Agency Report

The women’s football tournament at Tokyo 2020 has reached the quarterfinal stage with one glamour tie standing out like a sore thumb.

The Netherlands against the USA is the highlight of a star-studded final eight lineup. Let’s get right into our bets and previews for Friday’s matches.

Canada vs Brazil
Brazil is the rightful favourite to advance to the semifinals, but Canada came very close to beating Great Britain before conceding a late deflected goal to make it 1-1 and they aren’t to be underestimated. The Canadians are now unbeaten in seven games (W3 D4), which includes a 0-0 draw with Brazil in June. Canada has won bronze in the last two games and with five of their last seven going under 2.5 goals, they’ll look to stay in the contest here for as long as possible.

Great Britain vs Australia
By winning Group E, Great Britain ensured that they gave themselves an easier path to the semifinals on paper than their fellow qualifiers from the group, Canada and Japan. Australia is no pushover, drawing with the USA in their last group game and drawing 0-0 with Sweden in a pre-Olympics friendly. Yet overall, the Aussies have been in poor form having only won one of their last eight games (D2 L5). Great Britain should edge a tight encounter.

Sweden vs Japan
Sweden won all three of their group games, including a 3-0 win over the gold medal favourites the USA. The fact that the USA is still favoured to win gold over Sweden might be down to the Swedes having a tougher route through the knockouts. Hosts, Japan made it through as a third-place qualifier, thanks to a late equaliser which earned them a 1-1 draw with Canada and another late goal, which gave them a 1-0 win over Chile. Sweden should have too much quality here.

The Netherlands vs USA
This is an almighty glamour quarterfinal tie between four-time Olympic gold medalists, the USA, and the team they beat in the 2019 World Cup final, The Netherlands. The Dutch side has had no problems finding the back of the net in Tokyo, scoring a ridiculous 21 goals in their three group games but they have also conceded eight times in those fixtures. The USA came into this tournament in fine defensive fettle but they have conceded in two of their three group games and will do well to contain the attacking brilliance of Vivianne Miedema and Lieke Martens. Dutch matches usually involve goals and plenty of them.