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Sources: Chelsea in talks with Sevilla for Kounde

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 05:42

Chelsea and Sevilla have entered talks over a deal that will take defender Jules Kounde to Stamford Bridge this summer, sources have told ESPN. Sources have told ESPN that the deal could be worth around €70 million -- €10m less than Kounde's buyout clause.

Chelsea are considering including Kurt Zouma in the deal, according to ESPN sources, to lower the transfer fee but the Premier League side are yet to set a value on the France defender.

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Sevilla agreed a similar swap deal with Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week when Spanish winger Bryan Gil joined Spurs for €25m and Erik Lamela moved in the other direction.

Sevilla, who paid Bordeaux €25m two years ago to sign the talented centre-back, were hopeful Manchester United would enter the race to sign Kounde but the Old Trafford side never made an offer with their top priority being Raphael Varane.

Varane has agreed to join United from Real Madrid in an initial €41m transfer, in a deal which was announced on Tuesday.

Sources told ESPN that Madrid were also closely monitoring Kounde's situation as former coach Zinedine Zidane is a big admirer, but the interest fell as soon as the the ex-France midfielder left the club at the end of last season.

Kounde, who has a contract at Sevilla until 2024, made 34 league appearances last season to help the club qualify for the Champions League.

The 22-year-old was part of France's squad at Euro 2020 this summer and made one appearance in the 2-2 draw with Portugal. He did not play in Tuesday's warmup 2-2 draw against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Kounde was on the bench in Sevilla's third preseason game and did not speak to the media after leaving Faro's Algarbe stadium.

Tokyo registers record 3,177 new virus cases

Published in Breaking News
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 06:25

TOKYO -- Olympic host city Tokyo registered a record 3,177 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, authorities announced, as rising infections put pressure on hospitals.

The rise will add to worries about the Games, which are taking place under unprecedented health and sanitary conditions, including a ban on spectators in most venues.

It also spells trouble for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, whose support ratings are at their lowest since he took office in September, ahead of a ruling party leadership race and a parliamentary election this year.

Nationwide, the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 9,000 for the first time, according to public broadcaster NHK's calculations.

Governors of three prefectures near Tokyo -- Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama -- will ask the government on Thursday to declare states of emergency for their regions, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who leads Japan's COVID-19 response, told a parliamentary panel.

"I think we've entered a trend of sharp rises in cases, which I had feared the most," Kanagawa governor Yuji Kuroiwa told reporters.

Tokyo is under its fourth state of emergency, which is due to last through the Olympics, while the other three regions are implementing quasi-emergency measures.

However, while many other countries have at times imposed severe social and economic lockdowns, Tokyo's measures rely mainly on asking restaurants that serve alcohol to shut their doors, and others to close by 8 p.m.

'National crisis'

Olympics organizers reported 16 new Games-related cases, for a total of 169 since July 1. Athletes, staff and media must all follow strict rules, including frequent testing, inside an Olympic bubble.

Many Japanese are worried about a spread of infections from Games participants.

Suga on Tuesday urged people to stay home as much as possible and watch the Olympics on television.

But senior opposition Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Jun Azumi said the government was being too optimistic.

"Unless it revises its view of the infection situation, after the Olympics end, there will be a serious national crisis affecting people's lives, beginning with a collapse of the medical system," the NHK public broadcaster quoted him as saying.

Japan has avoided the devastating outbreaks suffered by other countries such as India and the United States, but its fifth wave of the pandemic is straining hospitals.

Many Japanese have grown weary of the largely voluntary restrictions, and some experts say the decision to go ahead with the Olympics sent a confusing message, posing a greater risk than any direct spread from Olympic participants.

The 2021 NBA draft has finally arrived! Who's rising? Who's falling? Will the Detroit Pistons take Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham at No. 1? Is Cunningham more Khris Middleton ... or Luka Doncic? Where will USC big man Evan Mobley get selected? Will the Oklahoma City Thunder begin to spend its considerable draft capital? Who is this year's Draymond Green or Nikola Jokic? What last-minute offer could turn every draft board upside down? (Could happen!)

So many questions. So many answers to come.

Here is everything you need to know, from how to watch the draft-night festivities to the full draft order, from scouting reports of all the top prospects and their likely landing spots to the latest intel, trade rumors, analysis and projections. Our experts will reveal the draft's most NBA-ready prospects, as well as the players with the highest ceilings and highest bust factors.

All the action is set to go down at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET. Watch on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+.

Bookmark this page: Get live coverage of the NBA draft, including pick-by-pick analysis, here.

How to watch the 2021 NBA draft

Who are the top NBA draft prospects?

This class features a four-player top tier that includes 6-foot-8 point guard Cade Cunningham, G League Ignite shooting guard Jalen Green, USC center Evan Mobley and Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs.

Rounding out the top 10, per Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz's top 100 prospects:

  • Jonathan Kuminga | PF | G League Ignite

  • Scottie Barnes | F | Florida State

  • Davion Mitchell | PG | Baylor

  • James Bouknight | SG | UConn

  • Keon Johnson | SG | Tennessee

  • Franz Wagner | SF | Michigan

More

Where are the top NBA draft prospects expected to land?

Cunningham spent Monday and Tuesday in Detroit, per Givony, and, though it was a light workout, the former Cowboys star did nothing to diminish his standing within the Pistons organization.

Get the latest intel in Givony's mock draft, which will be continuously updated until the start of the draft.

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What are the big NBA trades to watch?

On Monday, NBA trade season officially began, with a deal that will send Memphis center Jonas Valanciunas and the 17th pick in this year's draft to New Orleans in exchange for Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe and two future first-rounds picks, including the 10th pick on Thursday.

Kevin Pelton grades the trade here.

More

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs' teardown is underway as Friday's 4 p.m. ET MLB trade deadline approaches. Outfielder Joc Pederson (Atlanta) and reliever Andrew Chafin (Oakland) have already been moved -- but the team still employs a handful of available players who could be next in the coming days.

Those names include homegrown stars Kris Bryant and Javier Baez plus de facto team captain, Anthony Rizzo. Then there's all-world closer Craig Kimbrel and setup man Ryan Tepera, along with veteran starting pitcher Zach Davies -- all players who will be free agents when the season ends. In other words, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is very popular right now.

