With China PR and Zambia falling to defeats in their respective Group F matches on Tuesday, Japan joined Australia in advancing as the two best third-placed teams.

Japan, silver medalists in the 2012 London Olympics, will face Group G winners Sweden in Friday's quarter-finals.

Two of Asia's three representatives - hosts Japan and Australia - advanced after a nail-biting day which saw China PR exiting the tournament following their 8-2 defeat to the Netherlands.

The defeat meant China PR failed to make the quarter-finals, with their campaign ending with just one point while the Netherlands advanced to the quarter-finals in style, topping the group on seven points ahead of Brazil on goal difference.

The US progressed as group runners-up behind Sweden while Australia joined the duo in the knockout stage as one of the best two third-placed teams following China PR and Zambia's respective defeats in their final Group F ties.

Australia will play Group A winners Great Britain in the last eight on Friday.

It is a scenario that any Australian would have gleefully signed up for before the competition began.

Drawn into the tournament’s group of death – re-framed as the “group of dreams” by their upbeat head coach Graham Arnold – the Olyroos stunned Argentina 2-0 in their opening match, then held Spain scoreless for 80 minutes before finally succumbing to a 1-0 defeat.

A draw will be enough for the Japanese to seal top spot in Group A and set up a quarter-final meeting with the runners-up from Group B as the nation looks to secure their first Olympic medal in 53 years.

The Japanese go into the game off the back of consecutive wins over South Africa and Mexico, but Moriyasu is taking nothing for granted against a French side that needs to win to have any hope of advancing.

Bronze medalists in 2012, Korea have made the quarter-finals in three of the past four editions of the Games and, currently sat top of Group B on goal difference, they need only a point against Honduras at Yokohama International Stadium to secure qualification.

But with all four teams in the group – the others being New Zealand and Romania – sat level on three points following a win and a defeat each, the situation could barely be any closer ahead of the final round of fixtures.