Japan’s increasing maturity pleases Oiwa

Wed, 31 Jul, 2024

Japan’s increasing maturity pleases Oiwa

Nantes: Japan remained flawless after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Israel in their final Group D match at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 with head coach Go Oiwa delighted to see the growing maturity in his team.

It was their third straight win in a row as well as many clean sheets,  a record they share with France heading into the knockout stage. 

Despite making six changes to the starting lineup with qualification to the quarter-finals already assured prior to the match, Japan continued to shine and it was exactly the kind of development that Oiwa wanted to see.

Men’s last eight cast decided

Wed, 31 Jul, 2024

Men’s last eight cast decided

Paris: Japan were joined by seven other nations still in the hunt for gold at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 after the completion of the group stage on Tuesday.

Japan will face Spain in the quarter-finals after they beat Israel 1-0 in their final match to finish top Group D with a perfect record.

Group D: Japan beat Israel to stay perfect

Wed, 31 Jul, 2024

Group D: Japan beat Israel to stay perfect

Nantes: Japan confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games on Tuesday as Go Oiwa’s side picked up a late 1-0 win over Israel to finish as winners of Group D and set up a last eight meeting with Spain on Friday.

The Japanese had already booked their berth in the next round after opening wins over Paraguay and Mali and the victory over the Israelis, courtesy of Mao Hosoya’s 91st minute strike, ensures the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar™ winners finish on top of the group.

Oiwa’s team, who had goalkeeper Leo Kokubo to thank for a third successive clean sheet, will face Spain for a place in the semi-finals in three days’ time after the Europeans finished in second place in Group C behind Egypt.

Group B: Iraq’s hopes dashed by Morocco

Wed, 31 Jul, 2024

Group B: Iraq’s hopes dashed by Morocco

Nice: Iraq missed out on a place in the quarter-finals of the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 after they lost 3-0 to Morocco in their final Group B tie on Tuesday.

The result saw them finish bottom of the group after Argentina defeated Ukraine 2-0 in the other game, with Morocco and Argentina booking their place in the quarter-finals.

Group C: Uzbekistan end campaign with fighting draw

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

Group C: Uzbekistan end campaign with fighting draw

Paris: Uzbekistan came from behind to force a 1-1 draw against Dominican Republic in Group C of their Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 tie at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Rafael Nunez opened the scoring with a second half penalty before Uzbekistan came back fighting with Alisher Odilov leveling the score.

Preview - Women’s MD3

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

Preview - Women’s MD3

Paris: Australia and Japan will be aiming to seal their places in the quater-finals of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 when they play their final group matches on Wednesday.

The Matildas will lock horns with four-time gold medalists United States in Group B while Japan take on Nigeria in Group C.

IR IRan’s Azmoun joins Shabab Al Ahli; Yang completes dream move to Spurs

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

IR IRan’s Azmoun joins Shabab Al Ahli; Yang completes dream move to Spurs

Dubai: Islamic Republic of Iran forward Sardar Azmoun has left German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for Dubai club Shabab Al Ahli on a three-year deal, the UAE Pro League outfit announced on Monday.

Azmoun arrived in Leverkusen from Zenit Saint Petersburg in January 2022 having played 44 games, scoring five times and laying on four assists before spending last season on loan with Serie A side AS Roma.