Here's where things stand with those players as the Cubs' current winning window comes to a close.

Craig Kimbrel

In what could have been his last performance as a Cub, Kimbrel did what he has often done in his career -- get into some trouble then slam the door shut on the opponent. In a tie game with the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night, he allowed the first two batters to reach in the ninth before striking out the side.

His 0.49 ERA with just two blown saves has the top teams in baseball very interested in a closer who has returned to All-Star form after a bumpy stretch in his career.

Where he could go: The Dodgers might need him more than anyone else right now. Going into Tuesday's game against the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles has given up the second-most runs in the National League in the ninth inning or later. L.A.'s 1-10 record in extra innings might be a bit fluky due to the current rules, but it's still telling. Closer Kenley Jansen has blown five saves this season -- three since the All-Star break. If the Dodgers want to repeat as champions they need an upgrade to the back of their bullpen.

Other possibilities include the Red Sox, Astros and Padres.


Kris Bryant

After a great start to the season, Bryant cooled off in June but has picked it up again. Since returning to the lineup after leaving a game last week due to hamstring fatigue, he has been on base over 50% of the time and has posted a .304/.400/.500 slash line in July. The bottom line: When healthy, Bryant is still a very dangerous hitter.

Where he could go: The Mets lead a small group of teams interested in the versatile player. They've had scouts attend at least the past three series for the Cubs. The Rays have also been in attendance -- that was before and after their trade for Nelson Cruz. A surprise team or two showing interest wouldn't actually be all that surprising given the fact Bryant can play all over the diamond. Some believe the Giants could be one of those teams.

Depending where he goes, the Cubs could pick up a big portion of his remaining $6.5 million salary in order to net a better prospect return. Pittsburgh did similar with Adam Frazier when they traded him to San Diego this week. That concept could apply to a Kimbrel trade as well.

There's also the possibility that Bryant remains with the Cubs past the deadline, is given a qualifying offer, turns it down and the Cubs end up with compensation in that form. Industry sources have expressed mixed feelings on whether Bryant would stay or go this month, but as the deadline approaches, chatter has picked up.


Anthony Rizzo

It simply hasn't been the best of contract years for the veteran first baseman, but he has shown some signs of coming out of a season-long slump. Rizzo homered in back-to-back games this week, and his OPS in July is approaching .800.

Where he could go: ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Cubs and Red Sox have had discussions about Rizzo returning to the team that drafted him, but the likelihood is he remains with the Cubs through the deadline. Hoyer isn't likely to just give away one of the most popular Cubs of this era, and the potential return probably won't excite many people.

Rizzo, too, could be extended a qualifying offer as the Cubs continue to negotiate with him on a longer-term deal -- if both sides are still interested.

"We have no idea what's going to happen," Rizzo said Monday. "It's almost four years now since all the talk [began]. This could be it. We'll face that when it happens."


Javier Baez

There has been little trade chatter surrounding Baez, with most of it speculation about him being moved and then playing second base for a contender. The idea of him going across town to play for the White Sox -- who lost second baseman Nick Madrigal for the season -- would make waves in Chicago, but there hasn't been any real traction for it. Baez is having a Baez-type season with plenty of home runs (22) combined with plenty of strikeouts (130).

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1:20

Baez lets Reds hear it after walking Cubs off in 9th

Javy Baez gets the winning hit for the Cubs in the bottom of the ninth, then gives an earful to Reds pitcher Amir Garrett.

Where he could go: Baez remains the best bet to stay where he is now and sign up long term with the Cubs before he reaches free agency in November. The sides were once close, right before the pandemic, and those discussions should start up again after the trade deadline passes.


Others who could be dealt

Reliever Ryan Tepera is getting a long look from scouts, with the White Sox, Phillies and Blue Jays in attendance for recent games. Tepera played in Toronto for five years before joining the Cubs. Starter Zach Davies might be part of the arms race out west. A return to the Padres, the team he played for last season, isn't out of the question. The Dodgers' uncertainty in their rotation could lead them to Davies -- though he's only a back-of-the-rotation guy on a contender.

Outfielder Jake Marisnick and reliever Dan Winkler are also good secondary additions for contenders looking to round out their rosters at the deadline.

Olympic previews: women’s field events and heptathlon

Published in Athletics
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 04:27
Contenders include Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Brittney Reese, Valerie Adams and Sandra Perkovic with Nafi Thiam and Katarina Johnson-Thompson head to head in combined events

We look ahead to the action in Tokyo. For more of our Olympic-related articles, CLICK HERE or subscribe to our monthly magazine.

High Jump (Final: 19.35 August 7 (11.35 BST))

This was shaping up as a predictable Russia v Ukraine battle but the lack of notable early season form suggests it could be very open with America also looking good. Currently in Olympic history the United States and Russia have won three golds apiece in this event.

2016 Olympic champion: Ruth Beitia (ESP) 1.97
2019 World champion: Mariya Lasitskene (ANA) 2.04
World record-holder: Stefka Kostadinova (BUL) 1987
Olympic record-holder: Yelena Slesarenko (RUS) 2.06 2004
World leader: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) 2.03
British interest: Morgan Lake or Emily Borthwick could make the final in an event where Britain once won five successive silvers between 1936 and 1960 but will need to be at their very best.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
2.03 Yaroslava Mahuchikh UKR Stockholm 4 Jul
2.02 Vashti Cunningham USA Chula Vista 29 May
2.00 Nadezhda Dubovitskaya KAZ Almaty 8 Jun
2.00 Mariya Lasitskene RUS Joensuu 14 Jul
1.97 Svetlana Radzivil UZB Mersin 25 Apr
1.97 Salome Lang SUI Langenthal 27 Jun
1.97 Marija Vuković MNE Smederevo 27 Jun
1.96 Iryna Herashchenko UKR Lutsk 17 May
1.96 Rachel McCoy USA Prairie View 25 May
1.96 Safina Sadullayeva UZB Tashkent 29 May
1.96 Kristina Ovchinnikova KAZ Almaty 8 Jun
1.96 Karyna Demidik BLR Sollentuna 13 Jun
1.96 Eleanor Patterson AUS Chorzów 20 Jun
1.96 Maryia Zhodzik BLR Minsk 25 Jun
1.96 Maja Nilsson SWE Halmstad 29 Jun

Top contenders:
Vashti Cunningham (USA): The former world indoor champion was only 13th in Rio but third in Doha and has achieved a 2.02m this year. She could be the first US winner for 65 years.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR): The European indoor champion and Doha runner-up had a great indoor season and started gently outdoors but jumped two metres in her last three competitions including a world lead 2.03m of Stockholm.
Mariya Lasitskene (ANA): The owner of five world golds (including indoor and outdoor) cleared 2.00m indoors this winter but also looked short of her best initially this summer and had lost her previous unbeatable aura but she showed better form in July and goes into her first Olympics with a good chance.

