Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Japan primed to end long wait for podium finish

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Japan primed to end long wait for podium finish

Tokyo: Japan aim to put an end to their medal drought with an ensemble of youth and experience for their highest finish at their home Olympics in Tokyo.

Hajime Moriyasu is confident of glory on home soil ahead of Tokyo 2020, with the 53-year-old tactician having chosen the players who will give Japan the best chance of achieving success that has eluded them since the heights of 1968.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_-_md3_group_b_qatar_1-1_japan.html

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2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage – 5 of the Best: Long-Range Goals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage – 5 of the Best: Long-Range Goals

Kuala Lumpur: The 2021 AFC Champions League group stage saw some great goals over the last few months and, with continental action on a temporary break, we've selected some of the very best from various categories.

Kicking off the-AFC.com's '5 of the Best' series, here are five long-range rockets for you to cast your eyes over before telling us which is your favourite by voting at the bottom of the article.

Japan play to a draw with Spain in final Olympic warm-up

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Japan play to a draw with Spain in final Olympic warm-up

Kobe: Japan battled to a 1-1 draw with Spain in their final warm-up match on Saturday before the start of the Tokyo Olympics.

Ritsu Doan scored Japan's opener three minutes before half time at Kobe's Noevir Stadium with Spain pressing hard after the break with Javi Puado netting the equaliser in the 78th minute.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Australia's Olyroos out to shock the world

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Australia's Olyroos out to shock the world

Tokyo: After a 13-year absence Australia are back on the men’s Olympics football stage, now they’re out to become the Tokyo Games’ greatest surprise package.

Having battled travel restrictions, squad upheaval and a dearth of chances to get on to the same pitch, the Olyroos find themselves in arguably the toughest group in the competition, but Graham Arnold’s men have no shortage of belief.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Tokyo: A global powerhouse of the women’s game in the first half of the 2010s, Japan’s rebuild has often been focused on performing at their home Olympics in Tokyo. Now it’s time to deliver.

In the third of our Asian team previews ahead of the football action at this summer’s games, the-AFC.com runs the rule over Asian champions Japan, whose squad combines big-stage experience with outstanding young talent.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Tokyo: Every one of the 11,000 athletes converging on Japan for these most unique of Olympic Games will have overcome some form of adversity, but few will have travelled a road to Tokyo as challenging as the one navigated by the Chinese women’s national team.

In the second of our pre-Olympic previews, join the-AFC.com as we run the rule over Jia Xiuquan’s side who, having performed minor miracles to reach Tokyo 2020, will be determined to challenge a pair of heavyweights in Group G.

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's new era faces first major test under Gustavsson

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's new era faces first major test under Gustavsson

Tokyo: A year later than planned, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are finally within sight, with seven Asian football teams chasing gold across the men’s and women’s competitions.

Before the football action begins on July 21, the-AFC.com is here to tell all you need to know about the continent’s contenders, including their road to Tokyo, their star players and what to expect from their opponents.

The first team in our series is Asia’s highest ranked women’s national team, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts, Australia, who will be eager to begin a new era in style under head coach Tony Gustavsson.