Group A of the men's football tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics was played from 22 to 28 July 2021 in Chōfu's Tokyo Stadium, Saitama's Saitama Stadium, Sapporo's Sapporo Dome and Yokohama's International Stadium Yokohama. The group consisted of France, host nation Japan, Mexico and South Africa. The top two teams, Japan and Mexico, advanced to the knockout stage.
Teams Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Olympicappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance A1 1 AFC Hosts 7 September 2013 11th 2016 Bronze medalists (1968) A2 3 CAF 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations third place 22 November 2019 3rd 2016 11th place (2000) A3 2 CONCACAF 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship champions 30 March 2021 12th 2016 Gold medalists (2012) A4 4 UEFA 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finalists 27 June 2019 13th 1996 Gold medalists (1984)
Standings
In the quarter-finals, The winners of Group A, Japan, advanced to play the runners-up of Group B, New Zealand. The runners-up of Group A, Mexico, advanced to play the winners of Group B, South Korea.
Matches
Mexico vs France
GK 13Guillermo Ochoa (c)RB 2 Jorge SánchezCB 3 César MontesCB 5 Johan VásquezLB 14Érick AguirreCM 7 Luis RomoCM 8 Charly RodríguezRW 10Diego Lainez AM 17Sebastián Córdova LW 11Alexis Vega CF 9 Henry Martín Substitutions:FW 15Uriel Antuna MF 16José Joaquín Esquivel FW 21Roberto Alvarado FW 18Eduardo Aguirre Head coach:Jaime Lozano GK 1 Paul BernardoniRB 13Clément Michelin CB 2 Pierre KaluluCB 15Modibo SagnanLB 17Anthony Caci CM 6 Lucas Tousart CM 8 Enzo Le FéeRW 14Florian Thauvin AM 11Téji SavanierLW 7 Arnaud Nordin CF 10André-Pierre Gignac (c)Substitutions:MF 12Alexis Beka Beka FW 18Randal Kolo Muani FW 9 Nathanaël Mbuku DF 3 Melvin Bard Head coach:Sylvain Ripoll
Assistant referees: Anton Schetinin (Australia) George Lakrindis (Australia) Fourth official: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) Video assistant referee: Fu Ming (China PR) Assistant video assistant referee: Abdulkadir Bitigen (Turkey)
Japan vs South Africa
GK 12Kosei TaniCB 4 Ko ItakuraCB 5 Maya Yoshida (c)CB 3 Yuta Nakayama RM 8 Koji Miyoshi CM 6 Wataru Endo CM 17Ao TanakaLM 2 Hiroki SakaiRF 10Ritsu Dōan CF 19Daichi Hayashi LF 7 Takefusa KuboSubstitutions:FW 16Yuki Soma MF 13Reo Hatate FW 18Ayase Ueda DF 20Koki Machida Head coach:Hajime Moriyasu GK 1 Ronwen WilliamsRB 4 Teboho MokoenaCB 5 Luke FleursCB 17Thendo Mukumela LB 15Tercious Malepe (c)RM 13Reeve FroslerCM 12Goodman Mosele CM 8 Thabo CeleLM 14Sibusiso MabilisoSS 10Luther SinghCF 9 Evidence MakgopaSubstitutions:FW 18Kobamelo Kodisang MF 7 Nkosingiphile Ngcobo Head coach:David Notoane
Assistant referees: Tulio Moreno (Venezuela) Lubin Torrealba (Venezuela) Fourth official: Kevin Ortega (Peru) Video assistant referee: Mauro Vigliano (Argentina) Assistant video assistant referee: Edvin Jurisevic (United States)
France vs South Africa
GK 1 Paul BernardoniCB 13Clément MichelinCB 2 Pierre KaluluCB 5 Niels Nkounkou RM 14Florian Thauvin CM 6 Lucas Tousart LM 17Anthony CaciRW 18Randal Kolo MuaniAM 11Téji Savanier LW 9 Nathanaël Mbuku CF 10André-Pierre Gignac (c)Substitutions:MF 8 Enzo Le Fée FW 7 Arnaud Nordin MF 12Alexis Beka Beka Head coach:Sylvain Ripoll GK 1 Ronwen Williams RB 13Reeve Frosler CB 5 Luke FleursCB 3 Katlego MohammeLB 15Tercious Malepe (c)CM 4 Teboho Mokoena CM 8 Thabo CeleRW 18Kobamelo Kodisang AM 7 Nkosingiphile Ngcobo LW 10Luther SinghCF 9 Evidence MakgopaSubstitutions:MF 6 Kamohelo Mahlatsi MF 12Goodman Mosele DF 17Thendo Mukumela DF 2 James Monyane Head coach:David Notoane