Outside bet: Nicola McDermott (AUS). The Commonwealth bronze medallist failed to make the 2017 and 2019 world finals but a 2.00m Australian record in their championships in March followed by a 2.01m improvement in Stockholm in July puts her in with a chance in the medal mix.

Prediction:
1 Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) 2.06 (WA ranking 2)
2 Vashti Cunningham (USA) 2.00 (4)
3 Mariya Lasitskene (ANA) 2.00 (1)
4 Nicola McDermott (AUS) 2.00 (8)
5 Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (KAZ) 2.00 (20)
6 Yuliya Levchenko (UKR) 1.97 (3)
7 Iryna Herashchenko (UKR) 1.97 (9)
8 Svetlana Radzivil (UZB) 1.94 (16)
9 Kamila Lićwinko(POL) 1.94 (5)
10 Karyna Demidik (BLR) 1.94 (6)
11 Morgan Lake (GBR) 1.94 (14)
12 Salome Lang (SUI) (12)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Diamond League AG)

Other contenders:
Mirela Demireva (BUL) (7)
Eleanor Patterson (AUS) (10)
Levern Spencer (LCA) (11)
Ana Simic (CRO) (13)
Erika Kinsey (SWE) (15)
Imke Onnen (GER) (17)
Rachel McCoy (USA) (18)
Alessia Trost (ITA) (19)
Tynita Butts-Townsend (USA) (21)
Marija Vuković (MNE) (22)
Airinė Palšytė (LTU) (23)
Emily Borthwick (GBR) (25)

Absentees:
Nafissatou Thiam (BEL) (35)

Pole Vault (Final: 19.20 August 5 (11.20 BST))

This is only the sixth time that this event has been contested with currently America and Russia two-all with a good chance of a third for the two main protagonists.

2016 Olympic champion: Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) 4.85
2019 World champion: Anzhelika Sidorova (ANA) 4.95
World record-holder: Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 5.06 2009
Olympic record-holder: Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 5.05 2008
World leader: Katie Nageotte (USA) 4.95

British interest: The ultra consistent Holly Bradshaw has five global (including two Olympics) top sevens and again she should be in the thick of the battle for a medal especially with a recent British record of 4.90m.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
4.95 Katie Nageotte USA Eugene 26 Jun
4.91 Anzhelika Sidorova ANA Florence 10 Jun
4.90 Holly Bradshaw GBR Manchester 26 Jun
4.84 Sandi Morris USA Doha 28 May
4.82 Nina Kennedy AUS Sydney 13 Mar
4.80 Katerina Stefanídi GRE Walnut 9 May
4.74 Tina Šutej SLO Doha 28 May
4.74 Iryna Zhuk BLR Doha 28 May
4.70 Roberta Bruni ITA Rieti 23 May
4.70 Maryna Kylypko UKR Lutsk 18 Jun
4.70 Morgann LeLeux USA Eugene 26 Jun
4.70 Nikoléta Kiriakopoúlou GRE Tomblaine 5 Jul

Top  contenders:
Anzhelika Sidorova (ANA): The world champion has been consistent around the 4.80m to 4.90m mark in recent seasons and a steely competitor who will be making her Olympic début.
Sandi Morris (USA): The 2018 world indoor champion was runner-up in Rio and also at the last two world championships and is ultra reliable at the higher heights.
Katerina Stefanidi (GRE): The Rio champion also won the world title in 2017 and two European golds but has lacked her previous dominance and was only third in Doha in 2019.
Katie Nageotte: Much improved she tops the world in 2021 but she was only seventh in Doha in her one global outdoor final so won’t be used to the pressure of being one of the favourites.

Outside bet: Nina Kennedy (AUS): Has never made a global senior final and has not competed outside Oceania since 2018 but has been reliable around the 4.75m mark in Australia this year with a best of 4.82m.

Prediction:
1 Anzhelika Sidorova (ANA) 5.00 (WA ranking 1)
2 Katie Nageotte (USA) 4.90 (4)
3 Holly Bradshaw (GBR) 4.90 (6)
4 Sandi Morris (USA) 4.85 (3)
5 Katarina Stefanidi (GRE) 4.80 (2)
6 Nina Kennedy (AUS) 4.70 (15)
7 Tina Sutej (SLO) 4.70 (12)
8 Angelica Moser (SUI) 4.70 (14)
9 Iryna Zhuk (BLR) 4.70 (7)
10 Angelica Bengtsson 4.60 (SWE) (10)
11 Yarisley Silva (CUB) 4.60 (9)
12 Robeilys Peinadom (VEN) 4.60 (8)

Holly Bradshaw (Mark Shearman)

Other contenders:
Alysha Newman (CAN) (5)
Nikoléta Kiriakopoúlou (GRE) (13)
Ling Li (CHN) (16)
Wilma Murto (FIN) (20)
Xu Huiqin (CHN) (21)
Maryna Kylypko (UKR) (22)
Michaela Meijer (SWE) (23)
Eléni-Klaoúdia Pólak (GRE) (24)
Morgann LeLeux (USA) (25)
Liz Parnova (AUS) (26)
Anicka Newell (CAN) (28)

Absent:
Jenn Suhr (USA) (11)
Nina Guillon-Romarin (FRA) (17)
Olivia Gruver (USA (18)
Polina Knoroz (ANA) (19)
Bridget Guy (USA) (29)

Long Jump (Final: 10.50 August 3 (02.50 BST))

Few events in Tokyo have so many prospective medallists at this event and some big names are almost sure to fall in qualifying. Including one GDR victory, Germany are the most successful nation with four golds and could make it five with the current world champion but USA are on three with good prospects to bring them level.

