Japan U23 vs Korea DPR U23 — Tips & Analysis

Japan U23 -1.5: Japan have been the best team in this tournament by a distance. They won all three group games 3-0, 7-0 and 2-0, scoring 12 goals without letting in one. Across their last 19 games they have won 17 and let in less than a goal a game. They score almost 3 goals a game and have won by 2 or more in 12 of their last 19. Japan also come in with no injuries and no bans, and all 23 players trained the day before this one. Korea DPR are the toughest test they have faced here. They let in under a goal a game, they beat Iran 4-1 to qualify, and they only lost 1-2 to group winners China. Expect them to sit deep for an hour and make this awkward. Japan have the patience and the bench to break that down, and a 2-0 win looks the likeliest finish. That controlled kind of win is what this pick needs. The honest worry is that Korea DPR hardly ever get beaten badly. They have lost by 2 or more goals in only 1 of their last 14 games. Japan have a semi final three days later, so minutes may get managed once they are in front. Japan are still a class above, and we back them to win by 2.