On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Japan U‑20 faced France U‑20 in Santiago, Chile, at the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA U‑20 World Cup. Fans were on the edge of their seat during the match. Both teams performed admirably in regular time and had many chances, but neither scored a goal in the match. In extra time, France scored the only goal of the game, by Lucas Michal, to win the match 1–0. Japan performed very well and controlled parts of the game, but they were eliminated while France moved to the quarterfinals.
Match Summary:
From the initial kick-off, Japan U-20 and France U-20 played an aggressive game, creating early opportunities and pressing in the midfield. Both goalkeepers made important stops and kept the match scoreless during most of the regulation time.
Throughout the match, France began to control the possession and put on more sustained pressure. The moment of the match came in extra time when Lucas Michal scored a penalty kick in the 120th minute after a foul in the box gave France a 1-0 margin. Japan was still pushing for an equalizer, creating many chances, but Japan could not turn any of the opportunities into goals.
What went wrong for Japan U-20?
Japan had issues capitalizing on scoring opportunities and breaking down France’s disciplined defense. The midfield dropped in and out of control, and France’s attackers could not convert on key opportunities. On the other hand, France executed its game plan. They stayed structured defensively, and, after many missed goal attempts, they took advantage of an important opportunity for the only goal of the game. Japan fought hard and showed resilience, but France deserved the 1-0 victory in advancing to the quarter finals.