2016 Olympic champion: Tiana Bartoletta (USA) 7.17
2019 World champion: Malaika Mihambo (GER) 7.30
World record-holder: Galina Christyaková (RUS) 7.52
Olympic record-holder: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) 7.40
World leader: Ese Brume (NGR) 7.17

British interest: Lorraine Ugen and Jazmin Sawyers are both ranked in the top 10 with leaps in the 6.90s and Abigail Irozuru has a 6.86m from a few years ago and a repeat of that form should see at least one of them make the final.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
7.17/1.1 Ese Brume NGR Chula Vista 29 May
7.14/1.0 Tara Davis USA Austin 26 Mar
7.13/1.3 Brittney Reese USA Eugene 26 Jun
7.08/1.4 Chantel Malone IVB Bradenton 27 Mar
7.01/0.8 Darya Klishina ANA Bradenton 27 Mar
6.96/2.0 Tyra Gittens TTO College Station 14 May
6.96/1.6 Quanesha Burks USA Eugene 26 Jun
6.94/0.3 Lorraine Ugen GBR Marietta 11 Jun
6.92/0.5 Malaika Mihambo GER Leverkusen 27 Jun
6.90/1.9 Jazmin Sawyers GBR Chula Vista 6 Jun

Top contenders:
Malaika Mihambo (GER): The European and world champion is a proven competitor and after jumping 7.30m in Doha will be keen to make up for her fourth in Rio.
Brittney Reese (USA): The 2012 champion was second in Rio and has also won seven world titles indoors and out and though now 34 is still jumping well winning her fourth US Trials with 7.13m.
Ese Brume (NGR): The world leader was third in Doha after a fifth in Rio and is clearly on an upward trajectory.

Outside bet: Tara Davis: The former world youth champion has won NCAA titles indoors and out this year with a 7.14m best and will be worth watching in her first main senior competition.

Prediction:
1 Brittney Reese (USA) 7.20 (5)
2 Ese Brume (NGR) 7.16 (3)
3 Malaika Mihambo (GER) 7.12 (1)
4 Tara Davis (USA) 6.95 (15)
5 Chantel Malone (IVB) 6.86 (8)
6 Ivana Spanovic (SRB) 6.84 (4)
7 Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR) 6.79 (2)
8 Darya Klishina (ANA) 6.75 (24)
9 Nastassia Mironchyk-Ivanova (BLR) 6.72 (6)
10 Lorraine Ugen (GBR) 6.68 (14)
11 Jazmin Sawyers (GBR) 6.67 (10)
12 Abilgail Irozuru (GBR) 6.64 (7)

Brittney Reese (Mark Shearman)

Other contenders:
Brooke Stratton (AUS) (11)
Alina Rotaru-Kottmann (ROU) (12)
Khaddi Sagnia (SWE) (16)
Anasztázia Nguyen (HUN) (19)
Florentina Costina Iusco (ROU) (20)
Quanesha Burks (USA) (21)
Fatima Diame (ESP) (22)
Chanice Porter (JAM)(25)
Christabel Nettey (CAN) (27)
Tyra Gittens (TTO) (42)
Ruth Usoro (NGR) (50)

Absent:
Yelena Sokolova (ANA) (9)
Katina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) (13)
Sha’Keela Saunders (USA) (17)
Shara Proctor (GBR) (18)
Kendell Williams (USA) (38)

Triple Jump (Final: 20.15 August 1 (12.15 BST))

The only nation to have won this event twice is the Cameroons and the wide range of winning nations should be joined by Venezuela who will surely win their first ever Olympic title at any event courtesy of hot favourite Yulimar Rojas. The battle for second is slightly more open.

2016 Olympic champion: Caterine Ibarguen (COL) 15.17
2019 World champion: Yulimar Rojas (VEN) 15.37
World record-holder: Inessa Kravets (UKR) 15.50
Olympic record-holder: Francoise Mbango (CMR) 15.39
World leader: Yulimar Rojas (VEN) 15.43

British interest: None with Naomi Ogbeta just missing the qualifying mark.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
15.43/0.7 Yulimar Rojas VEN Andújar 22 May
14.98/1.2 Shanieka Ricketts JAM Doha 28 May
14.93/0.8 Liadagmis Povea CUB Havana 22 May
14.92/1.1 Keturah Orji USA Chula Vista 25 Apr
14.69/1.6 Kimberly Williams JAM Doha 28 May
14.68/0.5 Nubia Soares BRA Castellón 29 Jun
14.66/-0.2 Patrícia Mamona POR Monaco 9 Jul
14.63/1.0 Senni Salminen FIN Cluj-Napoca 19 Jun
14.61/-0.8 Ana Peleteiro ESP Getafe 27 Jun
14.53/0.5 Leyanis Pérez CUB Castellón 29 Jun

Top contenders:
Yulimar Rojas (VEN): The runner-up in Rio is now on a totally different level to all her rivals and could break the world record at any time to add to her indoor mark and the world champion is one of the biggest favourites at any event.
Caterine Ibarguen (COL): The Rio winner and two-time world champion was third in Doha but now aged 37, she is struggling for form and would be a shock if she even won a medal.
Shanieka Ricketts (JAM): The Doha runner-up should be second again based on her 14.98m PB in May though failed to negotiate qualifying in Rio.

Outside bet: Keturah Orji: USA have never won a medal at this event but after coming fourth in Rio, she has improved to 14.92m this summer and is clearly in the form of her life.

