Soccer-Japanese lead the Asian challenge with eyes on the podium

July 19 (Reuters) – Fifty-three years after winning their first and only Olympic medal to date, the Japanese male footballers aim to make history at home under Hajime Moriyasu.

Kunishige Kamamoto’s double in 1968 earned Japan a bronze medal with a victory over hosts Mexico, but since then there have been near misses and no medals.

However, confidence is growing that Moriyasu’s side could finally break Japan’s medal mantle after a string of impressive results so far this year.

A 1-1 draw with Spain on Saturday came after wins against Argentina, Ghana, Jamaica and Honduras and many are dreaming of a return to the podium for the country’s footballers.

“We arrived focusing on winning this game and it’s a shame we didn’t,” Moriyasu said after facing Spain, underlining his ambition against a side whose core has featured in Euro 2020 semi-final.

The Japanese are expected to kick off their campaign against South Africa on Thursday, followed by meetings with Mexico and France as they seek a place in the quarter-finals.

Hopes, however, were high before, only for grief to ensue.

As the Japanese prepared to co-host the World Cup, Philippe Troussier led a talented side to Sydney in 2000, missing out on the medal rounds when they were eliminated on penalties in the quarterfinals by the States- United.

Twelve years later, the country moved closer still, reaching the bottom four, but failed with a loss to eventual gold medalists Mexico before falling to neighboring South Korea in the third. place in the playoffs.

The South Koreans’ 2-0 victory was the first medal for an Asian men’s team at the Olympics since Japan’s success in 1968, and Kim Hak-bum’s side are also hoping to make an impact in Tokyo.

While Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min was not included among the three allowed majors, Kim has one of the most talented young teams in Asia at his disposal.

His team won the Asian Under-23 Championship last year to qualify and they are banking on strong team ethics to help them make an impact in the group stage against New Zealand, the Honduras and Romania.

“We have to sacrifice ourselves for each other. Then we can compete with the best of them,” said over-aged Kwon Chang-hoon.

“We’re all chasing the common goal. Most guys will only get one chance to play at the Olympics, and I’m not here just for my own good. We’re all in the same boat.”

Saudi Arabia and Australia will also represent Asia, with the West Asians rounding out their squad with World Cup veterans Yasser Al Shahrani, Salem Al Dawsari and Salman Al Faraj as they take on Brazil, Germany and Côte d’Ivoire.

Graham Arnold’s Olyroos face Spain, Argentina and Egypt on a difficult mission in the country’s first appearance at the Olympics since 2008.

Reporting by Michael Church, editing by Michael Perry

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