Football doesn't speak European, or at least that's what the London Olympics say. In fact, in the men's semifinals that will take place today, there is no representative from the Old Continent. The race for medals is between Asia and America, with all due respect to Europe, which has lost super-favorite Spain and the hosts Great Britain along the way.
To open the dances will be Japan and Mexico, who at 18 (Italian time) will compete in the splendid setting of Manchester's Old Trafford in what promises to be a very balanced match. We've been saying for some time that the teams in question could have gone a long way, and now one of them even has the chance to go and play for gold. On paper, Mexico are slightly favourites, if only for the caliber of some of their players, above all Giovanni dos Santos. However, the "Tricolores" spent a lot of energy to overcome Senegal in the quarter-finals: the match was decided in extra time thanks to the Tottenham genius, author of the goal that broke the balance.
Japan instead shows up at Old Trafford fresh and motivated by the splendid victory over Egypt (3-0), which gave further morale to a historically tough team to die. Both contenders dream of the Olympic final, to put at least the silver in the bank, also because gold seems to be Brazil's business. The Seleçao advances in great strides towards the only great title that is missing from its extraordinary showcase, the most precious Olympic medal. Sure, the match against Honduras showed that nothing is as obvious in football as it seems, but South Korea is clearly the underdog.
The Wembley challenge (20.45 pm) appears more like a formality, a gala event in which to admire the various Neymar, Lucas, Pato etc. rather than a real semi-final. In any case, the Asians will try, also because the dream of challenging Japan in an Olympic final is a really big stimulus. Appointment tonight therefore, to understand who between Asia and America will end up fighting for dominion over the world of football. At least as regards the youth.