Yulimar Rojas (Dan Vernon)

Prediction:
1 Yulimar Rojas (VEN) 15.67 (WA ranking 1)
2 Shanieka Ricketts (JAM) 14.85 (2)
3 Keturah Orji (USA) 14.80 (6)
4 Liadagmis Povea (CUB) 14.78 (3)
5 Kimberly Williams (JAM) 14.71 (4)
6 Senni Salminen (FIN) 14.66 (14)
7 Patrícia Mamona (POR) 14.58 (8)
8 Ana Peleteiro (ESP) 14.55 (7)
9 Ruth Usoro (NGR) 14.51 (41)
10 Nubia Soares (BRA) 14.50 (34)
11 Leyanis Pérez (CUB) 14.40 (42)
12 Olga Rypakova (KAZ) 14.30 (17)

Other contenders:
Caterine Ibarguen (COL) 14.32 (5)
Paraskeví Papahrístou (GRE) (9)
Olha Saladukha (UKR) (10)
Tori Franklin (USA) (11)
Neele Eckhardt (GER) (13)
Kristiina Mäkelä (FIN) (15)
Rouguy Diallo (FRA) (16)
Kristin Gierisch (GER) (20)
Hanna Minenko (ISR) (21)
Gabriela Petrova (BUL (25)
Dariya Derkach (ITA) (36)
Ana José Tima (DOM) (38)

Absent:
Naomi Ogbeta (GBR) (18)
Dovilė Kilty (LTU) (22)
Yekaterina Koneva (ANA) (32)

Shot (Final: 10.35 August 1 (02.35 BST))

China have never won gold in this event but field the clear favourite in an event where the Soviets dominated in the past with seven titles. However, it is New Zealand who will have the sentimental favourite in Valerie Adams 20 years after she won the world youth title.

2016 Olympic champion: Michelle Carter (USA) 20.63
2019 World champion: Gong Lijiao (CHN) 19.55
World record-holder: Natalya Lisovskaya (RUS) 22.63
Olympic record-holder: Ilona Slupianek (GDR) 22.41 1980
World leader: Gong Lijiao (CHN) 20.39

British interest: Doha finalist Sophie McKinna could make the top 12 again but is ranked only 31st in 2021 (18.36m this summer), so she may need a PB to progress.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
20.39 Gong Lijiao CHN Chongqing 27 Jun
20.12 Jessica Ramsey USA Eugene 24 Jun
19.96 Raven Saunders USA Eugene 24 Jun
19.75 Auriol Dongmo POR Huelva 3 Jun
19.75 Valerie Adams NZL Cetniewo 11 Jul
19.65 Aliona Dubitskaya BLR Minsk 26 Jun
19.34 Fanny Roos SWE Kladno 15 Jun
19.32 Song Jiayuan CHN Zhaoqing 24 Apr
19.26 Danniel Thomas-Dodd Nashville 6 Jun
19.12 Adelaide Aquilla USA Champaign 15 May

Top contenders:
Gong Lijiao (CHN): The double world champion was second in 2012 but only fourth in Rio but she dominates the world lists and is a clear favourite.
Auriol Dongma (POR): The former Cameroon athlete and the 2021 European indoor champion has greatly improved since her 12th in Rio.
Valerie Adams (NZL): The athlete with 10 global outdoor and indoor titles is going for her third Olympic gold and fourth medal in her fifth Olympics at the age of 36. A throw of 19.65m in February was her best since 2016 and in July she improved that to 19.75m.
Jessica Ramsey (USA): The 30 year-old US trials winner – with a huge near one metre PB of 20.12 – has surprisingly never competed in a major global event.

Outside bet: Fanny Roos (SWE): The 2017 European Junior champion was second to Dongmo in the European Indoors and is improving all the time with seven Swedish records indoors so far this year.

Prediction:
1 Gong Lijiao (CHN) 20.43 (WA ranking 1)
2 Valerie Adams (NZL) 19.80 (10)
3 Jessica Ramsey (USA) 19.68 (11)
4 Auriol Dongmo (POR) 19.45 (5)
5 Fanny Roos (SWE) 19.30 (9)
6 Raven Saunders (USA) 19.25 (15)
7 Aliona Dubitskaya (BLR) 19.18 (6)
8 Song Jiayuan (CHN) 19.15 (21)
9 Danniel Thomas-Dodd(JAM) 19.10 (3)
10 Christina Schwanitz (GER) 18.94 (2)
11 Adelaide Aquilla (USA) 18.90 (25)
12 Sarah Mitton (CAN) 18.71 (18)

Gong Lijiao (Mark Shearman)

Other contenders:
Brittany Crew (CAN) (8)
Pauline Guba (POL) (12)
Anita Marton (HUN) (13)
Sophie McKinna (GBR) (14)
Sara Gambetta (GER) (17)
Emel Dereli (TUR) (19)
Klaudia Kardasz (POL) (23)
Jessica Schilder (NED) (24)
Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZL) (26)
María Belén Toimil (ESP) (28)
Gao Yang (CHN) (29)
Alina Kenzel (GER) (31)

Absent:
Chase Ealey (USA) (4)
Maggie Ewen (USA) (7)
Michelle Carter (USA) (16)
Jessica Woodard (USA) (20)

Discus (Final: 20.00 August 2 (12.00 BST))

This looks being a surprisingly open event with less than two metres covering the four favourites in an event that both the Soviet Union and Germany have previously won five titles in. Here Croatia, Cuba, USA and Netherlands look favourites.

2016 Olympic champion: Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 69.21
2019 World champion: Yaime Perez (CUB) 69.17
World record-holder: Gabriele Reinsch (GDR) 76.80
Olympic record-holder: Martina Hellmann (GDR) 72.30 1988
World leader: Jorinde van Klinken (NED) 70.22

British interest: No Britons achieved the Olympic qualifying standard.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
70.22 Jorinde van Klinken NED Tucson 22 May
70.01 Valarie Allman USA Eugene 18 Jun
68.99 Yaimé Pérez CUB Havana 22 May
68.31 Sandra Perković CRO Florence 10 Jun
67.05 Shadae Lawrence JAM Tucson 22 May
66.59 Kamalpreet Kaur IND Patiala 21 Jun
66.40 Liliana Cá POR Leiria 6 Mar
66.31 Kristin Pudenz GER Halle 15 May
65.30 Mélina Robert-Michon FRA Vénissieux 19 Jun
65.14 Chen Yang CHN Chongqing 25 Jun

Top contenders:
Sandra Perkovic (CRO): Going for a third successive Olympic title the five-time European champion no longer dominates the event as in the past (she was third in Doha in 2019) but has a fighting chance with a 68.31m win in Florence this season.
Yaime Perez (CUB): A non qualifier in 2012, she headed qualifying in 2016 but then had three no throws in the final but she goes into this event as the world champion and a solid record in 2021.
Valarie Allman: Only seventh in Doha, she has been in 70 metre form the last two seasons and could win USA’s third title at the event.

Outside bet: Jorinde van Klinken (NED): The 21-year-old rising star failed to make the final in Doha but went top of the world in May and has won all her 12 competitions this year including the NCAA Championships and European under-23s.

