Olympic men's group stage preview: Israel vs Japan & Paraguay vs Mali
Israel VS Japan
Israel U23's current group stage performance has not been satisfactory, with only one draw and one loss. Although the team has some attacking power, the problem on the defensive end needs to be solved urgently. The return of main defender Roy · Levivo will help improve the backline. In order to achieve good results against a strong team like Japan, Israel will need to strengthen their defense and improve their offensive efficiency.
Japan Under-23 have performed well, winning two consecutive victories to secure a place in the group ahead of schedule. Despite this, the Japan team is still in extremely high form and may make changes to the squad to ensure that the players are fit. Even so, Japan still have enough squad depth to tackle this game, aiming to continue to maintain their lead.
Paraguay VS Mali
Paraguay U23 had a mediocre performance in this Olympics, with one win and one loss. The team's forward line was excellent, but there were quite a few problems in defence. In the face of strong opponents, how to balance the offensive and defensive ends will become the key.
Mali Under-23s showed some competitiveness after drawing with Israel in their opening game. However, the team will need to improve its consistency further to take a better position in the competitive group stage. The clash with Paraguay will be a crucial match that will determine whether Mali can qualify.
Personal opinion, FYI!
Israel vs Japan Handicap 1-1 2-1
Paraguay vs Mali Handicap minus 0-0 1-2