Copa America: Argentina beat Brazil to end 28-year title drought
Angel Di Marias first-half goal gives Argentina a win over Brazil to lift the first Copa America trophy since 1993.
Angel Di Maria struck a first-half goal as Argentina ended a 28-year title drought by beating hosts Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final here on Saturday.
In a dour contest that had few clear scoring chances, Di Maria coolly lifted a shot over goalkeeper Ederson after Renan Lodi’s bungled attempt to clear a 40-yard Rodrigo De Paul pass.
The result at the Maracana stadium marked Argentina’s first major tournament victory since the 1993 Copa America, when they beat Mexico in the final in Ecuador.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Di Maria, who was named man of the match. “Leo [Messi] told me before the game that this was my final because I missed the [Copa America] finals in Chile and the United States [in 2015 and 2016], as well as the World Cup final here in 2014. I’m glad that he was right.”
Messi and Brazil star Neymar were named joint winners of the tournament’s best player award. Messi scored four goals and provided five assists while Neymar netted twice and set up three goals.
Messi could barely contain his emotion after the final whistle, celebrating effusively with his teammates after finally clinching a major trophy in his 10th attempt – including six editions of the Copa America and four World Cups.
Despite his sublime form throughout the competition, the 34-year-old was below his best in the final. The forward’s best scoring chance came in the 89th minute when he combined with De Paul before seeing his tame shot from six yards easily blocked by Ederson.
Brazil similarly lacked inspiration in the final third, apart from a brief period in the second half when Emiliano Martinez tipped Gabriel Barbosa’s left-footed shot over the bar and Thiago Silva headed over from a Neymar cross.
The Albiceleste defended with nine men behind the ball in the last five minutes and the final whistle drew wild celebrations, both on the pitch and among the few hundred Argentine fans present in the stands.
Thailands Atiwit “Jazz” Janewattananond grew up with dreams of putting on his goggles and competing for an Olympic medal in a swimming pool. A twist of fate will see him shoot for gold in the mens golf competition instead later this month.
THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 23: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand plays his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the Zozo Championship @ Sherwood on October 23, 2020 in Thousand Oaks, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Jazz, the Asian Tour’s No. 1 in 2019, will line up alongside the world’s elite at Kasumagaseki Country Club on the outskirts of Tokyo from July 29 to August 1 where he and compatriot Gunn Charoenkul will make their Olympic debuts.
“Growing up, not many people knew I swam a lot,” said Jazz. “My dad wanted me to become a swimmer. When I was between four to eight years old, I used to swim a few kilometres every day. It was crazy. Now I won’t even go into the water,” he added with a laugh.
The 25-year-old recalls how he and his father would watch the Olympics on TV, in particular the track and field events and swimming competition. American swimming legend Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals, was amongst the stars who caught his young eye back in the day.
“I used to follow athletics and swimming and there was no golf [in the Olympics] back then,” said Jazz, who is now a six-time winner in Asia. “I used to watch Phelps dominate the pool, so it was a thing. The Olympics is the biggest stage for sports and it’s a huge priority for me.
“I don’t like to day-dream and I don’t say things like I want to win the Masters one day or The Open. I won’t day-dream except for the OIympics. The Olympics is different and I would often think what if I can win an Olympic medal. It’s so weird. I think it is the ultimate for sports.”
After others of his age outgrew and outpaced him in the pool, Jazz tried football but gave that up too after getting kicked and outmuscled. Golf came next when his father, a Thai judge, encouraged him to hit balls when he was eight. Bitten by the bug, Jazz became a golf prodigy and emerged as the youngest player at age 14 to make the halfway cut at an Asian Tour event in 2010. A day before he turned 15, he joined the professional ranks.
It was not a quick ascent though, as Jazz took a few years to adjust to life in the professional ranks. In 2016, he decided to spend a few months in a Buddhist monastery where he learned to become a monk – a ritual common amongst young Thais as a mark of respect to their parents. In February of 2017, he won the Bangladesh Open, crediting his first Asian Tour victory to his time in the monastery for the success.
“I prayed and chanted every day in the temple. I felt really peaceful. Golf used to be everything but now, I’m just happy I get to play in tournaments,” said Jazz, whose Sunday trademark is to wear an orange shirt which is the colour of a monk’s saffron.
By the end of 2019, he had joined an illustrious list of famous Thai golfers including Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit following four wins before his momentum was halted by Covid-19.
After showing glimpses of his best form with a third-place finish in Kenya and tied 11th in the British Masters earlier this year, Jazz knows there is so much to play for in the Tokyo Olympics.
