Spain and Brazil set to fight for the gold in Tokyo

It’s finally time for the 2020 Summer Olympics! The 32nd edition of the international multi-sport event was originally scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9 2020, but the event was postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will now be held from July 23 to August 8 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Tokyo 2020 name.

The men’s football tournament is scheduled to take place between July 21 and August 7, and, in addition to the Olympic host city, matches will also be held in Kashima, Saitama, Sapporo, Sendai and Yokohama. The gold medal match will be hosted at the International Stadium in Yokohama.

The men’s tournament is typically restricted to under-23 players, however, due to the postponement of the Olympics, FIFA decided to change the restriction to under-24 players (born on or after January 1, 1997), and keep the maximum of three overage players allowed. This year’s edition will also mark the first time the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used at the Summer Olympics.

Brazil are the defending champions, having defeated Germany in the 2016 decision, and claiming their first gold medal in the Olympic tournament.

Spain rise as favourites

Entering the tournament as the team in best form recently, Spain are the overwhelming favourites to win the gold medal in Tokyo, with 215/100 to do so. The Spaniards qualified to the tournament after winning the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2019, when they beat Germany 2-1 in the final match.

The Spanish team is led by Real Madrid stars Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos, both overage players. RB Leipzig winger Dani Olmo, who displayed excellent performances in the UEFA Euro 2020 and helped Spain to the semi-finals, is also featured in the squad. The squad is coached by Luis de la Fuente, who is also the manager of the Spanish under-21 team.

Spain were seeded in Group C, with Egypt, Argentina and Australia. Their first match in the tournament is against Egypt, on July 22, at the Sapporo Dome, in Sapporo.

Brazil also in contention

The reigning champions in the Olympic tournament, Brazil are regarded as the best team in this year’s event, and are at 31/10 odds to win the gold medal, according to STS Bet. The team qualified to this year’s competition by finishing as runners-up in the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, behind the Argentinian national team. 

Their squad is filled with young talent, including the likes of Everton’s Richarlison and Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli in the forward positions. The team led by head coach Andre Jardine will also count on former Barcelona and Juventus right-back Dani Alves, one of the most experienced players in the tournament, who is expected to be the team’s captain.

Brazil were seeded in Group D, with Germany, Ivory Coast, and Saudi Arabia. They will kick off the tournament against the Germans, on July 22, at the International Stadium in Yokohama.

Top 3 finish for France

After several clubs refused to release their players for the Olympic tournament, including Kylian Mbappé, whose participation was refused by Paris Saint-Germain, France’s chances of a gold medal run significantly decreased, and now they are at 565/100 odds to win the tournament. They qualified to the tournament after reaching the semi-finals in the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2019.

France’s squad is composed of many players not well-known to international audiences, and their most experienced player is Andre-Pierre Gignac, former Marseille striker who currently plays for Mexican side Tigres UANL.

Les Bleus were seeded in Group A, with hosts Japan, South Africa, and Mexico. France will kick off the tournament against Mexico, on July 22, at the Tokyo Stadium.

Germany and Argentina on the chase

Germany qualified to the Olympic tournament after finishing as runners-up in the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2019, and were seeded in Group D. Despite having one of the strongest under-21 sides in Europe, the Germans are at 6/1 odds to win the tournament and claim the gold medal. The team is led by Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri and Union Berlin striker Max Kruse, both overage players.

The Argentinian side qualified as the winner of the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, and was seeded in Group C. With 63/10 odds to claim the gold medal, Argentina’s squad isn’t as strong as in previous Olympics, with many players called up from domestic clubs.