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 2020: Spain 1-0 Argentina
82’ mins
Into the final 10 minutes we go. Argentina claim a penalty as a cross is blocked by an outstretched arm, but it’s a supporting limb on the floor says the ref and nothing is given. Bravo is next to be shown a yellow card as the frustrations start to show for the South Americans.
Australia are denied twice by fantastic saves in the other game - an equaliser for them and the Socceroos would go through instead of Egypt.
Tokyo 2020: Spain 1-0 Argentina
75’ mins
Egypt almost double their lead against Australia, hitting the crossbar. Still 1-0 there.
Here in Saitama, Argentina are starting to force the issue by playing forward quicker but that’s only leaving spaces in midfield for Spain to pass through with ease. Rafa Mir comes on for Oyarzabal and Carlos Soler replaces Pedri. Almost job done for Spain, who will go through top as it stands:
- Spain, 7pts
- Egypt, 4pts
- Australia, 3pts
- Argentina, 3pts
Tokyo Olympics: Men’s individual all-around latest
Joe Fraser has had a couple of moments of difficulty so far in this individual all-around final, but the 22-year-old responds with a brilliant 15.133 on the parallel bars. That should restore his confidence ahead of the final rotation of the day, which for him is the horizontal bar.
Could Simone Biles still compete in rest of individual gymnastic events at Tokyo Olympics?
Simone Biles came into Tokyo 2020 hoping to add to the four gold medals she won on Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.
She has qualified for all four individual event finals to be held later in the Games. The finals of the vault and uneven bars are first on her schedule on Sunday 1 August, before the floor competition follows a day later.
The women’s balance beam is on the final day of artistic gymnastics competition at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre: Tuesday 3 August.
A statement from USA Gymnastics suggested that Biles will be closely monitored before a decision is made on whether she competes in her individual event finals.
Could Simone Biles still compete in rest of individual events at the Olympics?
The American, 24, has cited mental health as the reason for pulling out of two Tokyo 2020 events
Tokyo 2020: GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina
GOAL! 67’ mins
Finally the breakthrough - and it’s disaster for Argentina. Asensio crosses to the far post, Olmo lays the ball back across the six-yard box and Mikel Merino rifles it low into the near bottom corner and Spain have the lead.
A little over 20 minutes now for Argentina to score twice - they’ve only netted once at the Olympics so far.
Tokyo Olympics: Men’s individual all-around latest
Hashimoto responds in style with a sensational performance on the parallel bars, and is rewarded with a huge score of 15.300.
James Hall looks like he could also move up the leaderboard after scoring 14.000 on the horizontal bar.
Tokyo 2020: Spain 0-0 Argentina
60’ mins
Colombatto into the book as the third Argentine yellow card. We hit the hour mark and still no break through...the South Americans will just to feel the pinch of the clock now, as they still need a goal to avoid an exit.
Spain haven’t really raised the tempo even on the counter-attack in this half - they look content to try and maintain possession and see if they finally fashion a more clear opening that way.
Report: Charlotte Dujardin wins bronze to make GB history
Charlotte Dujardin has become the most-decorated British female Olympian in history after securing bronze in the individual dressage at Tokyo 2020.
The 36-year-old won double gold at London 2012, then successfully defended her individual title in Rio five years ago, where Great Britain also claimed a team silver
Then on Tuesday, riding major championship debutant Gio, she anchored Team GB to bronze in the team event alongside Carl Hester and Charlotte Fry to move level with rower Dame Katherine Grainger and tennis player Kitty Godfree on five Olympic medals.
Bronze in Wednesday’s individual event makes it six and a new high for a British female athlete.
More here:
Charlotte Dujardin becomes most-decorated British female Olympian with dressage bronze
Dujardin now has three golds, one silver and two bronze medals
Tokyo Olympics: Men’s individual all-around latest
China’s Ruoteng Xiao has moved into the lead after four rotations, ahead of compatriot Sun Wei. Nikita Nagornyy of the ROC has moved up the leaderboard into third place, as Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto is in fourth place. There’s very little between the contenders as we begin the penultimate rotation.
Tokyo Olympics: Men’s individual all-around latest
Time for an update on the gymnastics after briefly stepping away to cover Charlotte Dujardin’s historic bronze medal in the dressage.
At the halfway stage of the men’s individual all-around, the GB pair of Joe Fraser and James Hall were 13th and 14th respectively.
They’ve now moved on to their fourth rotation, with Fraser scoring 13.133 on the vault following a disappointing stumble upon dismount, while Hall has moved up a couple of places after recording an impressive 14.433 on the parallel bars.
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