Brazil started their push for gold in the men’s football tournament at the Olympics with a spectacular 4-2 win over Germany. Mexico beat France 4-1, while Spain were held by Egypt, 0-0.
Richarlison, the man of the day
It was Brazil 3, Germany 0 after just half an hour in Yokohama. And all three goals came from the same man. Everton’s Richarlison (‘7, ’22, ’30) became the first Premier League player to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. Brazil is in the pursuit of its seventh gold medal in the men’s football tournament.
Germany got back in the game thanks to goals from Amiri (’57) and Ache (’84), before Paulinho sentenced the scoreboard (’90).
Brazil and Germany are part of Group D. In the other game of the group, Cote d’Ivoire beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.
Humiliating defeat for France
With a spectacular lineup featuring Florian Thauvin, Lucas Tousart, or Andre-Pierre Gignac, France were big favorites to win their Olympics opener against Mexico. But it didn’t go well for Sylvain Ripoll’s men. Mexico won the game 4-1, with all the five goals in the match coming after half-time. Vega (’47) opened the scoring, then Cordova made it 2-0 (’54), before Gignac got one back for France from a lucky penalty shot. Antuna (’80) and Eduardo Aguire (’90) made the Europeans suffer a heavy loss in Chofu.
Japan beat South Africa 1-0 (Kubo ’71) in the other game played in Group A.
Spain moved half of its Euros team to Tokyo
Six of the 11 players who started the game against Egypt were a vital part of Spain’s Euro 2020 campaign. Unai Simon, Pau Torres, Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, Mikkel Oyarzabal, and Pedri all started against Egypt. The North-African national team were no pushovers and managed to hold on to a 0-0 draw.
More than because of the result, Spain’s staff is worried with the injuries picked up by Mingueza and Dani Ceballos. Both will be out against Australia, on Sunday. It comes as really bad news, considering the Australians won their game versus Argentina 2-0, in another surprise result of the opening day at the Olympics.
Spain is the bookies favorite to win the tournament, at +200. Brazil follows, at +300, with France at +450. Argentina and Germany are tied at +800, while the hosts in Japan are at +1100.
