Mexico vs. Japan: Expect Giovani Dos Santos to Lead the Way in Mexico Romp

The men’s final four is set in soccer at the 2012 Olympics and the match of the day is without question Mexico vs. Japan.

When they square off today at Wembley Stadium for the right to play the winner of Brazil-South Korea, they’ll do so knowing Giovani Dos Santos will be the best player on the pitch.

He is fresh off setting up two goals, and connecting on the winning one in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Senegal. Nobody is playing better soccer right now with the intensity and focus of Dos Santos.

The 23-year-old has the sort of speed to blow by a defender, with the agility to stop on a dime and punish opponents who can’t stomp on the brakes. His left foot is something special, and his aggressiveness around the goal makes him incredibly dangerous against Japan.

The Japanese don’t have the speed to match him, and will have to be rather conservative on offense to ensure Dos Santos doesn’t slip by them after turning the ball over.

His exceptional dribbling ability has been remarkable in the Olympics, and it allows him to scan the field while defenders are attempting to catch up. The entire team’s creativity in midfield allows for plenty of scoring opportunities.

While Japan has relied on a patient attack led by Yuki Otsu, they’ll have to ensure they don’t fall behind early to avoid throwing their game plan out the window. They are predicated on crisp passing and out-smarting their opponent, something they won’t be able to do down two goals.

There is no question the Japanese have been resilient on their wild ride to the semifinals, but their luck is about to run out against a more talented and athletic squad.

Mexico is looking for its best Olympic finish ever, and the fate of the team lies squarely on the shoulders of Dos Santos.  

Expect him to lead the Mexicans to the win, and their first ever medal in Olympic play. 

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