Tokyo Olympics LIVE updates McKeown breaks Olympic record Boomers open campaign with win
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Ariarne Titmus, the Australian world champion, in the pool with compatriot Tamsin Cook. Earlier Katie Ledecky swam well in her heat.
Australia can still dare to dream of a place in the last eight of the Olympic football tournament as they go to the break on level terms against favourites Spain. But they will have to maintain concentration and discipline if they are to keep a clean sheet over the next 45 minutes.
Spain have had by far the bulk of possession, which was to be expected, and have manufactured a number of half-chances without being able to make the breakthrough.
Nathaniel Atkinson in action.Credit:Getty
That they haven’t is down to the strength of Australia’s defensive organisation and the hard work of the Olyroos midfielders, who have dropped deep and assisted the back four, closing down space and looking to shut down the Spanish runners coming from deeper positions.
Still, Spain have had their chances, none better than that in the 20th minute when teenager Pedri, who played for the senior team in the most recent Euros, had a shot from the edge of the area saved by Tom Glover.
Graham Arnold’s side stayed compact and looked to hit Spain sporadically on the break butas the half wore on it became harder for Australia to find space and time to generate any sort of threat as the Spaniards pressed them high up the pitch and prevented the Olyroos from playing out.
It will be a long, hard, second half, but if Australia can hold on and grab a point out of this game they will be well on their way to the knockout phase.
Isaac Cooper finishes fourth in his heat of the 100-metre backstroke while Mitch Larkin finishes third in his heat in 52.97.
Larkin is the fourth-fastest qualifier, while 17-year-old Cooper is the 13th fastest through.
Larkin nails the sentiment on Channel Seven.
Twenty-five minutes have passed at the Sapporo Dome. It isn’t out of control by any means for the Olyroos, but the way Spain are finding space and fluency with their movement and passing would be a slight worry for Graham Arnold.
Barcelona’s Pedri has had the best chance so far, a volley from the edge of the box in the 20th minute. But Melbourne City keeper Tom Glover was strong and solid with his save, taking the ball cleanly in his grasp. Shortly after, Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad had a shot from wide that smashed into the bar.
For all Spain’s handle on the game the Olyroos shape isn’t bad, and they’re not being left chasing shadows. They know Spain will control the play and they’re set up in such a way to go forward on the counter.
Daniel Arzani has moved into a couple of nice areas for the Olyroos, one a nice run into the box in the 24th minute, but his cross couldn’t find a teammate
Chelsea Hodges qualifies 12th fastest for the 100-metre breaststroke but Jess Hansen misses out.
Hodges swam 1:06.70; Hansen swam a 1:07.50 in the heat before.
“Obviously I was hoping to go faster...I’m into the semi-final. That’s all you have to do,†Hodges told Seven.
The Hockeyroos’ match against India is turning into a real romp. There mightn’t be a crowd but the Aussie support team in the stands is pretty loud.
Australia are dismantling India and now lead 7-1.
Blake Govers celebrates a goal with his Hockeyroos teammates.Credit:Getty Images
We just saw an incredible series of heats at the pool as the best female backstrokers in the world traded Olympic records in the 100-metre event. Canada’s Kylie Masse went first, then American Regan Smith in the next heat, only for Australia’s world record holder Kaylee McKeown to go quicker again in the final heat and be fastest through to the semi-finals. Tommy Neill crushed a huge personal best to earn a spot in the men’s 200-metre freestyle semi-finals but Elijah Winnington missed out. He’s having a very tough time of things in Tokyo after his 400-metre struggles earlier today.
Kaylee McKeown.Credit:Getty
Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten crossed the line in the women’s road race on Sunday and celebrated with both arms in the air as if she had won gold. The only problem was that her rival, Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer, had crossed the line one minute and 15 seconds earlier, which van Vleuten didn’t realise.
Van Vleuten, the 2019 world champion, attacked the reduced peloton inside the last five kilometres in what she assumed was the race-winning move. The 38-year-old’s initial elation as she hugged a Dutch team official quickly changed when it became clear that she had finished second.
Annemiek van Vleuten thought she had won gold.Credit:Getty Images
“I thought I had won,†van Vleuten was heard saying to her team masseur Ruud Ziljmans on Dutch TV. “Ruud, have I got that wrong?â€
Race radios aren’t allowed at the Games, as they are during the regular season, and may have contributed to the miscommunication and confusion.
with AAP
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Thomas Neill has won his 200-metre freestyle heat in 1:45.81, with Elijah Winnington fifth in his heat. Winnington has missed the semi-finals. Not Winnington form.
Australia’s men’s soccer team, the Olyroos, have started their second group game against Spain.
Fresh off beating Argentina in their first match, Graham Arnold’s men will be just as bullish about their chances against Spain, arguably a tougher task than what the Argentines posed.
Spain have players who played key roles in the senior side’s run in Euro 2020 â€" Pedro and Unai Simon, for example. They’re also traditionally strong when it comes to youth development.
A win for the Olyroos would send them through to the knockout stages.
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