Exact repeats at goalball quarter-finals

In the women's competition, Japan go up against Brazil in the quarter-finals. With Japan’s defensive style of play very evident at London 2012, the game promises to be a very tight and tense affair.

The men’s and women’s goalball competitions reach the quarter-final stages on Wednesday (5 September) at the Copper Box.

Great Britain’s female athletes will be in action against Sweden on their quest to win a medal. The host nation has gone from strength to strength in the competition.

Georgina Bullen said of their progress through the tournament: “The journey so far has been so intense. There have been so many tears and so much stress. We came in as the complete underdogs, but now we're a threat.”

China faces the USA in a repeat of the Beijing 2008 women’s goalball final. The United States edged that game 6-5 to take the gold medal and China will be eager to take revenge in London.

Group D winners Canada will meet Finland in their quarter-final match. The Canadians got off to the worst possible start in London, loosing their opening match 2-1 against Sweden. However, a 3-1 win victory against Australia and consecutive 1-0 wins over Japan and the USA saw them top the group on nine points.

After being piped to the top spot in group D by Canada, Japan go up against Brazil in the quarter-finals. With Japan’s defensive style of play very evident at London 2012, the game promises to be a very tight and tense affair.

In the men’s competition there is also a repeat of the Beijing 2008 final in the last eight, as China face Lithuania. The Chinese were victorious in Beijing and will be hoping for a repeat result when they take on the world champions.

Group B winners Iran will take on Finland in the quarter-finals. The Finns were knocked out at this stage in Beijing 2008 by the host nation China, and will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself.

Iran coach Afshin Zandkarimi said his team are calm and confident going into the knockout rounds.

“We are all happy, thank God. I am trying to create a calm environment so they can do well.”

Turkey will be hoping to keep up their unbeaten run when they play Algeria in the last eight. The Turk’s will be confident going into the quarter-finals, after they cruised through group A with minimum fuss.

Brazil goes into their last eight encounter with Belgium full of hope and expectation of reaching the medal matches. Brazil coach Diego Goncalves Colletes said going into the game: “We came here wanting to be among the eight best teams. That changed to the four best teams. Now we want a medal.”