Defending champions Brazil have been clubbed in the same group as powerhouse Germany in the boys’s Olympic soccer match, the draw for which was introduced in Zurich, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Besides the 2 footballing giants, the opposite two groups in Group D are Côte d’Ivoire and Saudi Arabia.
The group contains a repeat of the 2016 Rio Olympics ultimate, the place the house favourites received on penalties after Max Meyer had cancelled out talismanic captain Neymar’s first-half free-kick.
In Group C, Argentina, gold medallists at 2004 Athens 2004 and 2008 Beijing, tackle 1992 Barcelona Olympic champions Spain in what’s primed to be probably the most eagerly anticipated clashes of the group stage. They will probably be joined by Australia and Egypt.
Japan have been drawn in Group A, the place they’ll face off in opposition to South Africa, Mexico and France. The competitors, which begins on July 22 on the Sapporo Dome in Tokyo, will start with the hosts taking up a South Africa aspect that certified for the Olympics after a penalty shootout win in opposition to Ghana in the Junior Nations Cup.
The opening spherical of the match has thrown up some powerful challenges for Japan, with group opponents Mexico just lately profitable the CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers thanks, in no small half, to the prolific strike partnership of Sebastian Cordova and Uriel Antuna.
France might additionally pose a big risk to Japan, with a possible crew of stars that features Odsonne Edouard (Celtic), Colin Dagba (PSG), Jules Kounde (Sevilla) and Eduardo Kamavinga (Rennes), amongst others.
This 12 months, the boys’s Olympic soccer match will probably be made up of gamers beneath the age of 24, with every collaborating nation allowed to complement their squad with three overage gamers.
The draw:
Group A: Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France.
Group B: New Zealand, Korea Republic, Honduras, Romania.
Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Australia.
Group D: Brazil, Germany, Côte d’Ivoire, Saudi Arabia.
