US Media Underrates Japanese Olympic Team: France, Argentina Recruit Overage Players; Your Fully Age-Appropriate Squad Has Never Advanced from the Group Stage

The Paris Olympics are about to commence, and Japan’s U23 men’s football team hopes to make a run for a medal. However, due to the team’s inability to recruit overage players, they are not highly favored by outsiders.

Japan is embarking on its eighth consecutive Olympic campaign. At the previous Tokyo Olympics, they narrowly lost in the semifinals to the formidable Spanish team and then fell short against Mexico in the bronze medal match, narrowly missing out on a medal. Despite this, they made history by finishing fourth and captured global attention.

In April of this year, at the U23 Asian Cup, which served as the Asian qualifier for the Paris Olympics, the Japanese team once again demonstrated their strength by winning the title outright.

Under the leadership of Hajime Moriyasu, the Japanese team has set its sights on reaching the final of the Paris Olympics. However, US media outlet Forbes noted, “The Japanese team was once seen as a strong contender for a medal, but the failure to include overage players and young stars like Takefusa Kubo, who have made their mark in European leagues, has significantly lowered expectations.”

At the Tokyo Olympics, Japan had called up three overage players: defender Maya Yoshida, defender Hiroki Sakai, and midfielder Wataru Endo. However, these experienced players were not selected for this tournament. Additionally, the team failed to include key players from the “Paris Olympic generation,” such as Takefusa Kubo, Ayane Suzuki, and Yuto Suzuki, who have performed well in European leagues, undoubtedly weakening the team’s overall strength.

In contrast, other medal favorites like France and Argentina have successfully recruited overage players into their squads. In comparison, Japan’s roster appears somewhat thin on the international stage. In fact, historically, the Japanese team has never advanced from the group stage without the support of overage players. Now, whether Hajime Moriyasu’s Japanese team can break through the doubts and ultimately stand on the podium has become a focal point for everyone.