No team has booked their Olympic men's soccer knockout phase berth just yet after an entertaining second round of matches in Tokyo on Sunday with some stunning goals to boot. France and South Africa shared seven goals in Group A as hosts Japan took a major step toward the latter stages while Group D has the only eliminated team so far in Saudi Arabia.
Group B is intriguing with all four teams locked on three points while Spain have edged ahead in Group C as we move into the final round of group games next week.
First, the results from Sunday.
Tokyo Olympics soccer scores
Group A
France 4, South Africa 3
Japan 2, Mexico 1
Group B
Honduras 3, New Zealand 2
South Korea 4, Romania 0
Group C
Argentina 1, Egypt 0
Span 1, Australia 0
Group D
Brazil 0, Ivory Coast 0
Germany 3, Saudi Arabia 2
And now, the takeaways.
Group A: France alive after late show
Although you would not have guessed it after a goalless first half, France and South Africa served up an Olympic soccer classic with Andre-Pierre Gignac pegging back a vibrant South African side three times to take his tournament tally to four before Teji Savanier's late winner.
🤯 Three goals and an assist from this man have seen France snatch victory from the jaws of defeat 💪
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 25, 2021
💔 Heartbreak for South Africa, who gave so much in a truly thrilling encounter 🤩#OlympicFootball | #Tokyo2020 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/q87dIB53Yq
It was harsh on the South Africans, who were excellent and dominated for large spells before they were undone by a late moment of magic but Teboho Mokoena's strike to lead 3-2 is a candidate for goal of the competition.
Both sides can still advance but David Natoane's men now need to hope for a third-place finish while Sylvain Ripoll's France can throw a wrench in the works for hosts Japan after they beat Mexico 2-1 to make it two wins from two.
Takefusa Kubo's second goal from as many appearances for Japan was another superb strike on a day for great goals.
Group D: Saudis eliminated after Germany loss
Germany's 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia means that the Green Falcons are the first team to have been eliminated after Sami Al-Najei's double was not enough with Nadiem Amiri, Ragnar Ache and Felix Uduokhai doing the damage for the Germans.
A man down, but we fight back to keep our @Olympics dreams alive 👏🤩#WirfuerD #Tokyo2020 #KSAGER 2-3 pic.twitter.com/icVLBMzof7
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) July 25, 2021
With Brazil drawing 0-0 with Ivory Coast in an encounter which saw Douglas Luiz ejected early on before Eboue Kouassi joined him in being dismissed late on, Stefan Kuntz's men are now just one point behind the Brazilians and Ivorians before they meet the Ivory Coast in Rifu.
Group C: Argentina, Spain eke out wins
Spain now lead Group C after their 1-0 win over Australia through Mikel Oyarzabal's solitary strike and Argentina recovered from their opening loss to the Olyroos with a narrow victory over Egypt through Facundo Medina's second-half strike.
FULL TIME | A valiant effort ends in defeat by the narrowest of margins.
— Olyroos (@Socceroos) July 25, 2021
Attention now turns to our final #Tokyo2020 group stage meeting with Egypt on Wednesday. #AUSvESP #GoAustralia pic.twitter.com/0FqOLoAJJT
That sets up the final meeting of the group between Spain and Argentina fascinatingly with any potential loser facing an uncertain future in Japan.
Group B: Finely poised heading into final round
New Zealand's Liberato Cacace scored one of the contenders for goal of the tournament but could not prevent his side from slipping to a 3-2 loss to Honduras which evens up the group at three points apiece after South Korea thumped Romania 4-0 with Lee Kang-in grabbing a late double.
The final round of games now sees all four teams alive and with the chance to progress if they can win their remaining fixture with New Zealand against Romania in Sapporo and Honduras against South Korea in Yokohama.
👀 It's all to play for heading into the last group-stage matchday!
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 25, 2021
🔜 Next up:
🇿🇦 🆚 🇲🇽
🇫🇷 🆚 🇯🇵
🇦🇺 🆚 🇪🇬
🇪🇸 🆚 🇦🇷
🇰🇷 🆚 🇭🇳
🇷🇴 🆚 🇳🇿
🇩🇪 🆚 🇨🇮
🇸🇦 🆚 🇧🇷#OlympicFootball | #Tokyo2020 | #Football pic.twitter.com/NxxvVmVhFS
The final round of group games promises not to disappoint.