“I’m really happy to qualify. It’s been a long journey. We were aiming to play last year but we couldn’t. I’m just glad I finally made it,” he said.
“I’m excited to represent my country, and it’s an honour. I remember Thongchai and Kiradech sharing their experience after they came back from Rio de Janeiro and Kiradech played well that week [to finish fifth].
“We’ve got two each from the men’s and women’s [Ariya Jutanugarn and Patty Tavatanakit], so four chances there to win a medal for Thailand. One of us needs to have a good week to win a medal for our country. Golf is not like any other sport and you don’t need to be the best. You just need to have the right week. It would be mad to get a medal, it’ll be crazy if I do.”
TOKYO – Japan will bar spectators from all Olympic events held in and around Tokyo, organizers announced Thursday, as the government imposed a fresh state of emergency to cover the capital during the Games.
“This is a sorry message that we have to announce,” Seiko Hashimoto, president of the organizing committee, said at a news conference. “I am very sorry for those people who will be disappointed. But in order to prevent the spread, this was the only choice available for us to take. I hope that you understand the difficult choice that we made.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Tokyo’s fourth state of emergency would begin July 12 and last until Aug. 22, citing rising infections in the capital and the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
Hours after Suga’s announcement, the organizers of the Games outlined their decision about the spectator ban, just two weeks before the Games are due to be opened July 23.
Hashimoto, a seven-time Olympian who represented Japan as a cyclist and speedskater, expressed sympathy for the athletes who will have to compete without fans cheering them on, but she said Japan would prepare the stage so they can do their best and their “fantastic performances” can be enjoyed by people all over the world.
“They want a lot of people to watch their performance. I know how they feel, but many Japanese people were worried about the covid-19 situation,” she said. “So if a lot of people are opposed to the idea, maybe we should refrain from having spectators – and there are athletes thinking that way, as well. “
Olympic organizers, working closely with the government, had announced two weeks ago that they would allow some domestic spectators to attend events. They capped attendance at 10,000, or 50% of a venue’s capacity, but warned at the time that they might change course if infections rose again.
That’s exactly what happened. But a disappointing performance by the ruling party in last weekend’s municipal elections in the capital, partly blamed on anxiety over the Olympics, may have been the final straw.
The International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee said they respect Japan’s decision and “support it in the interest of safe and secure Games for everybody.”
Japan’s patchwork of coronavirus rules can often appear confusing, and the banning of spectators for the Olympics did not bring much more coherence.
Suga asked bars and restaurants not to serve alcohol during the state of emergency – although the city’s shopping streets and commuter trains are likely to remain packed during the daytime, as they have been during previous states of emergency this year.
Japanese professional baseball and soccer has also carried on all year with limited numbers of spectators inside stadiums, and will continue to do so.
The Olympics, though, has inflamed particular passions here and become a lightning rod for dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the pandemic. Fears have been fueled about foreigners bringing in dangerous strains of the virus, and about huge crowds mingling and spreading infections far and wide.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said the Olympics was higher-risk than professional baseball because it involved many activities taking place at the same time, bringing many people together from around the country.
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The government’s own scientific advisers warned last month that allowing even limited numbers of fans would raise the risk of increased rates of coronavirus infections. Public opposition to proceeding with the Games had waned in recent weeks, but most people still believed the Olympics should be canceled, postponed or should go ahead without spectators, surveys showed.
The ban will affect all sporting events taking place in Tokyo and in the three neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba, organizers said. That includes the vast majority of events, such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, track-and-field athletics and swimming.
Some events held in more distant regions, including earlier rounds of the soccer, baseball and softball competitions and some indoor cycling, to be held in Miyagi, Fukushima and Shizuoka prefectures, will be subject to the 10,000-people or 50% cap.
It means Tokyo’s newly rebuilt 68,000-capacity National Stadium, which was not completed in time for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as initially hoped, will be empty throughout the tournament, symbolizing the vast sums of money invested in these Olympics with little reward for the people of Japan or the country’s economy.
The stadium cost around 157 billion yen ($1.4 billion) to rebuild, according to official figures. The total cost of the Games is officially estimated at $15.4 billion, but government audits suggest the real cost was twice as high. All but $6.7 billion is public money, with the International Olympic Committee contributing only about $1.5 billion.
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The announcement of the spectator ban also highlights the government’s failure to get its vaccination program underway early enough to allow the Games to take place safely with fans.
The pace of vaccinations has picked up significantly in recent weeks, with 52.6 million doses now administered, enough to have fully vaccinated around 20% of the population.
