The quarterfinals of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020) men's football tournament took place on Saturday 31 July. At Ibaraki Kashima Stadium, the U-24 Japan National Team faced the U-24 New Zealand National Team.
In their first match of the knockout stage, Japan named HAYASHI Daichi (Sagan Tosu) as the lone striker, with SOMA Yuki (Nagoya Grampus) starting as the left midfielder. HASHIOKA Daiki (Sint-Truidense V.V.) also started as the right full-back to replace SAKAI Hiroki (Urawa Red Diamonds) who is suspended for the match. New Zealand on the other hand started with a 5-3-2 formation, which TOMIYASU Takehiro (Bologna FC 1909) later reflected, “We were anticipating for a one-top formation, so it was unexpected.”
The three New Zealand midfielders kept a close eye on the Japanese attackers, containing them from building up the offence, as ENDO Wataru (VfB Stuttgart) described, “They were playing almost man-to-man.” .....
EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
NEWS / RELEASE
10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-24 Japan National Team advance to Semi-finals with win over New Zealand in penalty shoot-out
+
10passion
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] [Olympic Games] Defeat hard to accept, admits Kim after Korea Republic's elimination by Mexico](https://image.eaff.com/index/6156.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Abrupt end of Team Hagbum’s trip to Tokyo](https://image.eaff.com/index/6155.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] [Olympic Games] Takakura hails Japan spirit despite Sweden heartbreak](https://image.eaff.com/index/6154.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Nadeshiko Japan lose to Sweden at the Quarterfinals, eliminated from the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020)](https://image.eaff.com/index/6153.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] [Olympic Games] Kubo hails Japan's adaptability as Samurai Blue set eyes on New Zealand](https://image.eaff.com/index/6152.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-24 Japan National Team advance to knockout stage with win over France](https://image.eaff.com/index/6151.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] [Olympic Games] It's only the beginning, says Kim Hak-bum after Korea Republic reach quarter-finals](https://image.eaff.com/index/6150.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Team Hagbum defeat Honduras 6-0 to reach last eight](https://image.eaff.com/index/6149.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] [Olympic Games] Takakura optimistic as Japan get set for Sweden](https://image.eaff.com/index/6148.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Nadeshiko Japan advance to knockout stage with win over Chile at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020)](https://image.eaff.com/index/6147.jpg)