Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament final

The 2020 Summer Olympic football gold medal match was a football match to determine the gold medal winners of men's football tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics. The match was the 25th final of the men's football tournament at the Olympics, a quadrennial tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA to decide the Olympic champions. The match was held at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, on 7 August 2021.[2] It was played between the defending champions Brazil and Spain.[3]

2020 Summer Olympic men's football final
EventFootball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
After extra time
Date7 August 2021 (2021-08-07)
VenueInternational Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama
RefereeChris Beath (Australia)
Attendance0[a]
WeatherOvercast
27 °C (81 °F)
92% humidity[1]
2016
2024

Background

edit

Since the Olympic men's football was restricted to an under-23 tournament in 1992, Brazil had played in two gold medal matches, losing to Mexico in 2012 before prevailing at home in 2016. Spain also had played twice in such occasion, winning in 1992 – also when they hosted the Olympics – and losing to Cameroon in 2000.

Albeit this was the first meeting between Brazil and Spain at the Olympic gold medal match, their senior and age-group teams had met in many finals before. The senior met in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final, in which Brazil beat the then-world champions 3–0. The two countries also met in the 1985 and 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships, as well as the final of the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship; Brazil won in all occasions.

Venue

edit

The final was held at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, located in the Kanagawa Prefecture.

The stadium had hosted numerous international sporting events. It hosted a semi-final and the final of the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, as well as three matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup including the final; Brazil's senior team won the latter.[4]

Referee

edit

The referee in charge of the match was Australian Chris Beath, a native of Queensland, who had officiated two previous matches in the tournament; Group A match between Mexico and France and quarter final match between Brazil and Egypt. Beath had two assistant linesmen also from Australia.[5]

Route to the final

edit
  Brazil Round   Spain
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
  Germany 4–2 Match 1   Egypt 0–0
  Ivory Coast 0–0 Match 2   Australia 1–0
  Saudi Arabia 3–1 Match 3   Argentina 1–1
Group D winners
Pos Team Pld Pts
1   Brazil 3 7
2   Ivory Coast 3 5
3   Germany 3 4
4   Saudi Arabia 3 0
Source: TOCOG and FIFA
Final standings Group C winners
Pos Team Pld Pts
1   Spain 3 5
2   Egypt 3 4
3   Argentina 3 4
4   Australia 3 3
Source: TOCOG and FIFA
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
  Egypt 1–0 Quarter-finals   Ivory Coast 5–2 (a.e.t.)
  Mexico 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) Semi-finals   Japan 1–0 (a.e.t.)

Match

edit

Details

edit
Brazil  2–1 (a.e.t.)  Spain
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brazil[6]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain[6]
GK 1 Aderbar Santos
RB 13 Dani Alves (c)
CB 15 Nino
CB 3 Diego Carlos
LB 6 Guilherme Arana   20'
CM 5 Douglas Luiz   89'
CM 8 Bruno Guimarães
RW 11 Antony   112'
LW 20 Claudinho   106'
CF 9 Matheus Cunha   64'   91'
CF 10 Richarlison   31'   114'
Substitutes:
GK 12 Brenno
DF 4 Ricardo Graça
MF 2 Gabriel Menino   112'
MF 18 Matheus Henrique
MF 19 Reinier   106'
FW 7 Paulinho   114'
FW 17 Malcom   91'
Head coach:
André Jardine
GK 1 Unai Simón
RB 18 Óscar Gil   91'
CB 12 Eric García   27'
CB 4 Pau Torres
LB 3 Marc Cucurella   91'
DM 6 Martín Zubimendi   112'
CM 8 Mikel Merino (c)   46'
CM 16 Pedri
RF 7 Marco Asensio   46'
CF 11 Mikel Oyarzabal   104'
LF 19 Dani Olmo
Substitutes:
GK 13 Álvaro Fernández
DF 5 Jesús Vallejo   91'
DF 20 Juan Miranda   91'
MF 14 Carlos Soler   46'
MF 15 Jon Moncayola   112'
MF 21 Bryan Gil   105+1'   46'
FW 9 Rafa Mir   104'
Head coach:
Luis de la Fuente

Assistant referees:
Anton Schetinin (Australia)
George Lakrindis (Australia)
Fourth official:
Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
Reserve assistant referee:
Rui Tavares (Portugal)
Video assistant referee:
Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Chris Penso (United States)

Post-match

edit

Following the final, Brazil became only the fifth team to retain the Olympic title in men's football, after Great Britain, Uruguay, Hungary, and Argentina. In winning the tournament, Brazil's captain Dani Alves extended his own record of being the most decorated footballer in history with 43 career team honours.[7][8]

Notes

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Start List: Match 28, BRA vs ESP" (PDF). Olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Football Tournament: Match Schedule" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Brazil 2 Spain 1". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. ^ "INTERNATIONAL STADIUM YOKOHAMA". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  5. ^ Monteverde, Marco (6 August 2021). "Olympics: Chris Beath to referee men's football decider, assisted by fellow Aussies Anton Shchetinin and George Lakrindis". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Tactical Starting Line-up: Match 28, BRA vs ESP" (PDF). Olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  7. ^ Ronay, Barney (7 August 2021). "Brazil edge Spain in men's Olympic football final thanks to Malcom's magic". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ Harris, Rob (7 August 2021). "At 38, Alves helps Brazil to soccer gold by beating Spain". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 August 2021.