After the Women’s tournament kicked off football at the 2020 Olympics on Wednesday - Team GB picking up an impressive victory - the Men’s event has followed suit on Thursday with Mexico and New Zealand among the early winners.
Brazil served notice of their intent - and more importantly their ability - to retain the Olympic Gold medal in men’s football with an impressive 4-2 victory over Germany on Thursday.
Five years ago in Rio, these two sides met in the final and it took a penalty shootout to separate them; here in Yokohama there was an absolute gulf between them in terms of quality, despite the scoreline somehow looking as though it was a reasonably close affair. And while it is only the first match of six if Brazil plan to go all the way once more and emulate Neymar, Marquinhos and Co, there were few flaws on show - outside of errant finishing - to give an indication of how rivals could upset them, even factoring in conceding twice.
Follow all the reaction to Brazil against Germany and the latest Olympics news from Tokyo 2020 below:
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Justin Vallejo22 July 2021 17:24
Australia beats New Zealand 2-1 in no surprise at all
Since the A-train is rolling through today, the women’s Australian team had a win over New Zealand 2-1.
Which should come as no surprise to anyone. (Again, bias showing).
Sam Kerr and Tameka Yallop both scored for Australia. Gabi Rennie got one on the board in stoppage time.
Justin Vallejo22 July 2021 17:05
Australia shock Argentina 2-0 and the games can end now
It’s all over even before the games officially begin.
Australia’s Olyroos beat Argentina – the two-time Olympic gold football medallists and two-time World Cup champions – in by far the highlight of these Tokyo Games and (bias showing) there’s nothing more to see here.
Aussie Lachlan Wales hit the net in the first half and team mate Marco Tilio put them 2 up coming off the bench late in the second half. And all with no Hand of God.
Argentina scored no goals. Go home with no points. And may their country have mercy on their souls.
Justin Vallejo22 July 2021 16:25
Dujardin insists she ‘won’t go down without a fight’ at Tokyo Olympics
Charlotte Dujardin is ready to throw everything at the Tokyo Games as her Olympic journey enters a new phase.
British dressage star Dujardin dominated at London 2012 and in Rio five years ago, winning two individual golds and a team title aboard the mesmeric Valegro.
It was a combination that rewrote the dressage record books for world-best scores, with that triple being among 10 gold medals they collected in Olympic Games, World and European Championships.
After Valegro’s post-Rio retirement, Dujardin concentrated on developing an exciting string of young horses led by Mount St John Freestyle and Gio, the 10-year-old gelding she will ride in Tokyo.
As a combination, Dujardin and Gio might have relatively few miles on the clock, but they posted a notable victory behind closed doors at the prestigious Hagen show in Germany last year.
Team success alongside six-time Olympian Carl Hester and Games debutant Charlotte Fry could ultimately offer 36-year-old Dujardin’s best hope of a fourth Olympic gold.
If it happens, Dujardin would become only the second female British athlete to achieve that feat after cyclist Laura Kenny and the competitive fires are burning brightly.
British dressage star Dujardin dominated at London 2012 and in Rio five years ago, winning two individual golds and a team title.
Dylan Terry22 July 2021 16:00
Biden to stop in Alaska on her way to Tokyo Olympics
Jill Biden embarks Wednesday on her first solo international trip as first lady, leading an American delegation to the Olympic Games in Tokyo where the coronavirus is surging and COVID-19 infections have climbed to a six-month high.
She will stop in Alaska on the way to Japan, and in Hawaii before she returns to Washington.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that President Joe Biden and the first lady both felt it was important that the delegation be led “at the highest level,” and that Jill Biden looked forward to the long journey to help support U.S. athletes, who will be competing in some of the starkest conditions for an Olympic Games.
JIll Biden is setting out on her first solo international trip as first lady
Dylan Terry22 July 2021 15:50
Diver Daley gives tour of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village
Diver Tom Daley gave a fascinating tour of the Tokyo Olympic Village in a TikTok video, letting viewers take a peek at the quarters that more than 10,000 athletes will call home in the coming weeks.
The Team GB star filmed himself and roommate Matty Lee bouncing on their beds, before showing off their “multifunctional” Japanese toilet and big shower.
“Yes we’ve tried - we can fit everyone in that shower at the same time,” Daley says.
“Team GB have done a great job at making us feel at home,” he says, pointing the camera at balconies draped with the team’s banners.
Diver Tom Daley gave a fascinating tour of the Tokyo Olympic village in a TikTok video, letting viewers take a peek at the quarters that more than 10,000 athletes will call home in the coming weeks.The Team GB star filmed himself and roommate Matty Lee bouncing on their beds, before showing off their “multifunctional” Japanese toilet and big shower.“Yes we’ve tried - we can fit everyone in that shower at the same time,” Daley says.“Team GB have done a great job at making us feel at home,” he says, pointing the camera at balconies draped with the team’s banners.
Dylan Terry22 July 2021 15:40
Dobbin relishing unexpected chance to be an Olympian
Sprinter Beth Dobbin admits she never expected to be an Olympian but is ready to grab her chance.
The Scottish 200m record holder’s rapid rise and selection for Tokyo has left her in disbelief ahead of the Games, which start on Friday.
She juggled four jobs while at Loughborough University including as a receptionist at the high performance centre, and was unfunded before becoming British 200m champion in 2018.
A huge fan of Kelly Holmes as a youngster - now with the chance to emulate her
Dylan Terry22 July 2021 15:30
Archibald believes GB will have to break world record in search of gold
Katie Archibald believes Great Britain will need to break their own world record if they are to defend their women’s team pursuit title at the Tokyo Olympics.
Archibald was part of the quartet – alongside Laura KennyElinor Barker and Joanna Rowsell Shand – who set a new mark of four minutes 10.236 seconds to take gold in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.
That time still stands as the world record, but rumours abound of rival teams having gone faster in training rides.
“We are certainly going to have to go a lot faster than Rio,” Archibald said. “What we want to repeat about it is the gold medal, what we want to repeat about it is a world record.”
A fiercely competitive arena lies ahead if gold is to be retained
Dylan Terry22 July 2021 15:20
Thomas spurred on by bad memories from Rio going into Olympic road race
Geraint Thomas will be spurred on by bad memories from Rio when he rides in Saturday’s Olympic road race on Mount Fuji.
The Welshman – a double Olympic champion on the track – was looking good for a medal in the road race five years ago before landing in a gutter on the final descent around 10km from the finish line.
“I don’t lose sleep over it now, but it’s one of those things,” the 2018 Tour de France winner said. “It was there for the taking almost, it was a great opportunity but that’s the way it goes.
“(Team psychiatrist) Steve Peters is always telling me life isn’t fair and you don’t always get what you deserve but it was super frustrating and obviously I’d love to put that right on Saturday.”
Medal hopes in Tokyo but it didn’t have a happy ending five years ago
Dylan Terry22 July 2021 15:12
Guinea pulls out of Olympics due to Covid surge
Guinea have pulled out of the Olympic Games, citing a ‘resurgence of Covid variants’.
Minister of sports Sanoussy Bantama Sow said: “Due to the resurgence of COVID variants, the government, concerned with preserving the health of Guinean athletes, has decided with regret to cancel Guinea’s participation in the 32nd Olympics scheduled for Tokyo.”
The decision means five of the country’s athletes will now not be competing at the Games.
Guinea are just the second country to withdraw from Tokyo 2020 due to coronavirus, with the first being North Korea.
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