On Wednesday 17 July local time, the U-23 Japan National Team played an international friendly match against the host nation of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (Paris 2024) and one of the favourites to win the tournament, the U-23 France National Team, at Stade Mayol in Toulon, France.
Japan started in a 4-3-3 formation with KOKUBO Leo Brian (Sint-Truidense VV) in goal and a back line consisting of SEKINE Hiroki (Kashiwa Reysol), TAKAI Kota (Kawasaki Frontale), KIMURA Seiji (Sagan Tosu) and HANDA Riku (Gamba Osaka). FUJITA Joel Chima (Sint-Truidense VV) anchored the midfield, while YAMAMOTO Rihito (Sint-Truidense VV) and MITO Shunsuke (Sparta Rotterdam) were the two central midfielders. HIRAKAWA Yu (Bristol City) and SAITO Koki (Lommel SK) were deployed on the flanks, while FUJIO Shota (FC Machida Zelvia) played as a central striker. .....