Prediction:
1 Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 68.80 (WA ranking 2)
2 Valarie Allman (USA) 68.24 (4)
3 Jorinde van Klinken (NED) 68.00 (10)
4 Yaime Perez (CUB) 67.90 (1)
5 Feng Bin (CHN) 66.20 (5)
6 Liliana Cá (POR) (12)
7 Shadae Lawrence (JAM) (17)
8 Kristin Pudenz (GER) (6)
9 Dani Stevens (AUS) (19)
10 Mélina Robert-Michon (FRA) (14)
11 Claudine Vita (GER) (8)
12 Kamalpreet Kaur (IND) (32)

Sandra Perkovic (Mark Shearman)

Other contenders:
Denia Caballero (CUB) (3)
Chen Yang (CHN) (7)
Nadine Muller (GER) (9)
Fernanda Martins (BRA) (11)
Marija Tolj (CRO) (13)
Chioma Onyekwere (NGR) (16)
Marike Steinacker (GER) (21)
Irina Rodrigues (POR) (22)
Kelsey Card (USA) (23)
Nataliya Semenova (UKR) (38)

Absent:
Shanice Craft (GER) (15)
Yekaterina Strokova (ANA) (20)

Hammer (Final: 20.35 August 3 (12.35 BST))

This event has only been contested five times in the Olympics and Poland have won three of them. They could land a fourth but it is USA, who have never won an Olympic medal at this event, who will have the strongest trio as they had four of the top five in the world rankings for 2021 at the end of June.

2016 Olympic champion & Olympic record: Anita Wlodarczyk (POL) 82.29
2019 World champion: Deanna Price (USA) 77.54
World record-holder: Anita Włodarczyk (POL) 82.98
World leader: DeAnna Price (USA) 80.31

British interest: With Olympic bronze medallist Sophie Hitchon just retired there will be no British competitors.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
80.31 DeAnna Price USA Eugene 26 Jun
78.18 Brooke Andersen USA Wichita 10 Apr
77.93 Anita Włodarczyk POL Bydgoszcz 30 Jun
76.79 Gwen Berry USA Tucson 22 May
75.52 Camryn Rogers CAN Eugene 10 Jun
75.49 Annette Echikunwoke NGR Tucson 22 May
75.42 Malwina Kopron POL Poznań 26 Jun
75.38 Alexandra Tavernier FRA Salon-de-Provence 21 Feb
74.61 Lauren Bruce NZL Tucson 20 May
74.40 Nastassia Maslava BLR Brest 29 Apr

Top contenders:
Anita Włodarczyk (POL): The six-time global champion is going for a third successive Olympic title but had not been at her best since winning the European crown in 2018. She only reached 74 metres for the first time towards the end of June but then a 77.93m on the last day of June showed she will be fighting for gold rather than a top six place.
DeAnna Price (USA): The world champion (in Wlodarczyk’s absence) was only eighth in Rio but should fare much better this time around and a 80.31m US Trials win moved her to second all-time behind the Pole.
Alexandra Tavernier (FRA): The former European junior champion and 2015 world bronze medallist was only 11th in Rio but a French record 75.38m this year shows she is in form again.

Outside bet: Brooke Andersen (USA): She was only 20th in Doha but her 78,18m throw in April now sits fifth all-time.

Prediction:
1 Anita Włodarczyk (POL) 79.85 (WA ranking 2)
2 DeAnna Price (USA) 78.90 (1)
3 Brooke Andersen (USA) 78.40 (7)
4 Alexandra Tavernier (FRA) 75.20 (4)
5 Gwen Berry (USA) 75.15 (8)
5 Malwina Kopron (POL) 75.05 (3)
6 Camryn Rogers (CAN) 74.85 (30)
7 Annette Echikunwoke (NGR) 73.85 (23)
8 Lauren Bruce (NZL) 73.80 (14)
9 Wang Zheng (CHN) 72.60 (5)
10 Julia Ratcliffe (NZL) 72.25 (17)
11 Nastassia Maslava (BLR) 72.10 (34)
12 Hanna Skydan (AZE) 71.40 (10)

Anita Wlodarczyk (Mark Shearman)

Other contenders:
Joanna Fiodorow (POL) (6)
Zalina Petrivskaya (MDA) (9)
Iryna Klymets (UKR) (11)
Na Luo (CHN) (12)
Martina Hrašnová (SVK) (13)
Hanna Malyshik (BLR) (16)
Réka Gyurátz (HUN) (18)
Rosa Rodríguez (VEN) (19)
Sara Fantini (ITA) (20)
Bianca Ghelber (ROU) (21)
Jill Weir (CAN) (22)
Silja Kosonen (FIN) (24)

Absent:
Janee’ Kassanavoid (USA) (15)

Javelin (Final: 20.50 August 6 (12.50 BST))

If it takes 70 metres to win then Poland, who have not won a medal for 89 years (a bronze), look favourite to take gold. While it is very open for the other medals, it probably won’t be the world-record-holder or defending Olympic or world champion with all three struggling to throw 60 metres this summer, let alone get anywhere near 70 metres.

2016 Olympic champion: Sara Kolak (CRO) 66.18
2019 World champion: Kelsey Barber (AUS) 66.56
World record-holder: Barbora Špotáková (CZE) 72.28 2008
Olympic record-holder: Olisdeilys Menéndez (CUB) 71.53 2004
World leader: Maria Andrejczyk (POL) 71.40

British interest: There will be no British javelin throwers in Tokyo.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
71.40 Maria Andrejczyk POL Split 9 May
69.19 Christin Hussong GER Chorzów 30 May
67.40 Maggie Malone USA East Stroudsburg 17 Jul
66.55 Lu Huihui CHN Chengdu 2 Apr
65.13 Nikola Ogrodníková CZE Ostrava 19 May
64.81 Līna Mūze LAT Jelgava 16 May
64.68 Victoria Hudson AUT Eisenstadt 26 Apr
64.56 Liu Shiying CHN Chengdu 30 Mar
63.85 Tatsiana Khaladovich BLR Minsk 10 Feb
63.70 Anete Kociņa LAT Jelgava 26 Jun

Top contenders:
Maria Andrejczyk (POL): Fourth in Rio but only a non-qualifying 22nd in Doha in 2019, she broke through to a different level when her 71.40m throw in May added over five metres to her PB to move her to third all-time.
Christin Hussong (GER): The European champion was 12th in Rio and fourth in Doha but a 69.19m European Team Championships win gives her a chance of becoming the sixth German winner.
Lu Huihui (CHN): Only seventh in Rio after fifth in London but a consistent performer who has medalled in the last three World Championships.
Barbora Špotáková (CZE): The 2008 and 2012 champion is now aged 40 and though way below her world record form, a 63.08m win in Monaco showed she can’t be overlooked for a high placing.

