Olympic Games
It was their third straight win in a row as well as many clean sheets, a record they share with France heading into the knockout stage.
Despite making six changes to the starting lineup with qualification to the quarter-finals already assured prior to the match, Japan continued to shine and it was exactly the kind of development that Oiwa wanted to see.
"This is where everyone is going to fight,” said Oiwa. “The Asian Cup was the same where everyone in the squad fought together to win the tournament, including the goalkeepers.
“The players who are playing take it very seriously, and that gave strength to the team and because of that, we were able to beat Israel.
"It goes without saying that the level is already high, so we were forced to play a very difficult game but you see that the team has matured and we have our own style.
“We are going to face a very difficult opponent in the first knockout match but we want to reach the semi-finals and I believe we have the strength to do so.”
Japan’s opponents in Friday’s quarter-final will be Spain, after the European side suffered their first defeat of the campaign, going down 2-1 to Egypt to finish as the Group C runners-up.
Oiwa could potentially be without Sota Kawasaki after the midfielder was stretchered off midway through the second half against Israel after taking a heavy blow to his waist.
Photo: AFP
