After winning all three of their group matches at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Japanese national soccer team will meet the ‘invincible’ Spain in the semifinals.

The Japanese defeated Israel 1-0 in their final Group D match at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France, on Aug. 31 (KST), thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal.

Japan, who topped Group D with three straight wins, including a 5-0 victory over Paraguay and a 1-0 win over Mali, will face unbeaten Spain, who finished second in Group C, in the quarterfinals.

Japan, who won bronze at the 1968 tournament in Mexico, did not draw a wild card (players over 24) for the tournament and fielded an all-U-23 team, making it their first medal hunt in 56 years.

The game was tightly contested through 90 minutes, with neither Japan nor Israel scoring.

In second-half stoppage time, Japan scored the dramatic winner.

Gaines Sato whipped in a low cross from the right flank, and Hosoya Mao, who had rushed into the penalty area in front of the goal, calmly slotted home with his right foot to send the game to a shootout.

Spain, meanwhile, advanced to the quarterfinals after falling 1-2 to Egypt in their final Group C match, finishing second in the group.

Spain conceded the opening goal in the 40th minute through Ibrahim Adil.

Egypt broke down the right flank with a long kick from the back, and Adil received a pass near the penalty arc and split the goal with a stunning right-footed shot.

Spain went into halftime trailing 0-1, but a silly mistake by the defense in the 17th minute of the second half gave the ball away and allowed Adil to score another goal to widen the gap with Egypt.

Spain escaped defeat in the 45th minute with a header from Omorodion Samu.

Egypt (7 points), who leapfrogged Spain (6 points) to top Group C, will play Group D runner-up Paraguay for a spot in the semifinals.

Hosts France, who topped Group A, will meet Group B runner-up Argentina.

Argentina tied Morocco (6+) for the most points, goals scored, and goals for, but were relegated to second place due to their head-to-head record (1-2) and will play France in a “preview final” in the quarterfinals.

Morocco, who topped Group B, will face Group A runner-up USA in the quarterfinals for the first time in 52 years since the 1972 Olympics in West Germany. 안전한 파워볼사이트