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Remind me next time

France are chasing Japan in Group A at the men’s Olympic football tournament. The French have taken three points from six possible and need a win and to overturn a –2-goal difference to have any hope of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Japan are atop Group A with six points from six possible. The Japanese under-23 team has made the most of playing on home soil.

France U23 vs Japan U23 Match Preview

Japan started off the Olympic men’s football tournament with a victory over South Africa. Real Madrid forward Kubo scored the game’s only goal. They followed up the fixture with a 2-1 win over Mexico on matchday 2 of Group A. Kubo scored once more and Ritsu Doan added a goal from the penalty spot later on. Mexico’s goal didn’t come until the 85th minute as Japan played well.

France fell to a 4-1 loss to Mexico to kick off the tournament. After the defeat, fears grew quickly that the under-23 Olympic team would suffer a similar poor Summer Games as France’s senior side at the Euro 2020 tournament in June. France rebounded with a 4-3 win over South Africa on matchday 2. Andre-Pierre Gignac scored a hat-trick in the second match and the Tigres player now has four goals in two matches.

France and Japan will play a winner take-all fixture. The French can qualify with a win and overturning their –2-goal difference. A win for Japan (or draw) will send the Japanese through.

France U23 vs Japan U23 Betting Odds

 

 

Gignac is in great form for the French. He continues to play well for club and country. Manager Sylvain Rispoli needs the striker to step up and play well for France to have a chance of going through to the quarterfinals. Japan will aim to silence the Tigres attacker.

 

Japan have conceded just one at the Olympic tournament while France have allowed seven goals to opponents. The French have scored just five times with Gignac bagging four of those strikes.

Leading sportsbooks’ best betting odds for France are at 12/5. The French are heavy underdogs and thanks to their poor performances at the tournament so far, it is possible the Japanese could get the best of them. Japan’s best betting odds to win the game on Wednesday are 6/5.

Japan have played above expectations for many. Kubo is playing brilliantly and his development at Real Madrid is part of the reason the forward is playing so well.

France U23 vs Japan U23 Team News

France forward Andre-Pierre Gignac is the leading goalscoring at the Tokyo Olympics football tournament. His hat-trick versus South Africa combined with goal against Mexico has him at the top of the Golden Boot standings. Gignac will start the game and provide France with their best hope of getting goals.

Rispoli did not make many changes from matchday No. 1 and matchday No. 2. Just two of France’s attacking midfield three, Enzo Le Fee and Arnaud Nordin along with Modibo Sagnan at centre-back were changed for the second match. France conceded three times against South Africa, so those changes did not make much of a change.

Savanier and Lucas Tousart should start in the middle of the park as Ripoll's trusted duo. Tousart could be substituted in the second half once more as has been the pattern at the Summer Games.

Japan's back four of Yuta Nakayama, Ko Itakura, Maya Yoshida and Hiroki Sakai are playing brilliantly. They have built a strong base for the team conceding just once in two matches. All four should start in defence once more.

France U23 vs Japan U23 H2H

There are no head-to-head results between France’s under-23 Olympic team and Japan’s under-23 Olympic team to consider. Based on the tournament to this point, Japan have played exceptionally well. They have won twice and scored three goals while conceding once. They defeated Mexico, the team many expected to win Group A, and may defeat France now.

France, just like the senior team at the Euros, are underperforming. France have a strong group of young players, but thus far, the squad has not been able to put their individual talents into a group effort.

France U23 vs Japan U23 Prediction

Both teams to score: YES @ 4/6 - BET NOW

 

 

France’s games at the men’s Olympic football tournament have been high-scoring. France’s loss to Mexico finished 4-1 as the team’s defence allowed the Mexicans to walk all over them. Rispoli’s team conceded three times on matchday No. 2 in a 4-3 victory over South Africa. Based on their poor defensive record, our betting tips experts believe both teams will score on Wednesday in another high-scoring game.

 

Andre-Pierre Gignac to score anytime @ 11/8 - BET NOW

 

 

Our betting tips experts are excited to watch Andre-Pierre Gignac play once more. The striker is one of France’s overage players and his quality in front of goal has been the difference between France scoring and being shutout. Gignac will start in attack. Based on the team’s poor goalscoring form, five goals with Gignac scoring four, our prediction is the Tigres striker will score.

 

Over 2.5 goals scored @ 8/11 - BET NOW

 

 

France’s games have been high scoring as they have allowed seven goals to opponents while tallying five. Japan have tallied three goals and allowed just one. One of their two matches at the men’s Olympic football tournament finished with over 2.5 goals scored.

 

Our betting tips experts believe the game between France and Japan will finish with over 2.5 goals. Japan should claim the win as France continue to play below par. As it stands, Japan will play the runner-up of Group B, if they win Group A. They need a victory or draw against France to achieve first place.

Group B is made up of South Korea, Honduras, New Zealand, and Romania. All four teams are on three points. It won’t be until after Wednesday’s games that Japan know their opponents in the quarterfinals. France’s under-23 Olympic team will underperform just as the senior team did at the European Championship.

France vs Japan Betting Tips