Already formidable as the 2024 AFC U23 Championship champions, Japan is now even more terrifying.

Japan qualified for the knockout round ahead of the number 1 candidate for the men's gold medal, Argentina, and even the host France. The team from the land of the rising sun entered the quarterfinals early after 2 wins, and they, along with the runner-up Spain, were the only teams to qualify after only 2 matches.

Japan's previous defeats were Paraguay and Mali. Japan scored a total of 6 goals in 2 matches against the above opponents, without conceding any. Basically, the Japanese Olympic team retained the same squad that helped them win the U.23 Asian Cup in May.

Japan U.23 players celebrate victory over Mali U.23

However, because each team is only allowed to register 18 players in the men's football competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, compared to 23 players at the U.23 Asian Championship in May, the Japanese Olympic team had to drop a few players compared to when they won the Asian Championship more than 2 months ago. Those eliminated from the Japanese men's Olympic campaign include 1 goalkeeper, right-back Takasi Uchino, midfielders Fuki Yamada, Kuryu Matsuki and striker Kotaro Uchino.

Those who are retained, except for goalkeepers Leo Kokubo and Taishi Nozawa (who are responsible for guarding the goal), must be both good at their craft and very versatile. For example, right-back Hiroki Sekine can play as a central defender when needed, and midfielders Ryotaro Araki and Koki Saito can play as a striker if required. Conversely, striker Yu Hirakawa can drop back to play in midfield. Kein Sato can play as a striker or as a winger on the left wing...

U.23 Japan has won an early ticket to the next round.

Japan U.23 currently owns many quality young players.

More experienced and muscular, while still maintaining their technique, Japan U.23 is so confident that they do not use any players over 23 years old (Olympic football regulations allow each team to register 3 players over 23 years old). This is the detail that Japan shows that they "play more lavishly" than the heavyweight championship candidates including Argentina, Spain and France. This is also the detail that reflects the Japanese team's progress compared to themselves at the U.23 Asian Cup more than 2 months ago, in terms of experience.

Japanese players are still the same, still very technical, fast and smooth in coordination, but sometimes they are too serious, not very clever in competition, before being disadvantaged. At the Olympics in the past few days, some Japanese players seem to have overcome that. The back line of the team from the land of the rising sun is ready to foul the opponent when needed, as long as the foul is far from the home team's penalty area and does not cause the Japanese player to receive too many yellow cards.

Japan U.23 lifted the U.23 Asian Cup trophy last May in Qatar

Head coach of Japan U.23 - Mr. Go Oiwa

This will invisibly help U.23 Japan reduce the speed of counter-attacks and reduce the excitement of the opponent. Another point, at the 2024 U.23 Asian Cup, Japan was quite weak in counter-ball phases. They were troubled by Qatar in the quarter-finals, Iraq in the semi-finals and Uzbekistan in the final of the Asian Cup by rebounding high balls into their own penalty area. The physical strength of the Japanese defense is not bad, they have right-back Hiroki Sekine 1.87 m tall, center-back Kota Takai 1.92 m tall, center-back Seiji Kimura 1.86 m tall, but they pay little attention to aerial battles, because of their habit of playing short balls and team coordination.

Japanese football fans have high expectations for this Olympic journey.

However, it seems that at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Japanese Olympic team has practiced well against high balls, so they have not lost in situations like this in France. It is also possible that because Japan has not encountered European teams that are good at aerial combat, they have not conceded goals in situations like this. But, in any case, a Japanese team that plays with more experience, is more pragmatic, and has more muscle is still a more complete team than before. Until now, Japan is still the Asian representative that receives the most expectations in the men's football event at the Olympics this year.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/olympic-da-qua-khung-khi-vo-dich-u23-chau-a-2024-nhat-ban-gio-cang-dang-so-185240728132949794.htm