Japan vs Germany Prediction & Betting Tips - Men's Olympic Tournament

Prediction published on 24/07/2024, 22:29  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 24/07/2024 at 22:33 in Men's Olympic Tournament Predictions

The opening match of the Volleyball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics will see Japan taking on Germany on Saturday morning. Nippon are ranked second in the world heading into this encounter while the Eagles are 11th. Let’s take a look at our prediction for this curtain-raiser. 

Japan will arrive in Paris looking to make amends for their disappointment in Tokyo in the last edition of the Games when they were knocked out in the quarter-final 3-0 by bronze-medalists Brazil. 

Nippon were one of six sides that qualified for this grand spectacle via the FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifier, ranking second in Group B. They will be featuring at the Olympics for the 10th time overall but only a third time in the last three decades. 

The Asian nation reached the semi-final in each of their first four appearances at the Games, securing bronze in 1964, silver in Mexico in 1968 and gold in Munich in 1972. Spearheading the side’s hopes of returning to the podium is 20-year-old Yuki Ishikawa, who led Japan to the Nations League bronze last July. 

Japan lost the world number one spot last month when they were beaten by France 3-1 in the Nations League. 

Meanwhile, Germany have a massive task on their hands in this opening match against a side they have not beaten in their last six attempts. The last time they overcame the Japanese was in the 2014 World League. 

The Eagles ended unbeaten in Pool A of the FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifiers to rank first and secure their spot at the Games. This will be their fifth appearance on the grand stage and their first since the London Olympics in 2012. 

However, Germany arrives in Paris following a difficult run of results. They lost both friendlies this month to Brazil and have only won two of their last six matches in all competitions.