The Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020) men's football tournament semi-finals took place on Tuesday 3 August. At Saitama Stadium 2002 the U-24 Japan National Team faced the U-24 Spain National Team.
Heading into the semi-finals, over-age player SAKAI Hiroki (Urawa Red Diamonds) described their opponent as “a well organised team with great individual talent. They are the top candidate to win the gold medal.”
With TOMIYASU Takehiro (Bologna FC 1909) suspended for this match, ITAKURA Kou (Manchester City) started as the centre-back, with NAKAYAMA Yuta (PEC Zwolle) and HATATE Reo (Kawasaki Frontale) playing as the left full-back and left midfielder respectively. Facing one of the tournament favourites, coach MORIYASU Hajime sent off the players by telling them, “Let’s play tenaciously and showcase our resilience.” .....
EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
NEWS / RELEASE
10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-24 Japan National Team to play in bronze medal match after losing to Spain in semi-final
+
10passion
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] [Olympic Games] Moriyasu shifts Japan's focus to Spain after New Zealand nail-biter](https://image.eaff.com/index/6158.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-24 Japan National Team advance to Semi-finals with win over New Zealand in penalty shoot-out](https://image.eaff.com/index/6157.jpg)
![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)