Spain vs Argentina LIVE: Tokyo 2020 result, final score and reaction from Olympics fixture
The final group stage match will determine which nations progress to the knockouts and aim for the gold medal
Spain face Argentina in the men’s football at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, with both nations needing a positive result to ensure they continue their journey in Japan.
The Europeans have so far won and drawn, but despite dominating long stretches of their matches they have been unable to click in attack, scoring just once so far - they are top of the group heading into the final 90 minutes, and need just a draw to guarantee a top-two finish. Argentina have it slightly more difficult, after defeat to Australia earlier in the group stage. They did recover to beat Egypt, but the lay of the group means they have to win this match to go through - anything less and they will be out, regardless of the result from the other match.
The race for medals looks set to be a tight one and there have already been plenty of surprise results - but to even have a chance at success, a big performance from both sides is required here.
Follow the latest updates from Spain vs Argentina and all the big news at Tokyo 2020 below:
Tokyo Olympics: Team GB win gold in dramatic freestyle relay final
Duncan Scott clinched gold for Great Britain with the last leg of the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
The team finished in 6:58.58, with ROC clinching silver and Australia taking bronze.
The USA started strongly but failed to make the podium.
Britain win dominant Olympic gold men’s 4x200m freestyle relay
Duncan Scott anchored Great Britain to a storming gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final.
Tokyo Olympics: Ledecky wins gold in 1500m for Team USA
Swimming great Katie Ledecky finally wins a gold in Tokyo, finishing the 1500m free ahead of Erica Sullivan and Sarah Kohler in 15:37.34.
She will take the top step at the podium for the first time in this Olympics after she suffered a shock defeat to Australian Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle final. Titmus also won the 400m earlier this week.
Katie Ledecky wins sixth Olympic gold medal
Katie Ledecky added to her swimming legacy with victory in the inaugural 1500m freestyle final to collect her sixth Olympic gold medal.
Tokyo Olympics: Japan win second swimming gold
Japan’s Ohashi Yui has won a second gold medal for the hosts in the pool by claiming the women’s 200m individual medley final.
She beat Team USA’s Alex Walsh by finishing in 2:08.52.
Tokyo Olympics: Ariarne Titmus - the new Olympic freestyle queen
Katie Ledecky has dominated the women’s freestyle for so long, but now seems to have met her match in Australia’s Ariarne Titmus. Lawrence Ostlere has this report from pool-side in Tokyo:
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus usurps Katie Ledecky as Olympic freestyle queen
Titmus added the 200m Olympic title to her 100m gold won earlier in the Games as Ledecky failed to medal for the first time in an Olympic final
Tokyo Olympics: Michael Phelps hopes Simone Biles withdrawal is 'eye-opening experience'
23-time gold medalist Michael Phelps has shared his own experience after Simone Biles pulled out from Olympic team final on Tuesday, saying it was hard for him to ask for help.
“I felt like I was carrying, like Simone said, the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s a tough situation. ... I hope this is an eye-opening experience,” he said.
“We’re human beings. Nobody is perfect. It’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to go through ups and down and emotional rollercoasters. The biggest thing is, we all need to ask for help when we go through those times. ... It was hard for me to ask for help,” he added.
He said athletes carry so much weight of expectation on their shoulders and “it’s challenging especially when we have the lights on us and all of these expectations being thrown on top of us.”
Tokyo Olympics: Michelle Obama roots for Simone Biles
Former first lady Michelle Obama says she is proud of American gymnast Simone Biles and shared her own inspirational mantra.
“Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily. @Simone_Biles, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you. Congratulations on the the silver medal, Team @USA,” Obama said in a tweet on Wednesday.
The best gymnast in the world was hoping to win the first of a possible six gold medals but pulled out of the Olympic team final on Tuesday.
“After the performance that I did, I didn’t want to go into any of the other events second guessing myself, so I thought it was better if I took a step back and let these girls go out there and do the job and they did just that,” Biles had said.
Tokyo Olympics: 16 new Olympics Games-related Covid cases in Tokyo
Tokyo Olympics organisers announced 16 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the tally of total cases to 169 since 1 July.
The new Games-related cases which have been detected outside the Olympics village include nine Games contractors, four Games-concerned personnel, two media personnel and a volunteer.
No new cases have been detected in athletes.
Tokyo Olympics: US Olympic official applauds Simone Biles withdrawal
Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, applauded Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the women’s team gymnastics final over her mental health.
“Simone, you’ve made us so proud. Proud of who you are as a person, teammate and athlete,” Hirshland said.
“We applaud your decision to prioritize your mental wellness over all else, and offer you the full support and resources of our Team USA community as you navigate the journey ahead.”
Tokyo Olympics: Australia's Ariarne Titmus wins second gold
Ariarne Titmus has won another gold with a new Olympic record of 1:53.92 in the women’s 400m freestyle, ahead of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey.
Haughey takes silver while bronze goes to Canada’s Penny Oleksiak. US favourite Katie Ledecky was some way back in fifth.
Australian Ariarne Titmus wins gold in women’s 200m freestyle
Australian Ariarne Titmus claimed her second gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics as she won the women’s 200m freestyle.
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