Brazil vs Germany LIVE: Final score, result and reaction from 2020 Olympics
Follow all the latest from the Tokyo Games as Brazil face Germany in the men’s football tournament
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:
Brazil 4-2 Germany
Here is The Independent’s report on Brazil’s 4-2 win over Germany at Tokyo 2020.
Tokyo 2020: Richarlison scores hat-trick as Brazil beat Germany at Olympics
Brazil 4-2 Germany: A treble for the Everton forward while Max Arnold is sent-off
Full-time: Brazil 4-2 Germany
There’s the full-time whistle. Brazil seal a thrilling 4-2 victory as the Germans fail to avenge their gold medal match defeat at Rio 2016.
A first half hat-trick from Richarlison gave the Brazilians a comfortable lead at the break. Amiri and Ache hit back for a spirited Germany, who also had their captain Max Arnold sent off.
But in the dying embers of the match substitute Paulinho netted a breakaway goal to put the game to bed and give Brazil the perfect start to the defence of their Olympic title.
GOAL! Brazil 4-2 Germany (Paulinho, 90+4)
90+4 mins: That will do it!
One simple pass opens up a non-existent German defence. Paulinho scampers onto it, cuts it back onto his right foot and rifles it into the top corner.
Panic over for the Olympic champions.
Tokyo 2020: Brazil 3-2 Germany
90+2 mins: It’s all a bit scrappy in the dying moments of this match. Neither side can keep the ball for any lengthy period of time.
A frantic end to a match that looked to be heading towards a thoroughly comfortable Brazil win.
Tokyo 2020: Brazil 3-2 Germany
90 mins: Germany nearly caught upfield as Brazil break in numbers. It comes to Cunha but yet again he waits too long to get his shot off and Germany eventually win a free-kick for a foul inside their own penalty area.
Five minutes of added time to be played.
Tokyo 2020: Brazil 3-2 Germany
88 mins: Douglas Luiz takes the free-kick from 30 yards out but it’s well over the top.
Germany lump it straight back up field. The 10-men are giving it a real go!
Tokyo 2020: Brazil 3-2 Germany
86 mins: All of a sudden Brazil look very concerned indeed! Germany are furious after Henrichs looks to have won the ball fairly but the referee blows for a free-kick.
Brazil looking to take the sting out of the game. Germany’s tails are up.
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GOAL! Brazil 3-2 Germany (Ache, 86)
84 mins: My word! I’ll say it again, where on earth has that come from?
A hopeless ball into the box is nodded across goal and into the bottom corner by substitute Ache! Now it’s a nervy last few minutes for the Olympic champions.
Tokyo 2020: Brazil 3-1 Germany
83 mins: Brazil will take so much from this match. They essentially had it sewn up before half-time against the silver medallists from Rio.
Schlotterbeck comes on for Stach for the final ten minutes or so here. Bit of a graveyard shift, that.
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