Yet the contrast with Britain is also remarkable: England beat Denmark in a semifinal of the Euro 2020 soccer tournament in front of 67,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.
The rate of new coronavirus infections in Japan, at fewer than 2,000 new cases a day and 800,000 in all, is a fraction of the rate in Britain, which had 32,000 new cases Wednesday.
However, the fact that most people in Japan have not been vaccinated means the infections here are proportionately more dangerous, and the daily death toll in Japan, averaging around 20 a day over the past week, is roughly comparable to Britain’s.
Japanese Olympics sponsors are canceling or scaling back booths and promotional events tied to the Games, frustrated by “very last minute” decisions by organizers and delays in deciding on the policy toward spectators, sources told the Reuters news agency.
Some 60 Japanese companies paid a record of more than $3 billion for sponsorship rights and then another $200 million to extend their contracts after the Games were delayed. But they have seen any potential benefits gradually eroded by the bans on attendance, a glum mood and bad vibes surrounding the Games.
Even before the ban it was already gearing up to be a distinctly joyless event for the Japanese people, with spectators told not to shout or cheer, to wear masks, to go straight home after events without even pausing to chat outside venues, and with most bars and restaurants closed in the evening anyway. In the end, almost all fans will have to be satisfied with watching the events on television.
Organizers also announced this week that spectators have even been told to stay away from the marathon and road-walking events, which are due to take place on the northern island of Hokkaido, and they have also moved the torch relay off public roads when it reaches Tokyo on Friday. Instead, a series of torch-lighting ceremonies will be held – without spectators.
Shigeru Omi, the government’s top health adviser, reiterated his concerns to a parliamentary health committee this week.
“We are asking many people to take steps to prevent further spread of the infection,” he said. “Images of spectators would be sending out a contradictory message.”
The announcement marks a sad culmination of months of agonizing for Olympics organizers and prolonged uncertainty for ticket holders, who had paid huge sums of money to attend events in massively oversubscribed lotteries.
It means Tokyo 2020, as the postponed event is still being branded, is largely going to be a made-for-TV affair, with even its staging in the intense heat and humidity of the Tokyo summer driven by a desire to maximize viewers and advertising revenue in the United States.
Organizers had sold around 4.45 million tickets domestically and 600,000 to overseas fans before the Games were postponed last April. They later received around 810,000 requests for domestic refunds due to the pandemic.
Japan has been desperate to show the world it could proceed with a successful Olympics despite the pandemic, but the specter of empty venues casts a shadow over what should have been a celebration, not just for competitors but also for the Japanese people.
The issue also highlights the controversial decision to postpone the Games for only one year rather than two, a decision driven by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gambled that the pandemic would have abated and he would still be around to preside over celebrations this year.
Abe stepped down due to ill health last August. In a magazine interview released this week, he slammed critics who have raised concerns about holding the Games this year, calling the naysayers “anti-Japan.”
This year’s Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi have fallen victim to surging Covid-19 cases across the region.
Thailand joined other members in voting to postpone the SEA Games – originally due from November 21-December 2 – until next year, SEA Games Federation CEO Chaiyaphak Siriwat said on Thursday. The regional Games will be moved to April or May 2022.
Hanoi SEA Games postponed as virus cases soar in region
Ten of the 11 member countries voted for the postponement during the federation’s teleconference meeting this week, Chaiyaphak said. The Vietnamese delegation abstained, explaining it would have to talk to government officials before deciding on a rescheduled date for the Games. Vietnam has suffered record Covid-19 infections of over 1,000 cases per day this week.
The start of the Thai football season has been postponed for two weeks amid fears it could spawn Covid-19 cluster infections.
Thai League 1 will kick off on August 13 instead of July 31 and Thai League 2 will kick off on August 14 instead of August 1.
Thai League Co acting president Korawee Prisananantakul said the move was taken on Wednesday by the Football Association of Thailand and Thai League Co after the Sports Authority of Thailand and Tourism and Sports Ministry asked them to delay matches.
“Meanwhile, the Thailand Champions Cup match between BG Pathum United and Chiang Rai United will kick off on August 8 instead of July 24,” Korawee said.
An extra midweek match in League 1 will be added in August, while two extra midweek matches will be added to League 2 in September and November.
Half of the teams in both leagues have received Covid-19 jabs and all teams will be vaccinated by the end of this month, said the Thai League chief.
Harry Kane scored a 104th minute goal to give England a 2-1 win over Denmark on Wednesday nigth and end a 55-year wait for his country to qualify for the final of a major football tournament.
