Women’s World Cup Winners Spain Thinking Gold

First Olympic Appearance for Spain

Last year, amid player protests, the Spanish still managed to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Their only slip up at the tournament was a 4-0 group stage loss to Japan and now Spain must face Japan again in their Paris 2024 Olympic opener.

Spain have never appeared in the Women’s Olympic soccer tournament but they come in at +200 odds to win gold. Japan are used to playing spoiler and are a fixture at major tournaments. As we gear up for Thursday’s match, we’ll go through the Spain vs Japan Olympic soccer odds and see Spain’s chances to avenge last year’s loss.

Head-to-Head:

This match on the Olympic Games 2024 schedule will be just the second major tournament meeting between Spain and Japan. Last year, in a Women’s World Cup group stage closer, Japan destroyed Spain 4-0 to win Group C. Hinata Miyazawa scored twice as Japan were lethal on the counterattack.

All-time, Spain are 3-1-1 against Japan and all five meetings have been in the last seven years. Expect Spain coach Montserrat Tome to be well aware of the threat Japan pose in this Spain vs Japan Olympic soccer match.

Bonmati, Spain Ready for Action

Given their success at last year’s World Cup, Spain are second-favorites to win the Women’s Olympic soccer tournament. Seven of their players also played a part in Barcelona’s historic continental quadruple in the 2023-24 season. Chief among them is 2023 Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Aitana Bonmati.

Bonmati is a complete midfielder, with excellent vision and an eye for goal. She scored in Spain’s Euro 2025 qualifying matches this month and should form part of a midfield three with club teammates Patri and Alexia Putellas.

One of our soccer betting tips for Spain is to expect high-scoring games. As much as they pose an attacking threat, with players like Mariona Caldentey, Salma Paralluelo and Jenni Hermoso, Spain are prone to conceding goals. They conceded in all but one of their knockout stage matches in the Women’s World Cup.

Still, their players have plenty of big game experience and it shouldn’t be intimidating for them to play in their first Olympic Games. This year, Spain have compiled a 7-1 record, in all competitions and their only loss came to Czechia earlier this month.

Japan: Deadly on the Counter

This marks Japan’s sixth appearance in the Women’s Olympic soccer tournament. Their best result was a silver medal in 2012, one year after they won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. While Spain are ranked first in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, Japan are seventh. The Summer Olympic Games odds give Japan a +750 price to win their first gold medal.

While Japan are remarkably well-organized and can be deadly on the counter-attack, they can be vulnerable on set pieces defensively. That was on full display at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they lost 2-1 to Sweden in the Quarter-Finals.

Still, Japan can be competitive with anyone and are 13-3-3 in their 19 games over the last 12 months. Manchester United’s Hinata Miyazawa won the Golden Boot at the World Cup last year and the midfielder is set to play another starring role here.

Meanwhile, midfielder Yui Hasegawa and striker Mina Tanaka are also key players. The lone World Cup winner still in the squad, defender Saki Kumagai, provides experience and leadership in defense.

For many, a disappointing effort at the Tokyo Olympics was a marker of just how far Japan’s women’s soccer team had fallen. Now a reinvigorated squad has its sights set on redemption in Paris. https://t.co/J8jUQh6j6M

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) July 19, 2024

Match Analysis & Odds

Despite Japan’s 4-0 drubbing of Spain last year, the Spain vs Japan Olympic soccer odds show more confidence in La Roja. Spain will have undoubtedly learned from their 4-0 loss to Japan last year. Don’t expect Spain’s defensive line to be as high this time around as they play a more measured game.

Spain come in as -190 favorites for their Olympic opener, while the best price on Japan is +500. A draw (+350) would inch both teams forward to the knockout stage, as they’ll both be favored against Nigeria.

One would expect Bonmati to be able to unlock the Japanese defense after the incredible club season she’s had. Her Spain are one-goal favorites, as Spain -1 sits at -115 odds. Meanwhile, bettors can find Japan +1 at -105.

Under 2.5, 3 goals show -110 odds but we wouldn’t be surprised to see both teams on the scoresheet in this one. Spain have scored in 18 straight games since last year’s loss to Japan. Japan are also on a seven-game scoring streak of their own. Both teams to score is priced at -135 for Thursday’s Olympic opener.

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