Bayern Munich has five female Olympians — including a loanee currently playing in Sweden — and one male Olympian competing in soccer in the Paris Olympics. Representing Germany are four current FC Bayern Frauen players: Giulia Gwinn, Lea Schüller, Klara Bühl, and Sydney Lohmann. Representing Japan is Momoko Tanikawa — a mid-season transfer last season who has been on loan with FC Rosengård since signing with Bayern in January. Lastly, the lone male Bayern representative for soccer is France’s Michael Olise — a newcomer for the upcoming season. Here is how each team has done in the first two matchdays of the group stage:
Germany (Women’s)
Germany got out to a strong start against Australia in their first match. Gwinn, Bühl, and Schüller all started. Wolfsburg’s Marina Hegering got the scoring started in the 24th minute that led to a 1-0 halftime lead. Bayern’s Lohmann subbed on at halftime to help Germany score two more goals. Bühl scored the second goal of the match in the 64th minute before Wolfsburg’s Jule Brand finished the scoring in the 68th minute. Germany finished with a strong 3-0 win.
Germany’s second match was against the United States. Both teams were level in the group standings going in, each winning 3-0 in the first match and matching every other tiebreaker. The US started off strong with a goal in the 10th minute. Gwinn stepped up from her right back position to smack a low shot past the defenders and goalie for a goal. Unfortunately that is all Germany would get and they fell 4-1.
Germany sits in second place in their group, level on points with Australia, but leading in goal differential. With a result on the final match day of the group stage, they should be onto the knockout rounds.
France (Men’s)
Michael Olise has perhaps been the player of the tournament so far. France started the tournament against the United States. Olise started for France and played the first 82 minutes. The match was a stalemate through halftime, but Olise helped get the scoring going for the hosts, when he assisted Alexandre Lacazette’s goal in the 61st minute. Lacazette returned the favor in the 69th minute when he assisted Olise for a goal. France added a third after Olise was subbed off, and won 3-0 with Olise taking man of the match honors.
Olise started once again for France against Guinea. Again, the hosts were unable to score until the second half, although Olise had created a lot of chances before then. In the 72nd minute, Freiburg’s Killian Sildillia scored the match’s only goal after an assist by Olise, who again was the highest rated player of the match.
With six points and a +4 goal differential, France is all but onto the knockout rounds.
Japan (Women’s)
Tanikawa did not make an appearance in Japan’s first match of the tournament. It was a tough test against the world’s top-ranked team, Spain. Japan led in the 13th minute, but fell 2-1.
Japan’s second match was against Brazil on Sunday. Tanikawa entered the match in the 80th minute with her team down 1-0. In the second minute of stoppage time, former Bayern player Saki Kumagai stepped up to score an equalizer from the penalty spot. Four minutes later Tanikawa took a shot from well outside the box that seemingly went straight up and then straight back down, over the goalie and into the back of the net for the winner. She was over the moon in celebrations with her teammates.
Japan sits in second, even on points and goal differential with Brazil, but have more goals scored. A result in the last matchday would likely put them through to the knockouts, either as the second place or as one of the two best third place teams.