Kane slotted home the rebound after Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel had saved his spot kick after Raheem Sterling went down under a slight contact in the Danish penalty area and the Dutch referee pointed to the spot.
It was harsh on Schmeichel, who was magnificent all game, and the penalty will no doubt lead to plenty of comments, but the result did justice to an England side that totally dominated the second half and extra time of the match.
A low cross from Harry Kane just evaded Raheem Sterling, who then cut inside only to shoot tamely at Schmeichel, before Kane hit a powerful shot well over. Denmark then began to work themselves into the game with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg working Pickford from outside of the penalty area and the England keeper then conceded a corner after a poor clearance.
The Danish forward made no mistake in the 30th minute with a vicious free kick from 25 meters which flashed past Pickford to put Denmark ahead.
It was the first goal England had conceded in all of the competition, but they were level in the 39th minute; Bukayo Sako did magnificently down the right to collect a pass from Kane and his low cross for Sterling, who moments earlier had seen Schmeichel save from point blank range, was turned into his own net by Simon Kjaer.
At the other end Pickford got down to deny Dolberg, who then fired another effort straight at the England keeper.
The game got off to a high energy start with England looking to impose themselves and pin the Danes back in their own half.
The half ended with England controlling the ball in and around the Danish area, but they were unable to find a clear chance against the massed Danish defense and the game went into extra time.
Thai striking superstar Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon is faced with an interesting challenge.
Top strawweight Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang from the famed Team Lakay recently called “The Iron Man” out and challenged him to a match. Rodtang and Adiwang are two of the most destructive strikers in the entire promotion, so a showdown would undoubtedly be an action-packed affair.
Rodtang has responded to Adiwang’s call out and says he’s open to meeting the Filipino fighting sensation in the ring.
“If Lito thinks he has some tricks to beat me, then I welcome him to meet me,” Rodtang told ONE Championship in a recent video interview.
“It depends on the weight, whether he will come up in weight or if I will go down.”
Rodtang is the reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion and has dominated the opposition since he joined ONE Super Series in 2018. His come-forward style has enamored fans as he’s rarely met a serious challenge in the ring, practically obliterating anyone he’s been paired with.
Adiwang, however, feels he matches up well with the Thai star, and Rodtang agrees. “The Iron Man” believes it may even be a close fight that will end inside the distance.
“I think Lito’s fighting style is similar to mine. We are both fast and explosive. His striking is quite good, to be honest. I think it’s going to be an exciting fight if we face each other in the ring,” Rodtang said.
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“Since we both have the same striking style, and we both walk forward, if anyone makes a mistake, he’s going to get knocked out for sure.”
The potential fight has drawn a lot of buzz among fans of both camps. The idea of a mixed martial arts athlete crossing over to the all-striking ONE Super Series is incredibly appealing. However, Rodtang isn’t ruling out a move to mixed martial arts himself.
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“Whether it’s Muay Thai or kickboxing, I’m always open to the idea,” Rodtang said.
“If it’s going to be in MMA, I would need at least a year before competing. I want to make sure I have all the necessary skills. I’ve trained in MMA before, but I need more training.”
Italy qualified for the Euro 2020 final after beating Spain in a dramatic penalty shoot out at Wembley after 120 minutes football had ended 1-1.
Although Spain keeper Unai Simon saved the first Italian penalty taken by Manuel Locatelli, Dani Olmo fired over for the Spanish and Alvaro Morata saw his spot kick saved before Jorginho calmly slotted home to send the Italians into the final.
It was harsh on the Spanish, who played arguably their best football of the tournament and should have won the game in 90 minutes.
The only change made by Italy coach Roberto Mancini ahead of the game, was to bring Emerson in at left back for the injured Leonardo Spinazzola, while Luis Enrique brought Eric Garcia for Pau Torres in defense, while Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal replaced Alvaro Morata and Pablo Sarabia, who has a muscle injury
The Spain coach was clearly looking for greater mobility and a high line of pressure against an organized Italian defense and after an even opening five minutes, Spain took control by swamping Jorginho and Verratti with their midfield pressure.
Ferran Torres then shot wide and Del Olmo saw a shot well saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Italy had a chance only for Barella to be crowded out with Spain keeper Unai Simon out of his ground.
Italy had controlled the ball in their earlier games and were clearly uncomfortable against Spain’s pace and aggression.
The second half started as the first ended with Di Lorenzo putting Olmo’s cross out for a corner with Torres waiting to pounce, before Sergio Busquets fired just over after a pass from Oyarzabal.
