France Argentina suffer shock defeats as Brazil beat Germany

TOKYO: France’s Olympic men’s football campaign left to a dreadful beginning when they were surged 4-1 by Mexico while Argentina experienced a shock 2-0 loss to Australia as the group phase began on Thursday.

Brazil demonstrator Richarlison scored the initial hat-trick of the men’s tournament as the protecting champs resisted a late rally from Germany in a 4-2 win at Yokohama’s International Arena.

Hosts Japan made a winning begin courtesy of a late strike from midfielder Takefusa Kubo in a 1-0 victory over South Africa, that were managing Covid-19 cases on the eve of the Group ‘A’ suit.

It was a day to fail to remember for Sylvain Ripoll’s France who collapsed in the second half when Alexis Vega, Sebastian Cordova, Uriel Antuna and Erick Aguirre netted for Mexico at the Tokyo Arena.

France, chasing an initial Olympic medal given that winning gold in 1984, now face an overwhelming task to qualify from Group ‘A’ ahead of video games versus South Africa and also hosts Japan.

In their first Olympic campaign since Beijing 2008, Australia took a surprise lead versus twice gold medallists Argentina inside 14 minutes when winger Lachlan Wales scored from close quarters.

Argentina’s problems were worsened late in the first fifty percent when left back Francisco Ortega was sent after two quickfire yellow cards.

The South American side never ever rather recouped from the problem, as substitute Marco Tilio added a 2nd for the Olyroos in the 80th min to secure an unforgettable win.

Australia are leading of Group ‘C’ in advance Egypt and Spain, that attracted 0-0 in the other game in Sapporo.

Brazil, that won gold for the first time when inspired by Neymar on residence dirt five years earlier in Rio, downed Germany in a dramatic match which saw onward Richarlison web a first-half hat-trick.

The Everton guy racked up three times inside the initial half a hr, but Matheus Cunha missed a penalty as well as Germany then intimidated a not likely second-half return. Bayer Leverkusen’s Nadiem Amiri drew one back before the hr mark, as well as although Maximilian Arnold was dispatched shortly afterwards, replacement Ragnar Ache reduced the shortage to one objective with seven minutes of the 90 left.

However it was one more Leverkusen player, Paulinho, that came off the bench and put the match to bed for Brazil in the fourth min of standstill time.

It offered Brazil the early lead in Team ‘D’ over Ivory Shore, who beat Saudi Arabia previously in the exact same stadium with a 2-1 triumph secured by Air Conditioner Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.

New Zealand made a successful begin in Group ‘B’ as Burnley striker Chris Timber protected a 1-0 victory over South Korea with his 72nd-minute victor at the Ibaraki Kashima Arena where a couple of hundred fans were allowed since it is just outdoors Tokyo and not in the same state of emergency as the resources.