Defending champions Brazil advanced to the quarter-finals of the men’s Olympic football tournament after a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday helped them top Group ‘D’ while Ivory Coast booked their berth by sending Germany home. Japan advanced after delivering the knockout blow to 10-man France with a 4-0 win to stay perfect in Group 'A'. They take on New Zealand in the quarter-finals while Mexico, who pipped France to second place in Group A with a 3-0 win over South Africa, will meet South Korea. Ivory Coast went through at the expense of Germany, securing a 1-1 draw with the 2016 silver medallists at Miyagi Stadium. Germany piled on the pressure in the dying stages but Ivory Coast held on to finish second in the group and set up a meeting with Spain.

Source: The Star July 28, 2021 14:03 UTC