Prior to the Paris Olympics, the France U23 team faced off against their Japanese counterparts in a friendly match that ended in a 1-1 draw. This encounter not only tested the mettle of the tournament favorites, France, but also served as a proving ground for Japan’s bid for a medal.
In the early stages of the game, the home team, France, displayed a formidable attacking prowess and dominated the tempo. However, undeterred by the pressure, Japan stood firm. In the 25th minute, following a well-crafted move, Ryo Fujita capitalized on an opportunity with a cool finish to break the deadlock, giving Japan the lead. This goal ignited Japanese fervor while plunging France into a brief state of disarray.
France’s response was swift and fierce. Just 12 minutes later, Michael Olise, playing for Bayern Munich, leveled the score with a brilliant strike. From then on, the match became tightly contested, with France mounting wave after wave of attack but failing to convert their chances, particularly multiple attempts by Lacazette that did not result in goals, leaving French supporters bitterly disappointed.
On social media, French fans reacted strongly, expressing frustration over the team’s lackluster offensive efficiency and poor ability to capitalize on opportunities. Comments like “Terrible attack!” and “Poor finishing!” were rampant, with some even declaring “This French team is simply awful!” Clearly, as Olympic gold medal hopefuls, France’s performance fell short of expectations, transforming fans’ anticipation into deep concern.
The French media echoed these concerns. L’Équipe noted that despite dominating possession in the second half, France failed to translate this into victory, being “outplayed by Japan.” MadeInFOOT directly criticized the team’s “stuttering” in the final friendly match, suggesting a decline in form at a crucial juncture that could impact their Olympic campaign.
Energie du Foot commended Japan’s resilience, stating they were “surprised by the Japanese” in the first half, witnessing France improve in the second half but lacking “precision,” ultimately settling for a draw.
This match served as a wake-up call for France, exposing weaknesses in their attacking organization and finishing skills, while simultaneously highlighting Japan’s formidable capabilities. For the upcoming French U23 squad bound for the Olympic stage, finding ways to recalibrate and regain confidence is an urgent task. Meanwhile, Japan’s ability to hold the tournament favorites to a draw has bolstered their self-assurance, infusing their impending Olympic journey with greater optimism.
