On Friday 6 August, the bronze medal match of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020) men's football tournament took place at Saitama Stadium 2002, where the U-24 Japan National Team squared off against the U-24 Mexico National Team.
With both teams entering the match with two days rest following the semi-finals, the match presented a tough challenge for the players, both physically and mentally, but the Mexican players showcased great aggression from the early minutes to take the initiative of the match.
The two sides showed stark contrast in the way they entered the match, as coach MORIYASU Hajime later reflected, “Mexico entered the match with great momentum,” while KUBO Takefusa (Real Madrid) mentioned, “We entered the match poorly.” Despite the efforts made by Japan to find their rhythm, a PK was given to Mexico in the 11th minute, when ENDO Wataru (VfB Stuttgart) fouled Alexis VEGA inside the box. .....
EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
NEWS / RELEASE
10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-24 Japan National Team finish fourth after losing to Mexico 1-3 at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020)
+
10passion
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Muto adds depth to Vissel Kobe squad](https://image.eaff.com/index/6162.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [GUAM FA] 51 players named to Masakåda preliminary roster for Asian Cup](https://image.eaff.com/index/6161.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-24 Japan National Team to play in bronze medal match after losing to Spain in semi-final](https://image.eaff.com/index/6160.jpg)
![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)