Beijing 2008 - Italy, Brazil, Argentina all win

Eurosport - Fri, 08 Aug 08:37:00 2008

World champions Italy, Brazil and Argentina all got their men's Olympic football campaigns off to winning starts in Beijing.

FOOTBALL 2008 Pechino 2008 Italy-Honduras Giovinco - 0

Group A

Argentina were grateful that Barcelona allowed Lionel Messi to stay in Beijing despite winning their appeal to recall him as the diminutive winger scored the first and set up another to secure a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.

There were shades of offside for the opener as Messi latched onto Juan Roman Riquelme's superb through ball to slot past goalkeeper Vincent Angban.

Sekou Cisse equalised early in the second half after rising above Pablo Zabaleta to head home, but late on the Argentine quality shone through as Riquelme and Messi combined again, this time to set substitute Lautaro Acosta up with a simple tap in.

In the other Group A match, Australia and Serbia fought to a 1-1 draw, with Ruben Zadkovich's second-half strike for the Socceroos cancelled out 10 minutes later by Ljubisa Rajkovic.

Group B

The United States have taken the early lead in Group B courtesy of their 1-0 win over Japan.

Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden's goal just after the break was enough seal the victory.

Netherlands saw their campaign get off to an inauspicious start as they were stifled by a solid Nigeria to finish 0-0.

The game was marred by the late sending off of Evander Sno for the Dutch for an at best clumsy challenge that landed on an opponent's ankle.

Group C

Brazil were made to struggle in their Group C opener by a solid Belgium side who had both Marouane Fellaini and Vincent Kompany sent off before Sao Paolo midfielder Hernanes finally grabbed the winner with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The win was enough to send the side featuring Diego and Rafinha - who both, like Messi, have been allowed to remain by their clubs - to the top of the group.

China struggled to a 1-1 draw against a spirited New Zealand side, who went down to 10 men in the first half when Steven Old's blatant handball earned him a second yellow card.

Despite their advantage, the hosts failed to make it count, and they were shocked when Jeremy Brockie blasted home on 52 minutes.

Defender Li Weifeng spared China's blushes with five minutes left with an excellent glanced header from a corner.

Group D

Honduras almost made it to half-time before conceding against Italy, but a volley from Sebastian Giovinco (pictured) and a Giuseppe Rossi penalty saw them go into the break 2-0 up. Cagliari's Robert Acquafresca added the third on 52 minutes to send the Azzurri top of Group D.

South Korea and Cameroon shared the spoils in an exciting encounter in which Chu-Young Park opened the scoring before Mandjeck Georges equalised for the Africans. Albert Baning's last-minute sending off was the fifth of the day.

Watch live coverage of the Olympics 24/7 on your PC via the Eurosport player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe. Or watch the action on British Eurosport - available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 29 - 48 of 48

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  1. To Doc scrumpy who refers to the Italians as­ "Dago's" ...what a jerk..maybe the­ next
    time the argentines or Cameroon's win a WORLD­ Cup you will let everyone know...you loser...thats a­ racist loser!!!!

    From bluestarfish505, on Tue 12 Aug 9:48PM

  2. In big events, African teams always end up being the­ loosing side, except in some very rare times­ -mistakes?? They don't have the right mentality as­ teams and players -although they have the technical and­ physical ability. Some African players perform better­ in European clubs due to a strong management and­ coaching. If you have a European team with say 6­ African players the results will be the same as for­ African national teams.

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 10 Aug 4:11AM

  3. THIS NAIJA TEAM IS NOT A DREAM TEAM.NAIJA NEED A­ CREATIVE MOBILE MID FIELDER WHO CAN TAKE ON DEFENDERS,­ I CANT SEE THEM GOING BEYONG QFINAL, I THINK COSTA DE­ MAFIL CAN GO FAR, CAMEROON IN THE HAND S PLAYING KING­ KONG FOOTBALL, CAMEROONIAN OLYMPICS MOVEMENT COULD HAVE­ USE THOSE PLAYERS AS WEIGHT LIFTERS

    From yusuf a, on Fri 8 Aug 6:45PM

  4. Ivory coast is the best African team in the olympic so­ far its painful they lost the game agaisnt argentina ,­ African teams should always be on guard against anyibo­ wayo, maradona use the same wayo as messi to win­ nigeria at USA94