Assistant referees: Michael Orué (Peru) Jesús Sánchez (Peru) Fourth official: Leodán González (Uruguay) Video assistant referee: Andrés Cunha (Uruguay) Assistant video assistant referee: Marco Guida (Italy)
Japan vs Mexico
GK 12Kosei TaniRB 2 Hiroki Sakai CB 4 Ko ItakuraCB 5 Maya Yoshida (c)LB 3 Yuta NakayamaDM 6 Wataru EndoRM 10Ritsu Dōan CM 17Ao Tanaka LM 16Yuki Soma SS 7 Takefusa KuboCF 19Daichi Hayashi Substitutions:FW 9 Daizen Maeda FW 11Kaoru Mitoma FW 18Ayase Ueda Head coach:Hajime Moriyasu GK 13Guillermo Ochoa (c)RB 2 Jorge Sánchez CB 3 César Montes CB 5 Johan Vásquez LB 14Érick Aguirre CM 7 Luis RomoCM 8 Charly Rodríguez RW 10Diego Lainez AM 17Sebastián CórdovaLW 11Alexis Vega CF 9 Henry MartínSubstitutions:DF 6 Vladimir Loroña MF 16José Joaquín Esquivel FW 15Uriel Antuna FW 21Roberto Alvarado Head coach:Jaime Lozano
Assistant referees: Rui Tavares (Portugal) Paulo Santos (Portugal) Fourth official: Dahane Beida (Mauritania) Video assistant referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández (Spain) Assistant video assistant referee: Adil Zourak (Morocco)
France vs Japan
GK 1 Paul BernardoniRB 13Clément Michelin CB 2 Pierre Kalulu CB 12Alexis Beka BekaLB 4 Timothée Pembélé CM 14Florian ThauvinCM 6 Lucas TousartCM 17Anthony CaciAM 11Téji Savanier CF 18Randal Kolo Muani CF 10André-Pierre Gignac (c)Substitutions:MF 8 Enzo Le Fée DF 15Modibo Sagnan DF 3 Melvin Bard Head coach:Sylvain Ripoll GK 12Kosei TaniRB 2 Hiroki Sakai CB 14Takehiro Tomiyasu CB 5 Maya Yoshida (c)LB 3 Yuta NakayamaDM 6 Wataru Endo CM 17Ao Tanaka CM 13Reo HatateRW 10Ritsu Dōan LW 7 Takefusa Kubo CF 18Ayase UedaSubstitutions:MF 8 Koji Miyoshi DF 15Daiki Hashioka FW 16Yuki Soma DF 4 Ko Itakura FW 9 Daizen Maeda Head coach:Hajime Moriyasu
Assistant referees: David Moran (El Salvador) Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname) Fourth official: Dahane Beida (Mauritania) Video assistant referee: Nicolás Gallo (Colombia) Assistant video assistant referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany)
South Africa vs Mexico
GK 1 Ronwen WilliamsRB 4 Teboho MokoenaCB 5 Luke FleursCB 17Thendo Mukumela LB 15Tercious Malepe (c) CM 3 Katlego Mohamme CM 8 Thabo Cele RW 18Kobamelo Kodisang AM 6 Kamohelo MahlatsiLW 10Luther SinghCF 9 Evidence Makgopa Substitutions:DF 13Reeve Frosler DF 11MacBeth Mahlangu MF 7 Nkosingiphile Ngcobo MF 12Goodman Mosele Head coach:David Notoane GK 13Guillermo Ochoa (c)CB 2 Jorge Sánchez CB 3 César MontesCB 4 Jesús Alberto AnguloRM 6 Vladimir LoroñaCM 7 Luis RomoCM 8 Charly Rodríguez LM 11Alexis Vega RF 15Uriel Antuna CF 9 Henry Martín LF 17Sebastián Córdova Substitutions:DF 12Adrián Mora MF 16José Joaquín Esquivel FW 18Eduardo Aguirre MF 19Jesús Ricardo Angulo FW 10Diego Lainez Head coach:Jaime Lozano
Assistant referees: Mark Rule (New Zealand) Tevita Makasini (Tahiti) Fourth official: Orel Grinfeld (Israel) Video assistant referee: Marco Guida (Italy) Assistant video assistant referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Discipline Fair play points would have been used as a tiebreaker if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows: first yellow card: minus 1 point; indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points; direct red card: minus 4 points; yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;
Only one of the above deductions is applied to a player in a single match.
TeamMatch 1Match 2Match 3Points 2 2 2 –6 2 2 1 –8 2 2 2 1 –10 1 3 1 1 –12
References
External links Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020, FIFA.com