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:
The Olympic mascots aren't winning any medals
'I feel kind of sorry for them' says expert about Miraitowa and Someity
The Olympic mascots aren’t winning any medals
‘I feel kind of sorry for them’ says expert about Miraitowa and Someity
Charlotte Dujardin becomes most-decorated British female Olympian with dressage bronze
Charlotte Dujardin can still remember the first time she saw him, her latest equine love that has taken her to a place of her own in the pantheon of Olympic greats.
Dujardin became the first female British Olympian to win six medals at the Games as she added to her team dressage bronze with the same medal in the individual event.
On the rookie horse she affectionately calls “Pumpkin”, Dujardin felt a princess again, defying all expectations to claim the final podium place in the Grand Prix freestyle.
James Toney reports.
Charlotte Dujardin becomes most-decorated British female Olympian with dressage bronze
Dujardin now has three golds, one silver and two bronze medals in a glittering Olympic career
BREAKING: 20 track and field athletes banned from Olympics over anti-doping test rules
Twenty track and field athletes have been banned from the Tokyo Olympics for not meeting strict anti-doping test rules.
The athletes, which included 10 from Nigeria, were kicked out of the games after failing to meet anti-doping testing requirements, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit.
Other countries impacted by the action include Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and Ukraine.
Graeme Massie has more on the breaking news:
Watch: Team GB gymnastics team say social media criticism helped spur them on to medal
“There has been a fair bit of criticism on social media and although we try to put that past us we know that’s always in the back of our minds, and it does stick with you,” said Amelie Morgan.
“So I think that kind of gave us that drive to kind of show people what we can do and that we are, we deserve this place, and we came here for a reason, so it just kind of makes it all worth it when we kind of prove ourselves and the hard work that we put in.”
Watch with Independent TV.
Watch: Team GB gymnastics team say social media criticism helped spur them on to medal
Team GB’s women’s gymnastics team surprised everyone by becoming the first British team since 1928 to win a medal in their category as they came from behind to secure a bronze medal in dramatic fashion on Tuesday (27 July).Team GB athlete Amelie Morgan made reference to some of the criticism the team had received online but said it gave them the drive to show people what they can do in achieving this historic moment for the sport. The team finished in the medal places behind the USA who took silver, and the Russian Olympic Committee who took gold.
Team GB’s Tokyo Olympics achievements whetting appetite for Commonwealth Games – Sports Minister
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has no doubt excitement for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games is building with a year to go as British athletes achieve “incredible things” at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.
Wednesday marked exactly 12 months until the scheduled date of the opening ceremony of the showpiece in the West Midlands.
“The team out in Tokyo have achieved incredible things already and it’s really helping build the excitement towards the Commonwealth Games,” Huddleston told the PA news agency.
“Many of these new names, people who we’re seeing probably for the first time on our screens who are just achieving incredible things, will be also then competing at the Commonwealth Games next year.”
Phil Medlicott reports.
Team GB’s Olympic achievements whetting appetite for Commonwealth Games – Sports Minister
Wednesday marked exactly 12 months until the scheduled date of the opening ceremony for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games
Who’s winning the Olympics?
Japan lead the medal table at the Tokyo Olympics at the end of day five of the Games.
The hosts have 13 gold medals so far, with teenager Daiki Hashimoto’s triumph in the men’s all-around gymnastics event on Wednesday putting them one clear of second-placed China.
The United States, meanwhile, trail the Chinese by just one gold, having claimed the Olympics’ first ever women’s 3x3 basketball title on Wednesday.
The Russian Olympic Committee, who were runners-up to the USA in that event and to Latvia in the men’s 3x3, are fourth in the standings with seven golds – one clear of Australia and two ahead of Great Britain.
Graeme Massie reports.
Who’s winning the Olympics? Medal table so far at Tokyo 2020
Who’s winning the Olympics? Medal table so far at Tokyo 2020
Greek TV commentator fired for remark about South Korean athlete
A sports commentator in Greece who made an on-air remark about a South Korean athlete at the Tokyo Olympics that the station called racist has been fired, the country’s state-run broadcaster said Tuesday.
ERT television said it had ended its collaboration with veteran journalist Dimosthenis Karmiris as a guest commentator following comments he made after Jeoung Young-sik beat Panagiotis Gionis of Greece in men’s table tennis.
Asked about the skill of South Korean table tennis players, Karmiris said “their eyes are narrow so I can’t understand how they can see the ball moving back and forth.”
Several hours later, ERT posted a statement on its website.
“Racist comments have no place on public television,” ERT said in the statement. “The collaboration between ERT and Dimosthenis Karmiris was terminated today, immediately after the morning show.” - AP
Simone Biles retweets attack on critics, recalling Nassar abuse
US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from an event in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in which she was set to defend her gold medal, provoking a wave of both support and derision across the internet.
Although Ms Biles has not explained explicitly why she withdrew on Tuesday, the 24-year-old retweeted a message that suggests she is struggling with trauma stemming from sexual abuse at the hands of Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Simone Biles retweets attack on critics, recalling Nassar abuse: ‘More trauma at 24 than most people have in a lifetime’
Gymnast says she felt as though being an Olympic gymnast had been taken away from her
Olympic Games: Top of the medal table after day five
Daiki Hashimoto’s dramatic gold medal in the individual all-around gymnastics final has ensured Japan remain on top of the medal standings ahead of China and the United States.
Great Britain finish the day in sixth following a gold medal in the 4x200m swimming relay, silver in the men’s quadruple sculls and a bronze for Charlotte Dujardin in the individual equestrian.
After five days, Team GB remain ahead of their total at this stage in Rio and London, with 16 medals compared to 11 and nine respectively.
1) Japan - 13 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze (22 overall)
2) China - 12 gold, 6 silver, 9 bronze (27 overall)
3) USA - 11 gold, 11 silver, 9 bronze (31 overall)
4) ROC - 7 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze (23 overall)
5) Australia - 6 gold, 1 silver, 9 bronze (16 overall)
6) Great Britain - 5 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze (16 overall)
Tokyo Olympics: 3x3 basketball announces its arrival
History was made as the USA and Latvia won the inaugural 3x3 basketball finals - and Vithushan Ehantharajah was there to run the rule on the Olympic’s new arrival.
“Every Games has a sport that grabs the attention of the four(five)-year casual, and 3x3 basketball might be Tokyo 2020’s.
“It met all the necessary requirements: quick to understand, all-action, easily digestible (games last just 10 minutes) and done and dusted before the athletics started.
“Over this last week, 3x3 has ticked all the boxes: It is an engaging spectacle, players buy in to what’s at stake and, if social media is anything to go by, it has captured the imagination of a global audience and no doubt enhanced its recreational player base.”
3x3 basketball announces its arrival at Tokyo Olympics
The event is an engaging spectacle, players buy in to what’s at stake and, if social media is anything to go by, it has captured the imagination of a global audience
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