After losing out on bids to compete for a gold medal during Tuesday's semifinals at the 2012 Summer Olympics, the men's football teams from Japan and South Korea will battle for the bronze medal on Friday at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The match is scheduled to kick off at 2:45 p.m. local time (2:45 p.m. ET in the United States).
The game will be broadcast live on MSNBC in the United States, and will be streamed online at NBCOlympics.com and through the NBC Olympics Live Extra app on mobile devices. Viewers watching the online stream will have the option of viewing the MSNBC simulcast (with commentary) or a video-only stream.
The two teams have had one common opponent during these Olympic Games, that being Mexico. South Korea was able to hold the Mexican side to a scoreless draw when they met in the first match of group play, while Mexico was able to torch Japanese keeper Shuichi Gonda for three goals during Tuesday's semifinal. Up to that point, Gonda had not allowed a goal at the Olympics.
Defense has been the key for both teams at the Olympics, but Korea in particular has depended on its defense, having scored only three goals in five games. Japan, by contrast, has scored six goals in five games, including three during a quarterfinal win over Egypt. Yuki Otsu leads the Japanese side with three goals, followed by Kensuke Nagai with two. Bokyung Kim, Dongwon Ji and Chuyoung Park are the three goal-scorers for South Korea.
