The football tournament at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games continues early Thursday morning (Korea Time). Korea of course eased past Fiji in the first group game, but then drew against Germany 3-3 in a back and forth game. This final group game is against Mexico the defending champions from London 2012.
Before looking at that game lets quickly overview the Men’s 2016 Olympic Football Tournament;
Men’s Football at the Rio Summer Olympic Games 2016
As shown above 15 national plus hosts Brazil qualified for the Olympic Football Tournament. Sides are comprised of under 23 squads plus 3 overaged players. The tournament starts with 4 groups of 4, with the top 2 sides progressing to the knockout stages. Then it’s winner takes all going toward the goal medal final later this month.
Games take place in stadiums used during the 2014 World Cup, and with a country whose national sport is football you know this tournament will be well supported.
Olympic Games Men’s Football Group C
- South Korea 4pts +8gd
- Mexico 4pts +4gd
- Germany 2pts 0gd
- Fiji 0pts -12gd
Fiji are out and Germany require a win to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. Here are the different finishing scenarios;
If Fiji beat or draw with Germany both South Korea & Mexico will progress.
If South Korea and Mexico draw and Germany win by less than 4 goals. South Korea & Mexico will progress.
If South Korea and Mexico draw and Germany win by 4 goals. South Korea will progress, and it will come down to goals scored between Germany and Mexico.
If South Korea and Mexico draw and Germany win by more than 4 goals. South Korea & Germany will progress.
If South Korea win and Germany win they’ll both progress.
If Mexico win and Germany win they’ll both progress.
South Korea U23 vs. Mexico U23 – Preview and Prediction (Thursday August 11th 2016 at 4am Korean Time)
South Korea U23:
South Korea will be looking to go 2 steps further these Olympic Games and a take a gold medal, bettering the Bronze they won in London. The U23 squad also won the Gold Medal 2 years ago at the Asian Games held in Incheon. They came runners-up in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship back in January to qualify, and so have a proven track record. They’ve played 6 friendlies this year in preparation winning 4 and drawing 2, the last game a few days ago was against Sweden which they won 3-2. In the first group game they beat Pacific Island Minnows Fiji 8-0, however it was only 1-0 after 60mins. Korea showed better conditioning later in the match and start taking their chances.
Key Player: Tottenham Hotspur Striker Son Heung-Min (valued around $30million) will be a danger for any defence during this tournament. He’s played at the World Cup and Asian Cup, so he also brings in valuable experience. He played the final 20mins of the first game and scored. He then played a full 90 against Germany scoring again.
Mexico U23:
Mexico shocked many by winning the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. However since then a lot of that squad has moved on and has been replaced by the u20 Concacaf Championship winning squad. Also almost the whole squad is based in Mexico with a number of players coming from C.F. Pachuca. So they will be close and be able to play well as a team. In the first game they drew with Germany 2-2 losing the lead twice. They then beat Fiji 5-1, but were losing until early in the second half.
Key Player: 21 year old Erick Gutiérrez scored 4 of the 5 goals against Fiji and was part of the CONCACAF U20 squad. He could be the key danger man for Mexico.
Head-to-Head: They have played each other a few times before at the Olympic Games, Korea won 1-0 in 2004. The other 2 games ended 0-0 in 1996 and 2012.
Prediction:
South Korea U23 1 – 1 Mexico U23
South Korea’s hammering of Fiji of course giving them the slight advantage over Mexico in regards to goal difference. This will be an even match and both sides might be happy with a draw depending on how Germany do against Fiji.
South Korea U23 vs. Mexico U23 (Olympic Games Group C) Result & photos
South Korea U23 1 – 0 Mexico U23
This was an even game at the beginning with both sides going close but also defending deeply. However thing opened up in the 2nd half, most likely due to the fact Germany were hammering Fiji in the other group game. Suwon Bluewings star Kwon Chang-Hoon scored the only goal of the game following a great cut inside run in the 77th minute. He should have made it two shortly after. Mexico looked tired and ended the game with 10men after a silly red card for sub Lozano.
South Korea progress to the Quarter Finals were they’ll meet another Central American Side Honduras. Germany won the days other game 10-0 and will play Portugal in the knockout stages.
Finally
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Tim
Modern Seoul
tim@modernseoul.org
Modern Seoul 