In the Olympic men’s football quarterfinals, Taira Miyayama’s goal was disallowed, and Japan was ultimately swept out by Spain with a 3-0 defeat. After the match, Japan U23 head coach Go Oiwa and captain Ryo Fujita spoke to the media.
Oiwa said, “The result of being eliminated is disappointing. However, I believe that both the players and staff did well. We faced many obstacles at the Olympics, and I really think our players have grown a lot.”
Fujita commented, “We were always striving for the championship. Spain is indeed strong, and personally, I need to do more. Although it is regrettable, it has been good to fight together with everyone this far. Everyone loves this team and fights for it. We wanted to reach the final and compete for the title, but we need to become stronger. To no longer lose to such powerful teams, we need to become stronger as individuals. I also hope to play in higher leagues and at a higher level, becoming stronger.”