Japan will face France in a men’s football U-23 friendly on July 17 ahead of the Paris Olympics, the Japan Football Association said Thursday. Japan qualified for their eighth straight Olympics and 12th overall after winning the U-23 Asian Cup on May 3. Their meeting with the Olympic hosts France in Toulon comes a week before the Samurai Blue’s Group D opener against Paraguay. “It’ll be a touchstone and an extremely important opportunity as we look to go far at the Olympics,” Japan U-23 manager Go Oiwa said. Japan also face Mali and Israel in their group at the Olympics.