The statistics are favorable.
The match between Japan and Spain was one of the most anticipated games in the quarter-finals of the men's football tournament at the Paris Olympics. While Spain were the defending runners-up, Japan had also won all three of their group stage matches with impressive form.
Despite bringing a purely U.23 squad (without over-age players) to the Paris Olympics, Japan still showed impressive strength by defeating Paraguay (5-0), Mali (1-0), and Israel (1-0) to top Group D with a perfect 9 points. Conversely, Spain unexpectedly lost to Egypt in the final match with a score of 1-2, thus finishing second in the group.
Japan won all their matches in the group stage of the men's Olympic football tournament.
According to statistics from the Japanese press, although the team nicknamed "The Blue Samurai" is considered the underdog, they have the historical advantage against Spain.
Specifically, since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, when men's football featured 16 teams (as in the current format), 10 teams have advanced from the group stage with a perfect record and all have gone on to reach the semi-finals.
Nine out of these ten teams went on to win Olympic medals, with only one exception: Japan at the Tokyo Olympics. Three years earlier, Japan won all three group stage matches, reaching the semi-finals, but then lost to Spain, and subsequently lost the third-place match as well.
Olympic history has only recorded three instances of teams winning all their group stage matches and keeping a clean sheet, all of whom subsequently won medals. These are Spain (gold medal) at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Argentina (gold medal) at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and Brazil (bronze medal) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Japan (in blue) has no overage players in their squad.
At the Paris Olympics, there are currently two teams that have won all their group stage matches without conceding a single goal: Japan and France. If history repeats itself, Japan will beat Spain to reach the semi-finals.
Japanese coach confident
According to coach Tsuyoshi Oiwa, focus and determination in all three matches helped Japan secure a perfect 9 points, thus earning them a place in the knockout round.
"The players truly understood the significance of this match. I want to commend their spirit and focus," Oiwa affirmed after Japan's 1-0 victory over Israel in their final match.
At the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Japan lost to Spain 0-1 after 120 minutes. "La Furia Roja's" only goal came in extra time from Marco Asensio, an overage player. However, coach Oiwa is not deterred by past events, asserting that Japan will showcase their own unique style of play when they meet Spain again.
"Japan will analyze the tactics and find a suitable way to play for this match. Spain is very strong, there's no doubt about that. This match will be very difficult for Japan, but we will showcase our own style of play," Oiwa emphasized.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thong-ke-thu-vi-giup-olympic-nhat-ban-mo-ve-phep-la-truoc-tay-ban-nha-18524080109010519.htm
