Megan Rapinoe silences her critics by scoring two goals while USA take bronze
Brazil will face Spain in a delicious final in Tokyo 2020 to decide who will win the gold medal. Selecao won a thrilling penalty shoot-out against Mexico in the semifinals, while Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio hit a stunner in extra time against Japan.
El Tri rallied in the bronze medal match against Japan, with goals from Sebastian Cordova, Johan Vasquez and Alexis Vega taking them 3-1, but now Brazil are hoping to defend their Rio 2016 title.
Led by 38-year-old Dani Alves, the Sao Paulo star and former Barcelona right-back admits that he is on the verge of “making a dream come true”: “Every high-performance athlete wants to be here. To be here, to be able to represent my people in football, is an honor for me. Now let’s focus on the main chapter of this mission and story.
“Those who know me know that I have a youthful spirit, and since this is my first time, I will have the same experience as the young guys. Although I’ve had some great moments in my career, since this is my first time at the Olympics, I can feel a few butterflies in my stomach. “
La Roja took the momentum from Euro 2020 where they reached the semi-finals and Barcelona’s Pedri shone to prove themselves to be one of the best young players in the world Barcelona 1992 – Follow minute live updates from the game below:
Brazil versus Spain
- Kick-off at the International Stadium Yokohama at 12:30 p.m. BST
- Brazil XI: Santos; Alves, Nino, D. Carlos, Arana; Antony, Guimaraes, Luiz, Claudinho; Richardson, Wedge
- Spain XI: Simon; Gil, Torres, Garcia, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri, Merino; Asensio, Oyarzabal, Olmo
Show the latest update
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Brazil 1 – 0 Spain
57 mins: Bryan Gil wins a corner for Spain when Dani Alves runs out of ball. Carlos Soler hits Gil briefly, who returns the ball to Soler. Soler swings the ball into the long playing field, where Pau Torres knocks the ball down. He sends him sharply into the six-yard area and wins another corner kick.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:49 PM
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TO SAVE! Huge parade of Simon against Richarlison!
54th minute: Brazil should have two goals ahead! Dani Alves throws the ball over the top and takes Matheus Cunha out on the right inside. He takes the ball into the box before assigning it to Richarlison. Richarlison shifts the ball to the left and sets Oscar Gil down. He shoots, but hits Unai Simon, who has made himself as big as possible. The distraction ricochets off the goalkeeper, hits the underside of the bar and bounces away from the goal, allowing Spain to remove the threat.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:44 PM
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Brazil 1 – 0 Spain
51 minutes: Douglas Luiz introduces a ball behind the Spanish high line while Antony sprints forward to the right. He gathers the ball and goes into the box when Cucurella and Garcia close it. He manages to throw a shot away, but Simon catches the near post when the flag goes up for offside against Antony.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:41 PM
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CHANCE! Spain is about to equalize!
48 mins: Both substitutes come into play when Soler begins the move with a pass to Pedri. He drives through midfield before meeting Bryan Gil on the left. Gil delivers a low pass to Oyarzabal, who throws the ball towards the goal, only for Soler to block his teammate’s attempt, who runs towards the near post.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:39 PM
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Second half: Brazil 1-0 Spain
Kick-off: Spain made a double change at break. Bryan Gil and Carlos Soler will both replace Mikel Moreno and Marco Asensio. Spain gets the final going again. They are trailing by one goal to zero. Can you find a way back into this game?
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:36 PM
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Half-time: Brazil 1-0 Spain
45 + 3 min .: So it is the reigning Olympic champion Brazil, who goes into the break with a goal. They were the better team in the first 45 minutes and should have taken the lead from the penalty spot just to let Richarlison bounce the ball over the bar. Spain had a good chance to take the lead but Diego Carlos cleared the chance from the line before Matheus Cunha stepped up just before the break to beat Unai Simon and put Brazil in the driver’s seat.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:21 PM
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GATE! Brazil 1 – 0 Spain (Cunha, 45 + 2 ‘) ⚽️
45 + 2 minutes: Brazil is ahead! Just in time for halftime, Matheus Cunha puts Brazil in the lead. Claudinho hisses a cross from the left into the box. Dani Alves slams into the penalty area to keep the ball out of play and throws it into the air. Cunha brings the ball down, checks to the right and shoots it flat into the lower corner. Nice conclusion.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:17 p.m.
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Brazil 0-0 Spain
45 minutes: There are two minutes of added time to end the first half.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:15 p.m.
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Brazil 0-0 Spain
40 minutes: Still nothing that separates the teams. Will Richarlison regret this chance? Spain wins a free kick, which Asensio hits the box from the right. Oyarzabal is his target but the ball rolls away from the Spanish striker. He jumps towards the back post, where Zubimendi appears, but cannot turn the ball towards the goal.
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:11 PM
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LOST! Richarlison straps it across the bar
38 minutes: There is a reprieve for Spain as Richarlison misses from the field. He stutters all the way to the ball, takes a break and then smokes the penalty way over the bar!
Michael JonesAugust 7, 2021 1:09 pm
