‘Advance to the round of 16 is determined by the results of Groups E and F.’
Japan has fallen into a ‘menbong’.안전놀이터 Japan lost 1-2 in the third match of Group C of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup group stage against Israel held at Mendoza Stadium in Mendoza, Argentina on the 28th (Korean time). Staying on 3 points (1 win, 2 losses), it was pushed to 3rd place in the group. Japan is in a position to wait for the ‘3rd place wild card in the group’. In this tournament, the top 12 teams in each group A to F and the top 4 teams in each group will advance to the round of 16. Japan is only fifth out of the six countries that currently rank third in the group. We have to wait for the results of the final match of Groups E to F on the 29th. Japan was in danger of being eliminated from the group stage for the first time in 22 years since the 2001 tournament. Since 2009, Japan has failed to advance to the final stage in four consecutive tournaments. In 2017 and 2019, they advanced to the round of 16 consecutively.
On this day, Japan took the lead against Israel with Isa Sakamoto’s header in extra time in the first half. In Israel, 10 players fought amid the bad news that Ran Binyamin, who was substituted in the 16th minute of the second half, received two yellow cards for only 3 minutes from the 20th minute of the second half and was sent off. But paradoxically, Israel got stronger after Binjamin’s departure. Roy Navi’s header equalized in the 31st minute of the second half. In the mood, Israel even tied Omer Senior’s goal in the second half of extra time. Japan lost 1-2.
Japanese media Nikkan Sports said on the 28th, ‘Japan lost to Israel and finished the group stage in 3rd place in Group C. In the first leg, they won 1-0 against Senegal, but lost to Colombia and then to Israel. The 3rd place team in Groups E and F must be ahead in points and goal difference to advance to the round of 16. Japan had reached the round of 16 in the previous five tournaments, but this time the red light was turned on.”