Argentina avenged the 3-0 Copa America 2007 and Confederations Cup 2005 defeats in the Men’s Olympic Football semi-final today, beating Brazil 3-0.

Bit of controversy around the goals. You can see in the above video that Sergio Aguero’s first goal may or may not have been handball. A touch of the old Hand of God? Can we call it the Arm of Kun? Maybe, but if it was handball it was nowhere near as blatant as Diego Maradona’s 1986 effort that still gives Peter Shilton bad dreams. Ater watching the slo-mo I’m thinking it was all chest.

Aguero’s second goal looks way offside on first viewing, but you can see on the replay that Brazilian no. 3 Alex Silva was playing everyone onside.

Juan Roman Riquelme made it 3-0 with a penalty after Aguero was brought down in the box and that was that. Not shown in the above video, Javier Mascherano turned into a red-card magnet in the last ten minutes, getting fouled once by Liverpool team-mate Lucas and once by Thiago Neves. Both were in the showers early. The cards were a little harsh (each could have been just plain old yellow) but the fouls were stupid and cynical. Both men will miss the bronze medal game now.

Some sympathy for Ronaldinho, who was on a mission to win gold for Brazil. He came up with a great bit of skill in the first half (around 00:20 on the above video) and could be seen chasing lost causes right up until the final whistle.

The result not only puts Argentina into the Olympic gold medal game (against Nigeria, see below) it also brings things level in Argentina and Brazil’s historic rivalry. It’s now 35 wins each and 24 draws.

Nigeria 4-1 Belgium

Nigeria looked the business in the earlier semi-final. Goals from Olubayo Adefemi, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (x2) amd Chibuzor Okonkwo but the Super Eagles into a 4-0 lead, before Belgium got a too little toon late consoloation through Laurent Ciman in the 88th minute.

The bronze medal game will be Belgium vs Brazil, August 22nd in Shanghai, 7pm kick off local time.

The gold medal game will be Argentina vs Nigeria, August 23rd in Beijing, 12 noon kick off local time.

Even the old argument about who is the greatest player of all time comes down to Argentina vs Brazil in the shape of Maradona vs Pele. (even though it’s clearly Steve Bull, everyone knows that)

The rivalry continues tomorrow in the 2008 Men’s Olympic Football Semi-Final…

Both teams are out to win, obviously. Unlike their European counterparts, South American teams take Olympic football very very seriously. Argentina are the current gold medal holders, while Brazil are on a mission to win the the only tournament that still eludes them.

Argentina have brought Juan Roman Riquelme, Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero and a planeful of young talent like Angel di Maria, who scored the winner in the quarterfinal against Cameroon the Netherlands.

Brazil have brought Mr. Ronaldinho himself, as well as Diego, Anderson and all kinds of other players like the phenom that is Alexandre Pato. Except the phenom has been a little on the unphenomenal side in Beijing and will likely start tomorrow’s game on the bench.

Since the two teams first met in 1914, there have been 93 Argentina vs Brazil games. Argentina have won 34, while 24 have ended in a tie and Brazil have won 35. So right now the Brazilians are ahead by just one win - which just so happened to be the 2007 Copa America final:

The semi-final kicks off Tuesday 19th August, 9pm local time.
To figure out what time that is for you, click here to see what the time is in Beijing right now.

The other semi-final (Nigeria vs Belgium) kicks off three hours earlier, 6pm local time.

The final (or gold medal match) is August 23rd, 12:00 noon kick off, local time.

UPDATE: Video highlights of Argentina 3-0 Brazil and Nigeria 4-1 Belgium can be seen here.

Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose show off the German national team’s new keeper, clearly an upgrade from Jens Lehmann. (Oliver Lang/AFP/Getty Imagesg)

Argentina 2-1 Netherlands (after extra time)


Leo Messi made it 1-0 when he rounded Piet Velthuizen and banged it home. And to think he nearly wasn’t here.

