After the gruelling group stage matches at the Olympics 2024, the favourites have now made their way through to the quarter-final. It’s all to play for at this stage of the competition: win and you take one step closer to immortality; lose and you go home empty-handed.
If you are one of the fans of the last eight that are left, allow SBOTOP to help guide you on how we think the games will go.
France vs Argentina
If you are not familiar with how Olympic football is organised, you may be a tad surprised to not see the usual suspects in the lineup. Yes, you are seeing it correctly; Messi and Mbappe, and everyone else aren’t there, with the exception of a couple senior players.
But don’t get the wrong idea; this rivalry is just as fierce as their recent World Cup match back in 2022. Add to it the recent shenanigans of Enzo Fernandez directed at the French team, and you have yourselves a recipe for one of the most heated matches in the competition so far.
Thankfully, they were able to find their shooting boots against Iraq and Ukraine.
For the hosts, they were absolutely clinical in sweeping their group en route to the knockout round.
They have scored a total of seven goals in three games and are yet to concede under Thierry Henry.
Only the Japanese squad in Group D are comparable to Les Bleus in terms of Olympics 2024 results.
The Arsenal legend has sure got this under-23 team firing on all cylinders. As good as Argentina have been, I’m afraid their Olympic dream ends here. Look for Michael Olise to produce yet another brilliant performance in this win.
Betting Tip: 1X2 France @ 2.06
Spain vs Japan
Japan are tied with France as the top scorers of the tournament with seven goals apiece. With the way they are playing, it is not a far-fetched idea to have them standing on the top step of the podium.
The Samurai Blue dismantled Paraguay in their opening match by five goals to nil. Shunsuke Mito, Shota Fujio and Rihito Yamamoto were the scorers in that contest—if it was any contest at all.
Mito and Fujio’s braces during that match have landed them in the top scorers of the tournament, and it is likely the pair can add to their tally the rest of the way.
Midfielder Koki Saito is also one to watch, as the 22-year-old playmaker already has two assists to his name.
For Spain, it was a shock that they didn’t finish atop Group C. But they have qualified nonetheless, and that’s all that matters.
They were winners against Uzbekistan and the Dominican Republic, but succumbed to Egypt after Ibrahim Adel put two goals past Alejandro Iturbe.
Nevertheless, Spain are the favourites heading into their quarter-final matchup with Japan. Both teams have good chances of making it all the way, but for my money, Japan can most definitely upstage the 1992 gold medallists.
Betting Tip: Japan Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 1.80
Morocco vs United States
With Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi and Al Ain forward Sofiane Rahimi on the roster, it was guaranteed that Morocco would have a decent run in the Olympics. True enough, they’re now through to their first-ever Olympic quarter-final.
Rahimi is the tournament’s leading goal scorer with four goals, which included a brace to beat Argentina in their opening result. Since then, the 28-year-old forward has scored in their wins against Ukraine and Iraq.
They now have a chance to advance to the semi-final should they beat the Americans. And I believe their historic run is just starting.
Their upcoming opponents, the United States, were trampled upon by France in their first match before dominating New Zealand and Guinea.
Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin Paredes has been the Stars and Stripes’ best player so far, with a couple goals and one assist to his name.
If the United States can be composed on defence, then they should be alright against Morocco. But I just think they can’t.
Betting Tip: 1X2 Morocco @ 2.16
Paraguay vs Egypt
On the one hand, Egypt have the fewest goals scored of all the teams that qualified into the next round with three. On the other hand, Paraguay have the most goals conceded, with seven.
If Paraguay’s Marcelo Fernandez can be active in front of goal, just like he has in the past couple matches, then Egypt may be in trouble. Otherwise, the Olympics 2024 odds shift slightly toward an Egyptian victory.
Betting Tip: 1X2 Paraguay @ 2.34
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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