Spain won its only Olympic men's soccer title on its own soil, and now it tries to deny Japan a chance to do the same when the teams square off in Tuesday's semifinals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Spain won the gold medal at Barcelona 1992 and won silver in 2000, but this is just its second Summer Games appearance since then. Japan reached the Olympics semifinals in 2012 and hopes to play for the title Saturday in Yokohama. Neither team has lost in the tournament, but Spain needed extra time before surging to a 5-2 win against the Ivory Coast in Saturday's quarterfinals. Japan beat New Zealand in a shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Kickoff from Kashima Stadium is scheduled for 7 a.m ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Spain as the +110 favorite (risk $100 to win $110) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Japan vs. Spain odds, while Japan is the +240 underdog. The over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before you lock in your Spain vs. Japan picks or 2020 Olympics soccer predictions, you need to see what consummate soccer insider Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been spot-on. Green has generated nearly $19,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season, and he has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Now, Green has taken a close look at the Spain vs. Japan matchup and revealed his 2020 Olympic soccer picks. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the Olympics soccer odds and betting trends for Japan vs. Spain:
- Spain vs. Japan spread: Spain -0.5 (+105)
- Spain vs. Japan over-under: 2.5 goals
- Spain vs. Japan money line: Spain +110, Japan +240, Draw +210
- SPA: Marco Asensio has 16 international goals in 52 appearances at all levels
- JAP: Takefusa Kubo has 25 goals since joining the youth program at age 15
Why you should back Spain
The Spaniards have a distinct talent advantage, because La Liga teams are required by Spanish law to release native players for Olympic competition. That means such stars as Mikel Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo and Pedri are all part of the squad. They are three of the six players who were on the senior national team that reached the Euro 2020 semifinals a month ago. The other three form a strong shield in front of the net, with elite young defenders Eric Garcia (Barcelona) and Pau Torres (Villarreal) holding a firm line in front of Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Wolverhampton's Rafa Mir scored three times in Saturday's victory. He saved the Spaniards from a humiliating loss with an equalizer in the 93rd minute and tallied twice more to cement the victory. Olmo and Oyarzabal also scored, and they hope that sudden offensive surge will push them to gold. Oyarzabal, Olmo and Marco Asensio form a dangerous trio, and Oyarzabal can also set up goals. He has scored 21 over the past two seasons with La Liga's Real Sociedad and has added 19 assists.
Why you should back Japan
The Japanese have allowed one goal in the tournament, and that was in a 2-1 victory against fellow semifinalist Mexico. The team was built with defense in mind, with fullbacks Maya Yoshida and Hiroki Sakai and defensive midfielder Wataru Endo chosen as the three over-age players. The Japanese have been impossible to break down, and Japan is succeeding with its traditional disciplined and organized attack. It has a lot of confidence with victories over Mexico and France, and it beat Spain 1-0 in the group stage when the teams met in the Olympics at London 2012.
Japan is 7-3-3 in its last three Olympics appearances, including the draw against New Zealand. Japan outshot the Kiwis 21-8 in that match and put six on target but could not bury one. Real Madrid 20-year-old prospect Takefusa Kubo has three of Japan's goals as he tries to secure a future with the Spanish powerhouse.
How to make Spain vs. Japan picks
Green has taken a close look at the Spain vs. Japan match from all sides, and he's leaning under on the goal total. He also has two confident best bets and a full breakdown of this 2020 Tokyo Olympics soccer semifinal. He's only sharing those expert soccer picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Japan vs. Spain? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Spain vs. Japan, all from the soccer expert who has generated nearly $19,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.