Otman Bakkal equalized for the Dutch after Evander Sno’s shot had deflected off Javier Mascherano.

In extra time Messi (him again) freed Angel di Maria with a beauty of a through ball, and the Benfica man scored a 105th minute winner.

Read the Argentina WCB LiveBlog of the game, and Argentina fans reactions, here.

Brazil 2-0 Cameroon (after extra time)


Bruno remains unimpressed with Brazil, and Cameroon held them at 0-0 for 90 minutes. But 11 minutes into extra time Rafael Sobis was on the end of a long Diego through ball to make it 1-0. No video of that, sorry, but we do have video of Brazil’s second, which Marcelo somehow scored with his knee/thigh in the 105th.

Belgium 3-2 Italy


This started badly for Belgium, Thomas Vermaelen being sent off for pulling down Robert Acquafresca in the area, and Giuseppe Rossi scoring from the spot. Moussa Dembele equalized for Belgium, with a header that only just crossed the line and Kevin Mirallas made it 2-1 just before half-time with a smart turn and shot.

Rossi scored a second from the spot to equalize in the 74th, but Belgium made it 3-2 with another goal from Dembele in the 79th. Unfortunately for Italy, this is where it all went wrong. Keeper Viviano was too aggressive in trying to get the back to the center cirlce for the restart and got himself a red card, ruining Italy’s one man advantage and allowing Belgium to hold out for the last 10 minutes.

Here’s what the semi-finals look like:

Nigeria vs Belgium
Argentina vs Brazil

Both games take place on Tuesday, August 19th. And unless you’re Belgian or Nigerian, I think it’s safe to say that Argentina vs Brazil is the game to watch.

Everybody wants to see Argentina up against Brazil on a pitch, but two reps from their respective countries (one participating in the actual Olympics) decided to preview it via games. Like Connect Four, Snap and Jenga. You know, real brain busters.

Pay close attention to the 0:31 mark when Anderson is forced to use the most brain power ever for anyone playing Connect 4.

Might have been tripped, might not have. Either way, Diego shows us how to properly go to ground: perfect arch, pained facial expression, arms flailing, wavy hair. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

The quarter-finals look like this:

Nigeria vs Cote d’Ivoire
Italy vs Belgium
(winners play each other)

Argentina vs Netherlands
Brazil vs Cameroon
(winners play each other)

All matches on August 16th.

Highlights from the final round of group games below (USA fans look away now.)

Argentina 2-0 Serbia - Group A


The albiceleste bear Siberia 2-0 to top Group A with three wins out of three. Angel Di Maria will be embarrassed with his missed pen, but Diego Buonanotte has a nice free kick to add to his highlight reel.

Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 Australia - Group A


Salamon Kalou banged one into the top right corner to give the Ivorians a 1-0 win, and a place in the quarterfinals.

Nigeria 2-1 USA - Group B




The USA paid for their disciplinary problems in this one. Already shorn of the suspended Michael Bradley and Freddy Adu and in need of a result against Nigeria, they lost left back Michael Orozco in the third minute to a foolish elbow. Goals from Isaac Promise and Obinna Nsofor put Nigeria top of Group B, while an 88th minute Sacha Kljestan penalty was all the US had to show for the days work.

Netherlands 1-0 Japan - Group B


Following his dramatic last minute free kick equalizer on Sunday, Gerald Sibon had more bad news for the USA this morning. His penalty giving the Netherlands a 1-0 win over Japan, so one more point than the USA and a place in the last eight.

Belgium 1-0 New Zealand - Group C


This Faris Haroun header was enough to secure second place in Group C for Belgium. Maybe Hamburg will let Vincent Kompany stick around a little longer now?

Brazil 3-0 China - Group C


Ronaldinho put Diego through for the first, and Thiago Neves added two more (a free kick and a blink and you’ll miss it low shot) to make it three-nil and three out of three for Brazil. It still made Bruno sleepy though.

