Israel vs Japan, Olympics Football 2024, Today Match Prediction

Israel vs Japan Match Prediction & Analysis

The contest is expected to be low-key. However, from an Israeli standpoint, the outcome of the match could determine their fate, as a loss would eliminate them from the competition. But a win does not guarantee their qualification to the next round, especially if Paraguay or Guinea win their final encounter and improve their goal differential. The ideal scenario will be a draw for both teams and a win for themselves. 

Meanwhile, both teams come into the game with contrasting results, with Japan winning their last match against Mali thanks to Yamamoto's 82nd-minute goal, and Israel squandering an opportunity to level the game against Paraguay after conceding two goals in the dying minutes. Japan currently leads the table with 6 points, while Israel is in last place. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Israel Preview

Barring a miracle, Israel's 48-year wait to return to the Olympics will end quickly, with them exiting in the group stage. That said, Guy Luzon's side has shown in both games that they have the resolve and fire within themselves to compete at this level. Their resolve was on full display against the Paraguayans, who came from behind twice to equalise. However, due to a bad final six minutes of play, they were forced to accept a disappointing loss. As a result, they stand a minimal chance of making it out of the group. 

However, they do have certain flaws, which have cost them and led to their downfall. Most Israeli players lack the ability to hold onto the ball, as they have been out possessed numerous times in critical areas of the pitch. Furthermore, they have struggled with pass accuracy, with defender Stev Lemkin leading the way with 89.4% on average.   Yet, some players like Stav Lemkin of Shakhtar Donetsk, Oscar Gloukh ( goal against Paraguay), and Eitan Azoulay have stood out for them, and that will give them hope for building a team for the future. 

Coming back to the game against Japan, Steve Lemkin’s participation is highly doubtful due to an injury sustained during the Paraguay match. If Lemkin is ruled unfit to compete, defender Or Israelov might get his first start in the competition.

Israel Probable Starting XI - Niron(Goalkeeper); Feingold, Israelov, Goldberg, Harush (Defenders); Abada, Gandelman, Azoulay, Shahar (Midfielders); Turgeman, Gloukh (Forwards) 

Japan Preview

The U-23 AFC Asian Cup Champions couldn't have wished for a better start to the competition. Two wins from two games, each in distinct ways. If they had it easy in the first game, they had to fight hard against Mali in the second. Mali put them to the test, as they had to wait until the 82nd minute to win their second game and had to deal with a minor scare in the end. The triumph showcased the maturity and perseverance of the youthful team, which does not have an overage player on the roster. . 

Mao Hasoya, on the other hand, was the game's standout, creating four major opportunities, including Yamamoto's goal, which came from a run down the right wing. In a contest where Saito and Funjita couldn't do much, they discovered a new hero, which will serve them well heading into the knockout rounds. In the quarterfinals, they will most likely face Spain or Egypt. 

With qualification for the knockouts already done, Japanese boss, Oiwa, might think of ringing in some changes for this particular game. Shinsuke Mito, who scored a brace in the opener, did not start against Mali and is slated to replace Araki. The other projected change is the replacement of Koki Saito by Shota Fujio. 

Japan Probable Starting XI  - Kokubo(Goalkeeper); Sekine, Takai, Kimura, Ohata(Defenders); Yamamoto, Fujita, Mito (Midfielders); Shota Fujio, Kein Sato, Hosoya (Forwards) 

ISRAEL vs JAPAN
Winning Prediction

Japan are unbeaten in their last seven games, with six wins and a draw. In those seven games, they scored the opening goals and managed to keep a clean sheet in 6. Not to mention the goals they scored in those games. In short, Israel is in for a tough time, and on paper, they don't stand a chance at winning the game on Tuesday night. 

According to the odds, an average xG of 3.5 is expected from this game, with the odds of an Israel win at 3.50 and a Japanese win at 1.91. Considering those odds, stats, and recent form, one cannot place a bet against a Japan win in the last group game of the competition. 

Japan U-23 to Win (2-0)

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