S. Korea paired with Germany, Mexico, Fiji in Olympic men’s football

SEOUL, (Yonhap) — South Korea have been paired with Germany, Mexico and Fiji in the 2016 Olympic men’s football tournament.

At a drawing held in Rio de Janeiro, the host city of this year’s Summer Games, South Korea ended up in Group C with those three countries.

The 16 qualified nations were divided into four groups of four. The top two nations from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. The Olympic tournament is open to players under 23, though each nation is allowed to select up to three overage players as “wild cards.”

South Korea will be playing in their eighth consecutive Olympic men’s football tournament, and will be chasing their second straight podium finish after winning bronze — the country’s first-ever medal in Olympic football, men’s or women’s — in 2012.

South Korean head coach Shin Tae-yong recently singled out Fiji as the weakest country among the 16 qualified teams. South Korea have never faced Fiji, which qualified for Rio by winning the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

South Korea have also yet to play Germany at the U-23 level. Against Mexico, South Korea have two wins, four draws and one loss. They were in the same group at the 2012 London Olympics and had a scoreless draw then.

In Brazil, South Korea’s first match will be on Aug. 4 against Fiji at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador. The next match will be on Aug. 7 versus Germany at the same venue. South Korea will travel to Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia for the final group match against Mexico on Aug. 10.

All quarterfinals matches will take place on Aug. 13, followed by the semifinals on Aug. 17. Both the bronze medal contest and the final will be on Aug. 20.

The other groups are: Brazil, South Africa, Iraq and Denmark in Group A; Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria and Japan in Group B; and Honduras, Algeria, Argentina and Portugal in Group D.