France vs Spain Prediction and Betting Tips: Best bets for men's Olympic football final
France and Spain battle it out at the Parc des Princes for Olympic gold in the men's football final on Friday 9th August (5pm BST).
France vs Spain Predictions
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Spain have been dominating the football scene of late. The women's team lifted the World Cup trophy last year, then the men's team won Euro 2024 last month. Now it's time for the men's U23s to claim success of their own on Friday when they lock horns with hosts France, who themselves will be bidding to enhance the country's gold medal tally (13) in their home Olympic games.
France, managed by Thierry Henry, won all three group games - beating the US, Guinea, and New Zealand to nil - then they overcame rivals Argentina 1-0 in the quarter-finals and Egypt 3-1 after extra-time in the semi-finals, which guaranteed at least a silver medal.
Standing in their way are 1992 champions Spain, who finished second behind Egypt in Group C. La Roja would go on to beat Japan 3-0 in the last-eight and then came from behind to defeat Morocco in the semi-finals.
France are the 7/10 favourites to win gold, with Spain priced at 21/20 to burst the home bubble and scoop the honours. France are the 6/4 favourites to win the match, Spain can be backed at 23/10, while a draw is available at 21/10 (all in 90 minutes only).
France will be buoyed by the support they've had so far. After watching many of their fellow countrymen and women claim gold in Paris, the men's football team have the opportunity to sparkle in the final.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has bagged himself four goals so far, three of which have come in the knockout stages: the winner against Argentina then a brace in the 3-1 triumph over Egypt.
His cracking goalscoring touch at the Olympics follows a sensational end of the season for Crystal Palace, during which he scored 14 goals in his final 16 matches, including a final day hat-trick against Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old now looks a decent bet at 5/2 with Sky Bet to score (in 90 minutes) in the final.
Given his spectacular form I'm happy to double up on Mateta, who can be backed at an attractive 6/1 to open the scoring on Friday evening (also with Sky Bet in normal time).
The striker has been the first goalscorer in two of France's last four matches; breaking the deadline in the 3-0 win over New Zealand with a neat flicked finished; then he powered home a header after five minutes in the fiery quarter-final win against Argentina.
Furthermore, in his final 11 games of the Premier League season he opened the scoring five times.
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