Italy 0-0 Cameroon - Group D


These two shared a goalless draw that put them both through. Italy finished top, Cameroon second.

South Korea 1-0 Honduras - Group D
Kim Dong-Jin scored a great goal with his right foot - apparently - to give Korea a 1-0 win. But Italy and Cameroon’s goalless draw meant Korea never had a shot at making the quarters. Honduras go home three defeats and CONCACAF is left thinking that Mexico would have represented the region a lot better.

Nothing beats a Slip ‘N Slide pitch like the one Norway and Japan were fortunate enough to play on today during today’s final round of the women’s Olympic football tournament group stage. Japan won the game 5-1, but both teams made the quarter finals.

(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Brazil’s women’s team isn’t all about Marta you know. Brilliant as the number 10 is, there are other Brazilian ladies with ball skills and single names. Like Cristiane for example, who scored a hat trick in Brazil’s 3-1 win over Nigeria in the final group game at the Olympics today.

Get a look at her second, above, where she flicks the ball up for herself and lobs the Nigeria keeper with an overhead kick. Class.

Brazil finished top of Group F and will play Norway in the quarters.

Complete quarterfinal lineup for the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament looks like this:

Norway vs Brazil
Sweden vs Germany
(winners play each other in semi-final 1)

China vs Japan
USA vs Canada
(winners play each other in semi-final 2)

‘Dinho himself is showing some form (as is Pato, Anderson and the rest of the Brazil team), Argentina are getting it done, and Italy are absolutely on fire (in a good way) in Group D.

Argentina 1-0 Australia - Group A

Argentina left it late-ish again, but a nice move with Riquelme at the heart of it was eventually finished (emphatically) by Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 76th minute. And Argentina say hallo to the quarters.

Cote d’Ivoire 4-2 Serbia - Group A


There’s no video with all six goals, but you can see all six separate vids on one page over at TVGolo. I’ve chosen my favourite (above) as Salomon Kalou’s fpr Cote d’Ivoire. Love the turn and quick one-two with Gervinho.

USA 2-2 Netherlands - Group B


Don’t be fooled by the above video. While the US did indeed come from one Ryan Babel goal down to take a 2-1 lead through Sacha Kljestan (great through ball slash nutmeg from Freddy Adu) and Jozy Altidore (off the bench to poach a goal like a proper striker), Netherlands made it 2-2 with a late Gerald Sibon free kick. USA WCB is not happy, but still a decent result.

Nigeria 2-1 Japan - Group B
No video to show you, sorry kids. But I have it from high authority that Nigeria won 2-1 with goals from Victor Obinna and Victor Anichebe. Which means Nigeria’s game against the USA will be do or die for both teams (both on four points) and that Japan (with zero points) aren’t out yet, but are pretty much f*cked. Asian teams have done surprisingly badly in Beijing so far.

Brazil 5-0 New Zealand - Group C


OK, so it was only against an inexperienced New Zealand side, but Ronaldinho scored twice (one free kick and one from the spot) and apparently pulled the strings as Brazil ran out 5-0 winners. Now if only New Zealand’s U-23 team played in Serie A…

Belgium 2-0 China - Group C


Moussa Dembele and Kevin Mirallas gave Belgium a 2-0 win, while China had two men sent off. The hosts now need a result against Brazil in the final group game to avoid an early exit. Good luck with that.

Italy 3-0 S Korea - Group D


Goals from Tommaso Rocchi, Giuseppe Rossi and Riccardo Montolivo gave Italy another 3-0 win and a place in the quarters. That’s six goals in two games now and the Azzurrini are looking dangerous.

Cameroon 1-0 Honduras - Group D
Apparently it was all Cameroon, but they didn’t get the winner until the 74th when Stephane Mbia blasted one with his right foot. Honduras are down and out, but Cameroon can still go through with a result against Italy, depending on what Korea do against Honduras.