Outside bet: Maggie Malone (USA): The American was 25th in Rio – her one global event – but a 66.82m US record in May shows she could win a medal in an event that previously USA have picked up just two bronzes in 20 Games.

Prediction:
1 Maria Andrejczyk (POL) 70.85 (WA ranking 6)
2 Christin Hussong (GER) 68.40 (2)
3 Lui Huihui (CHN) 65.85 (3)
4 Lina Muze (LAT) 65.40 (16)
5 Maggie Malone (USA) 64.80 (12)
6 Nikola Ogrodníková (CZE) 64.25 (7)
7 Barbora Špotáková (CZE) 64.10 (8)
8 Tatsiana Khaladovich (BLR) 63.85 (4)
9 Liu Shiying (CHN) 63.25 (5)
10 Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) 62.90 (1)
11 Victoria Hudson (AUT) 62.20 (22)
12 Anete Kociņa (LAT) 62.05 (25)

Other contenders:
Sara Kolak (CRO) (9)
Kara Winger (USA) (10)
Elizabeth Gleadle (CAN) (11)
Annu Rani (IND) (13)
Liveta Jasiūnaitė (LTU) (15)
Ariana Ince (USA) (17)
Laila Ferrer e Silva (BRA) (19)
Haruki Hitagachi (JPN) (20)
Madara Palameika (LAT) (21)
Kathryn Mitchell (AUS) (23)
Maria Lucelly Murillo (COL) (26)

Absent:
Martina Ratej (SLO) (14)

Heptathlon (first event 9.30 August 4-5 (01.30 BST))

Great Britain, the most successful nation at the Olympics in the women’s combined events with three previous golds, won’t have world champion Johnson-Thompson firing on all cylinders to challenge 2016 gold medallist Nafi Thiam.

2016 Olympic champion: Nafi Thiam (BEL) 6810
2019 World champion: Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) 6981
World & Olympic record: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) 7291 1988
World leader: Xénia Krizsán (HUN) 6651

British interest: An Achilles injury has meant Katarina Johnson-Thompson won’t be in her 2019 form and she only made her seasonal début at the end of June but she could still challenge for a medal if her fitness stands up.

Top 10 entries on 2021 performances:
6703 Annie Kunz USA Eugene 27 Jun
(12.95/2.4 1.81 15.73 23.71/2.0 6.50/1.2 45.06 2:15.24)
6683 Kendell Williams USA Eugene 27 Jun
(12.95/0.5 1.84 13.12 23.51/2.8 6.73/2.2 47.41 2:16.85)
6667 Erica Bougard USA Eugene 27 Jun
(12.92/0.5 1.87 12.38 23.56/2.8 6.50/1.4 46.75 2:10.93)
6651 Xénia Krizsán HUN Götzis 30 May
(13.31/0.1 1.80 14.47 24.32/1.3 6.41/1.1 52.02 2:11.51)
6536 Anouk Vetter NED Götzis 30 May
(13.35/0.1 1.74 15.28 23.65/0.5 6.23/-0.9 54.77 2:22.33)
6437 Yorgelis Rodríguez CUB Havana 19 Jun
(13.75/-0.5 1.80 14.27 24.36/0.8 6.47/1.0 46.63 2:14.84)
6358 Zheng Ninali CHN Arona 13 Jun
(13.39/1.1 1.76 13.86 24.51/0.8 6.23/0.0 48.26 2:14.49)
6346 Evelyn Aguilar COL Ibagué 14 Mar
13.88/-0.1 1.71 14.31 23.75/1.3 6.51/0.1 43.92 2:13.71)
6346 Yekaterina Voronina UZB Tashkent 29 May
(14.27 1.85 13.35 13.36 24.85 6.27 49.16 2:12.08)
6318 Maria Huntington FIN Götzis 30 May
(13.44/-0.8 1.83 13.16 24.46/1.3 6.53/-0.9 45.01 2:22.72)

Top contenders:
Nafi Thiam (BEL): The Olympic and world champion was well beaten in Doha by Johnson-Thompson but she has shown good form in 2021 and will start as clear favourite.
Xénia Krizsán (HUN): The European indoor bronze medallist won Gotzis in a Hungarian record and then world lead and she has greatly improved since her 16th in Rio.
Anouk Vetter (NED): Tenth in Rio, showed good form to finish second in Gotzis in May and the 2016 European champion’s best major result was third in the 2017 World Championships.
Annie Kunz (USA): In the US Trials the Americans took the top three places on the world lists with Kunz winning the title from Kendell Williams with a superb all-round performance.

Outside bet: María Vicente (ESP): Only 20 years-old this is probably three years too early for her but the former world youth and European junior champion is clearly on an upwards trajectory.

Prediction:
1 Nafi Thiam (BEL) 7050 (WA ranking 2)
2 Annie Kunz (USA) 6685 (16)
3 Xénia Krizsán (HUN) 6640 (5)
4 Kendell Williams (USA) 6620 (6)
5 Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) 6586 (1)
6 Anouk Vetter (NED) 6545 (11)
7 Yorgelis Rodríguez (CUB) 6490 (32)
8 Erica Bougard (USA) 6435 (4)
9 Ivona Dadic (AUT) (9)
10 Adriana Rodríguez (ESP) 6425 (30)
11 Maria Huntington (FIN) 6402 (20)
12 Verena Mayr (AUT) 6385 (3)

Other contenders:
Carolin Schafer (GER) (10)
Odile Ahouanwanou (BEN) (12)
Emma Oosterwegel (NED) (14)
Noor Vidts (BEL (15)
Ekaterina Voronina (UZB) (16)
Evelis Aguilar (COL) (19)
Zheng Ninali (CHN) (21)
Georgia Ellenwood (CAN) (22)
Vanessa Grimm (GER) (23)

Absent:
Laura Ikauniece (LAT) (7)
Tyra Gittens (TTO) (27)
Kate O’Connor (IRL) (28)
Holly Mills (GBR) (29)

Daniil Medvedev struggled to breathe in the Tokyo heat on Wednesday, asking the umpire who would be responsible if he died during his Olympic tennis match.

