Japan Olympic men's soccer team manager Makoto Teguramori set his sights on the gold medal as he announced his 18-man squad for the Rio Games on Friday.
A bronze at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic remains the only podium finish by the Japanese men at the Summer Games, with the team missing out on third place four years ago in London after losing to South Korea in the bronze-medal match.
But Teguramori was in a bullish mood as he named his squad for Rio at the Japan Football Association's headquarters, pointing to his team's unbeaten record in qualifying as evidence that it is capable of challenging for the ultimate prize.