Everyone’s talking about Brazil-Mexico (for good reason) on the men’s side of the Olympic tournament, but allow us to submit another thought: Japan-Korea is actually a better matchup.
Why?
Because these teams have history. The Wall Street Journal explains in a story today: “While relations between Japan and South Korea have grown friendly in recent decades, when it comes to sports, they remain best of enemies. An intense rivalry developed as the two neighbors became rising powers first in baseball, then in soccer.
Sure, it’s just the Olympics, but rivalries are rivalries and wins are wins. All we’re saying is don’t sleep on the bronze-medal match.