    From yusuf a, on Fri 8 Aug 6:40PM

  5. Bravo African teams. I love u and support you from d­ bottom of my heart.
    Praying for you.
    Crippen, Uganda.

    From kiedso, on Fri 8 Aug 4:20PM

  6. Africanssssssssssss Oyeah. Im in love with u Nigeria.­ Allah bless U
    Edward, Uganda

    From kiedso, on Fri 8 Aug 4:16PM

  7. I CARE ABOUT YOU

    From kiedso, on Fri 8 Aug 4:14PM

  8. up naija,d dreamz team is back as dreamz team4 thy GOLD­ is 4 us in jesus name.. Amen ''
    keepz up boyz,­ do it like thy world never see be4 go, go,go thy rainny­ kingz of naiji with thee,,up naija,up Eaglez,up­ siasis..one naija, peace ,,,one love
    one world,,one­ dreamz,shalom Blackson D Don...

    From tublasdd, on Fri 8 Aug 2:22PM

  9. It is evident from the first round of matches that­ Africa's main challenge is going to come from the­ Nigerians who did a very good job against the Dutch­ team yesterday but they still have a lot of problems­ with their midfield. They lack the services of a­ creative midfielder due to the absence of John Mikel­ Obi so Siasia still has a lot of work to do before the­ game against Japan.

    From steph, on Fri 8 Aug 10:04AM

  10. sorry o, think is @#$% fangzhu shut for china last­ night

    From rghfx, on Fri 8 Aug 7:57AM

  11. Well done Brazil. First match, 3 points.­ Congratulations!!!
    It's great having the likes of­ Ronaldinho & Messi (for Argentina) at the Olympics.­ Beijing 2008!!!!!!

    From brightontsaurai, on Fri 8 Aug 7:18AM

  12. WHAT I SAW?

    1. The second round of games were­ amazingly mesmerizing

    2. WATCHOUT for the AFRICANS­ fellas ( they won 2 of the last 3 editions).

    3.­ HOLLAND CLEARLY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND NIGERIA'S­ BATTLE

    4. FOOTBALL STARTED EARLIER cos THERE ARE TOO­ MANY SPORTS & the Olympics is just for about 3­ weeks thereabout

    From Segun, on Fri 8 Aug 12:59AM

  13. Wow the eurosport journalists are about as sharp as the­ English football team. How about getting your bloody­ facts right. In relation to the Italy-Honduras game,­ Honduras did not make it to half time without­ conceding, it was 2-0 at half time you morons. Secondly­ Italy's first goal scored by Giovinco was not a­ volley, it was a 30m screamer - goal of the day. How­ about showing other countries outside of the "fish­ and chips" isle some respect for once. Good luck­ to the British football team, oh sorry they arent­ competing, memories of Euro 08 all over again is it?

    From Big, on Fri 8 Aug 12:27AM

  14. C'mon Brasilia!!!

    From Mogyorósi, on Thu 7 Aug 9:49PM

  15. well done to brazil and argentina both country's­ have great players and think they have a good chance­ of winning the competition and the players that will­ lead them to glory are robinho,tevez,messi,kaka,riqulme­ and more players.

    From Ali, on Thu 7 Aug 9:27PM

  16. good luck to the world champions because they always­ have to make a good start to any competition they didnt­ do it in the euros but they have made a good start in­ beijing good luck to them.

    From Ali, on Thu 7 Aug 9:24PM

  17. Nigeria we hail Thee. Boyz Pls step up d temp as qucik­ as possible. Up Naija.
    Dehinde Oyadiran

    From Denny, on Thu 7 Aug 9:09PM

  18. Up naija.... Nigeria has shown we are not underdogs. We­ would be in great gear in our next game. others watch­ out for we the champs. Boyz keep up d tempo!.

    From Denny, on Thu 7 Aug 9:06PM

  19. Argentina will win.Italy will disappoint.

    From justinbowie1, on Thu 7 Aug 8:45PM

  20. up nigeria i m proud that Team, the orange boys were so­ lucky to ran away with the draw. Well, eagle should pls­ work on their midfeild,to distroy any team that comes­ their way. Up Nigeria, Up Eagles, Up Siasia. Pls Siasia­ should show the world his stuff again. SHABI JOE

    From Shabi J, on Thu 7 Aug 7:11PM
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