Ikeda optimistic of Japan’s chances

Sat, 20 Jul, 2024

Ikeda optimistic of Japan’s chances

Paris: Futoshi Ikeda believes Japan can claim their first medal in the women’s competition at the Olympic Games since 20212 by sticking to their own style of football despite being handed a daunting challenge in the group phase of this summer’s tournament.

The Nadeshiko have been drawn to face reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup holders Spain as well as current South American champions Brazil and 11-times African title winners Nigeria at the Paris Games, but Ikeda is refusing to be pessimistic.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3036357.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3036358.html

Know the Asian Coaches - Women's Tournament

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Know the Asian Coaches - Women's Tournament

Kuala Lumpur: Asia's bid to win medals in the Paris Olympics Women's Football Tournament will be led by two vastly experienced head coaches.

Sweden's Tony Gustavsson will plot Australia's challenge while Futoshi Ikeda will lead Japan.

Know Your Team: Japan

Thu, 11 Jul, 2024

Know Your Team: Japan

Kuala Lumpur: Japan will head to the Paris Olympics confident of a better outcome after suffering heartbreak on home soil in the previous edition.

The Nadeshiko, despite home ground advantage, failed to win a medal at the 2020 Games but a strong showing in last year's FIFA Women's World Cup indicates their Paris 2024 Group C opponents will have to tread warily against the East Asian side.

Know Your Team: Australia

Wed, 10 Jul, 2024

Know Your Team: Australia

Kuala Lumpur: Australia will head to the Paris Olympics Women's Football Tournament confident of ending their wait for a medal.

Having sealed qualification after cruising past Uzbekistan in their playoff, Australia will face four-time gold medallists the United States, 2016 champions Germany and Zambia in Group B.

The top two sides from each of the three groups and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarter-finals.

Women's Football - The Groups

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

Women's Football - The Groups

Kuala Lumpur: Australia and Japan will both fancy their chances of winning a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Football Tournament after some impressive recent displays.

Japan will be aiming to add to the silver medal won at the London 2012 Games while Australia will ne determined to go one better after finishing fourth at Tokyo 2020.

With the July 25th kick-off of the women's tournament fast approaching, the-AFC.com takes a look at the three groups with the top two from each and two best third-placed sides to advance to the quarter-finals.

Asia at the Olympics - Women

Sun, 07 Jul, 2024

Asia at the Olympics - Women

Kuala Lumpur: Australia and Japan will be Asia's representatives at the Women's Olympic Football Tournament with both teams expecting to be challenging for medals.

Ahead of the 12-team tournament kicking off later this month, the-AFC.com takes a look at how Asian teams have previously fared at the Summer Games.

Korea Republic part ways with Bell

Thu, 20 Jun, 2024

Korea Republic part ways with Bell

Seoul: Korea Football Association announced on Thursday that the contract of women's head coach Colin Bell has been terminated by mutual consent.

Appointed in 2019, the 62-year-old was the first foreign coach of the Korea Republic women's side and he guided them to the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 final as well as the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals last year.

Australia squad for Paris challenge named

Tue, 04 Jun, 2024

Australia squad for Paris challenge named

Sydney: Steph Catley will lead Australia's charge at the Olympics with head coach Tony Gustavsson naming an exciting 18-player squad on Tuesday for the 2024 Games which kick off next month.

The notable omission was Sam Kerr, with the Chelsea striker still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January.

Japan’s Ikeda to focus on improvements ahead of Paris 2024

Thu, 29 Feb, 2024

Japan’s Ikeda to focus on improvements ahead of Paris 2024

Tokyo: Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda has set his sights on making further improvements when he takes his team to Paris in the summer after booking their ticket for the Olympic Games with a 2-1 victory over DPR Korea in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The Japanese claimed their slot at a sixth Olympic Games in July and August thanks to goals from Hana Takahashi and Aoba Fujino in front of a crowd of 20,777 at Japan’s National Stadium, holding on for the win despite Kim Hye Yong’s late goal for the visitors.

Australian masterclass leaves Gustavsson spoilt for choice

Thu, 29 Feb, 2024

Australian masterclass leaves Gustavsson spoilt for choice

Melbourne: Head coach Tony Gustavsson will be spoilt for choice when he selects his squad for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 after Australia cruised to 10-0 win against Uzbekistan in the second leg of their Asian Qualifiers Round 3 fixture on Wednesday.

The win meant Australia rounded out their campaign with 26 goals and five clean sheets – with latecomers to the squad Michelle Heyman and Kaitlyn Torpey among those who impressed in Tashkent and Melbourne against Uzbekistan. 
 
Despite coming into the tie with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, the Matildas stamped their authority from the start, taking a 8-0 lead by half-time in an impressive performance.

Japan hold firm to advance

Wed, 28 Feb, 2024

Japan hold firm to advance

Tokyo: Goals from Hana Takahashi and Aoba Fujino were enough to earn Japan a berth at the Olympic Games in Paris as Futoshi Ikeda’s side defeated DPR Korea 2-1 in Tokyo on Wednesday to secure qualification for the summer’s finals.

Victory means the Japanese, Olympic quarter-finalists on home soil in 2021 and winners of the silver medal in 2012, join Australia as one of Asia’s two representatives in the women’s tournament at the finals in July and August.
 
The Japanese, who took the lead through Takahashi in the 26th minute and saw Fujino double the advantage in the 76th minute, were made to sweat on their progress at a chilly National Stadium as Kim Hye Yong’s 81st minute goal gave DPR Korea hope of a first appearance at the Olympics since 2012.