While he was able to finish his match, that was not the case for Spain's Paula Badosa, who left hers in a wheelchair.

Heat and humidity have been a big talking point among tennis players at the Games, with Medvedev among those to question the scheduling last week.

"I can finish the match but I can die," Russian Medvedev told the umpire.

The 25-year-old world number two took a medical timeout on court and also had the trainer on during a 6-2 3-6 6-2 win over Italy's Fabio Fognini that put him into the quarter-finals.

Chair umpire Carlos Ramos asked Medvedev if he was all right, with the second seed replying: "I'm fine. If I die, will the ITF [governing body the International Tennis Federation] take responsibility?"

Medvedev and world number one Novak Djokovic suggested last week that organisers should push back the start times of tennis matches to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

The ITF said at the time that "player health is paramount" and pointed to its extreme heat policy, which allows players a 10-minute break between the second and third sets if both agree to it.

Medvedev used that time on Wednesday to take a very cold shower.

"Even from the first set I didn't feel good enough with my breathing. That's why I called the physio - I felt like my diaphragm was blocked," he said, adding that he felt it was the most humid day so far in Tokyo.

"And then on the second set, I just had darkness in my eyes, like between every point. I didn't know what to do to feel better. Like I was bending over and I couldn't get my breath together so I was ready to just fall down on the court."

Meanwhile, Badosa said she had suffered heatstroke, which had forced her to retire from her match against Czech Marketa Vondrousova.

"It's a shame to end my participation in this way. It's been a tough ask since day one. We tried to adapt as best we could but today my body hasn't held up as it needed to," she said.

Team GB miss out on a medal after a 17-12 defeat by Argentina in the men's rugby sevens bronze final in Tokyo.

Watch live coverage of Tokyo 2020 on BBC One, BBC Two, the BBC Sport website, app and BBC iPlayer

COVERAGE DETAILS: Tokyo Olympics: Day-by-day guide to the key events, big stars and British medal hopes

Watch highlights as Fiji win gold in the rugby sevens for the second consecutive Olympics after a 27-12 victory over New Zealand.

Watch live coverage of Tokyo 2020 on BBC One, BBC Two, the BBC Sport website, app and BBC iPlayer

COVERAGE DETAILS: Tokyo Olympics: Day-by-day guide to the key events, big stars and British medal hopes

Tokyo Olympics: Great Britain beaten by Argentina in bronze

Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 03:08

Great Britain's rollercoaster sevens Olympic campaign ended without a medal after a 17-12 defeat by a fired-up Argentina in the bronze final in Tokyo.

Great Britain's central contracts ended in August as the Rugby Football Union cut costs amid a Covid funding squeeze.

They also lost captain Tom Mitchell to injury in a comeback quarter-final win over the United States.

The Rio 2016 silver medallists were denied a spot on the podium as Ignacio Mendy ran in a decisive late try.

"To be here in the first place is a bit of a miracle from where we were 12 months ago to now," said stand-in skipper Dan Bibby after Britain's defeat.

"It'd be lovely to have something tangible to show everyone and say this is what all that graft and hard work was about. But we don't care about that really - we know what went on, we know how hard we worked to just get the team together.

"That is bigger than any medal. I would trade all the medals in the world for the friendships that I have here."

Great Britain, beaten 29-7 by New Zealand in their semi-final earlier in the day, led inside 30 seconds through Ben Harris' try.

But Lautaro Bazan Velez broke blind to level before 21-year-old Marcos Moneta, the star of his side's extraordinary six-man win over South Africa in the last eight, stepped Dan Norton to cross.

Ollie Lindsay-Hague scored after the interval for Great Britain, but Mendy's electric burst outside Alex Davis proved decisive.

Great Britain's preparations were thrown into chaos when they were told to find other jobs last summer.

Their training has also been disrupted by a series of lockdowns that some of their international rivals, New Zealand in particular, were less affected by.

As an emotional Mitchell watched from the stands, the future of the sevens programme, supported since December by a commercial partnership with the National Lottery, looks no more certain.

"I'm not sure right now," said Lindsay-Hague when asked about the future of the Sevens programme.

"Hopefully there might be something in the future especially with the youth coming through, but right now we don't know what is going to happen."

Fiji defend historic landmark title

Fiji beat New Zealand 27-12 to win only the second gold in their country's Olympic history. Their first came five years ago when rugby made its debut in Rio and they won the same title.

A nation of less than a million people and considerably fewer resources than most of their rivals, Fiji's offloading and pace proved too potent for New Zealand as they ran in four tries.

Bristol's Semi Radradra, one of the best-paid players in the 15-a-side format, was an unused replacement as his less high-profile team-mates completed their title defence without him.

The side, coached by Welshman Gareth Baber, will be denied the scenes of national celebration that greeted their 2016 predecessors.

The South Pacific island nation had been largely untouched by Covid-19, with only two deaths linked to the disease by the end of March.

However Covid-related deaths have risen to more than 200 since then, with reports the country's health service is in danger of collapse.external-link

Germany out in group stage with Ivory Coast draw

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 04:06

Germany have been eliminated in the group stage of the men's Olympic football tournament after a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast at the Miyagi Stadium in Rifu on Wednesday.

Stefan Kuntz's side, who won silver at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, came into the match a point behind Ivory Coast and knowing anything less than a victory would mean they were knocked out.

- Men's Olympics soccer bracket and fixtures

After a bright start by Germany, Ivory Coast grew into the game and took a deserve lead on 67 minutes when Benjamin Heinrichs bundled into his own goal.

Germany equalised six minutes later through Eduard Lowen's stunning free kick to set up a tense finish but they were unable to find a winner.

Ivory Coast, unbeaten in the group, finished second to Brazil while third-place Germany joined Saudi Arabia in exiting the competition at the first hurdle.

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