japan in the Olympics semi-finals. The hosts did well during the group phase but failed to impress when only getting past New Zealand on penalties.
The last two Olympic champions face off in this summer’s first semi-final and holders Brazil get the nod to edge out 2012 winners Mexico. El Tri have been great to watch in Tokyo but their next opponents are a class apart on paper and possess far more big-match experience.
Australia showed great spirit to edge out Great Britain but Sweden have been the stand-out team at the Tokyo Olympics. The Scandinavians prevailed 4-2 when these sides met during the group stage and are fancied to come out on top in another high-tempo semi-final clash.
USA have all the pedigree but Canada are fancied to be competitive in their women’s Olympics semi-final on current form at this tournament. Both teams had to go all the way to penalties at the last-eight stage and we feel this tie is destined to be another close encounter.
South Korea and Mexico have both done well at recent Olympics and again impressed during the group stage of this summer’s tournament. All the signs are that a cracking quarter-final is on the cards in Yokohama and the feeling is this tie could go to extra time at least.
Defending Olympic champions Brazil made smooth progress through the group stage and should prove too hot for Egypt in the quarter-finals. The underdogs have looked organised and efficient so far but lacked a cutting edge up front versus Spain and Argentina in their pool.
Japan were the only team to win all three group-stage games at the Tokyo Olympics and look worthy favourites to see off New Zealand. The Kiwis did look defensively sound in two of their matches, though, so we’re not expecting this to be a blow-out now the pressure is on.
Ivory Coast battled their way through a tough group at the Tokyo Olympics and are fancied to give Spain a stiff test in the quarter-finals. La Rojita look equally determined to make up for a moderate recent record in this event but have had trouble scoring goals so far.
It takes a rare combination of talent and effort to win a major sporting title, but it requires a particularly unusual quantity of both to defeat all challengers year after year. We’ve looked at some of the champions who maintained the highest level of dominance over a period of 10 years.
Great Britain almost paid the price for resting players versus Canada but should be back at full focus for the women’s quarter-finals. Australia represent spirited opponents but are rated just a level below, judged on what we have seen so far at the Tokyo Olympics.
Great Britain’s women have already done us a couple of favours at the Olympics and can wrap up top spot in their group by edging out Canada. Hege Riise’s well-drilled side have been rock-solid in securing two clean-sheet victories and may again be just too strong.