July 22 – Olympic football keeps surprising. On the opening day of the men’s tournament Egypt held tournament favourites Spain to a 0-0 draw and Mexico impressed with a commanding 4-1 win against a lethargic France.
Seven Euro 2020 semi-finalists featured in Spain’s starting eleven against the African champions in Group C, but without much sharpness and incisiveness the Spanish struggled to break down the Egyptian defensive wall, lying deep with a five-man rearguard and lurking on the counter. Both Akram Tawfik and Imam Ashour disrupted Spain’s play in midfield.
Dani Ceballos struck the woodwork in the 27th, but limped off injured on the stroke of half-time, Spain’s second player to be forced off after Oscar Mingueza’s substitution in the 20th minute.
After the break, Spain showed more urgency in stretches, but even following a triple substitution in the 67th minute failed to offer much going forward. Pedri showed flashes of brilliance, but, again, Spain failed to create chances from open play. Egypt stuck to their game plan and were never intimidated. Spain will play Australia next before meeting Argentina in their final group game.
France is enduring a dreadful footballing summer. In Group A, 2012 gold medallists Mexico breezed past the Europeans with goals from Ernesto Vega, Francisco Cordova, Uriel Antuna, and Eduardo Agueirre, while Andre Pierre Gignac, who plies his trade in Liga MX, pulled one back from the penalty spot for his insipid team. In June, the French crashed out of Euro 2020 in the second round and underperformed at the U-21 European Championship.
Later on Thursday, Brazil and Germany will kick off Group D in a repeat of the 2016 final when Neymar crowned the South Americans Olympic champions for the first time. The Brazilians will begin their title defence without their talisman, but can count on the experience of 38-year-old former Barcelona player Dani Alves. Germany coach Stefan Kuntz bolstered his selection with the presence of over-age players Max Kruse, Nadiem Amiri and Maximilian Arnold.
This year the Olympic tournament is restricted to U-24 players, born on or after 1 January 1997. FIFA decided to extend the U-23 age limit following last year’s postponement of the Olympic Games because of the global health pandemic.
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