Chiesa put Italy ahead with a curling shot into the corner of the net in the 60th minute after Eric Garcia allowed him to cut inside and pick his spot.
In extra time the impressive Olmo almost surprised everyone with a low free kick, with the ball pinging around the area before bouncing out. Donnarumma then punched clear as Morata threatened to pounce.
The second period of extra time saw little in the way of chances and the game went into the dramatic penalty shoot-out.
The Tokyo metropolitan government has decided to cancel the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games along public roads except for those on islands, including the Ogasawara Islands, according to sources.
As an alternative measure, a ceremony called a “torch kiss” will be held with no spectators, in which torchbearers pass on the flame one by one.
The torch relay was scheduled to take place in 62 municipalities in Tokyo for 15 days from Friday with more than 1,000 runners participating.
The metropolitan government had already decided on June 29 to cancel the relay through July 16 along public roads in the Tama area and Setagaya Ward, because the number of new novel coronavirus cases began to show signs of a resurgence.
According to the sources, because there is no prospect for the COVID-19 crisis to be brought under control anytime soon and the central government is considering extending emergency-level priority measures against the coronavirus, the metropolitan government will cancel the relay along public roads scheduled to be held from July 9 to 23.
After confirming the intentions of municipal governments, a final decision will be made soon by the relay’s executive committee.
On Friday, the day the torch will arrive in Tokyo, a ceremony will be held at Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya Ward with no spectators.
Although the relay will not be held along public roads, ceremonies will be held at different venues on each day of the 15-day period, with runners who wish to participate in attendance.
Third Olympian tests positive for coronavirus after arrival in Japan
A third visiting Olympian has tested positive for the coronavirus upon arrival in Japan, the latest test for the strict health protocols in place meant to prevent the viruss spread ahead of the Tokyo Games set to kick off later this month.
Amale member of Serbia’s five-member rowing team in his 30s tested positive for the virus after landing at Haneda airport Saturday night, Takashi Ikeda, an official in the Japanese city of Nanto, where Serbia’s players are scheduled to train, told Reuters.
The man has been sent to a medical facility and the other four members to a separate isolation site, so they will be unlikely to train in Nanto ahead of the games, Ikeda told Reuters.
All Olympians visiting Japan are required to test for the virus before departure and after their arrival. While being vaccinated is not a requirement, Olympic officials say they expect more than 80 percent of participants to be inoculated against the coronavirus. Once inside Japan, athletes are required to adhere to a litany of health protocols, such as limiting contact to only those in their designated social bubble.
Despite the plans on paper, public health experts have warned that the virus is likely to find a way in given the huge influx of people from all over the world at a time when highly-contagious variants are spreading.
Complicating matters, Japan itself has been fighting back a surge in cases coupled with low vaccination rates. On Saturday, Tokyo confirmed 716 new covid-19 cases, the highest increase in over five weeks, according to Reuters.
In June, two members of Uganda’s Olympic team tested positive after arriving in Japan, despite being vaccinated with Oxford-AstraZeneca shots. Uganda has been battling its worst outbreak yet, which scientists say is being fueled by highly infectious variants alongside low vaccination rates and limited hospital resources and health care access.
Later that month, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito issued a rare statement challenging both the Japanese government and the Olympic committee’s insistence that the Games, already postponed once due to the pandemic, can be safely held this year.
“His majesty is very worried about the current infection situation of the covid-19 disease,” said Yasuhiko Nishimura, grand steward of the agency, the Kyodo News agency reported.
“I suppose that he is concerned that while there are voices of anxiety among the public, the event may lead to the expansion of infections,” Nishimura said.
Around 38 percent of Serbians have received at least on shot of the coronavirus vaccine, according to Reuters’ vaccine tracker. The Balkan country offers doses produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, China’s Sinopharm, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Russia’s Sputnik V. It was not immediately clear which of the vaccines the Olympian had received.
Olympic organizers have stressed that despite the challenges the games will go on.
So far, foreign spectators have been banned and a scaled-down number of domestic spectators allowed. Only 10,000 spectators, or about 50 percent of a venue’s capacity, depending on which is smaller, will be permitted, though these calculations exclude VIPs and officials, among others.
Japanese officials say that more restrictions on the games could be applied if cases continue to rise.
Hanoi SEA Games postponed as virus cases soar in region
The game got off to a high energy start with England looking to impose themselves and pin the Danes back in their own half.
The half ended with England controlling the ball in and around the Danish area, but they were unable to find a clear chance against the massed Danish defense and the game went into extra time.
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