Mexico v Japan betting tips: El Tri battle hosts for bronze

Mexico v Japan betting tips and odds

Mexico’s hopes of repeating their golden success at London nine years ago were ended by Brazil in a penalty shoot-out but they have the chance of winning the bronze medal against tournament hosts Japan on Friday.

There is a hair’s breadth between the teams in terms of odds, with El Tri 8/5 and the Japanese 13/8, so a close encounter is expected in Saitama.

You can read our gold and bronze medal previews from the women’s tournament by clicking on the links, but let’s look at some of the odds in our Mexico v Japan betting tips.

Match Odds

Both teams played out goalless draws in their respective semi-finals and an even 90 minutes can be backed at 23/10, while another 0-0 is available at 10/1.

Japan’s defence has been outstanding throughout the tournament, conceding just once in their five matches in normal time, so we go 23/20 on at least one team not to score or 5/2 on a clean sheet, bearing in mind both of their knockout games ended goalless.

However, the teams met during the group stage when Japan secured a 2-1 victory courtesy of two goals inside the opening 11 minutes.

The Asian side, who won bronze at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, are 6/1 to be leading after 15 minutes once again or 3/1 to be ahead after half an hour.

The tournament hosts to win and both teams to score is 18/5 and a victory by under 3.5 goals can be backed at 5/2, while another 2-1 outcome is 8/1. Mexico are similarly priced in the equivalent markets.

Hajime Moriyasu’s men are evens to bag the opening goal as they did less than two weeks ago, while Japan HT/Draw HT looks an interesting option at 12/1.

Mexico’s matches have generally been packed with goals, four of their five producing at least three which is available at 4/5, but Japan’s mean defence suggests this could be a cagey affair so under 2.5 at 10/11 could be the way forward.

Talking Tactics

Jaime Lozano favours a 4-3-3 formation with Henry Martin flanked by Alexis Vega and Uriel Antana up front.

Martin and midfielder Sebastian Cordova are Mexico’s joint top scorers at the tournament with three.

Attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo has bagged three goals for Japan and scored the opening goal against Mexico in a 4-2-3-1 formation in which Daichi Hayashi has been leading the line.

Match Info

Where: Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan

When: 12:00, Friday, 6th August

How to watch: Eurosport/Discovery +

View the latest men’s Olympics odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication