TOKYO – Spain’s Olympic men’s soccer campaign got off to a rocky start after they lost two players to injury in a goalless draw with Egypt, while Mexico stunned France 4-1 as the group stage kicked off on Thursday.
The Spaniards, the last European men’s team to claim gold in 1992, arrived in Japan with a number of players from the senior team who reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals this month.
![Tokyo Olympics: Egypt draws with Spain, Mexico stuns France 2 1 7](https://egyptian-gazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1-7-300x169.jpg)
But despite the wealth of options on the pitch, Spain failed to take their opportunities in front of goal against a dogged Egyptian defence in the Group C match at the Sapporo Dome.
Dani Ceballos hit the post on the half-hour mark before the Real Madrid playmaker joined full back Oscar Mingueza on the sidelines due to injuries at the end of first half, Reuters reported.
Ceballos hobbled off following a heavy tackle from Egypt forward Taher Mohamed, while Barcelona’s Mingueza pulled up with what appeared to be a thigh injury.
Unlike the women’s tournament featuring all the senior players, the men’s teams are usually restricted to Under-23 sides, with three over-age players allowed per team.
With the Games pushed back by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the age limit was tweaked to Under-24.
Having won the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, Mexico justified their dark horse status with a convincing win over France in Group A, courtesy of second-half goals from Alexis Vega, Sebastian Cordova, Uriel Antuna and Erick Aguirre.
In Group B, Burnley striker Chris Wood fired a late goal to help New Zealand beat South Korea 1-0 in Kashima – earning the Pacific island nation their first win in Olympic men’s soccer.
![Tokyo Olympics: Egypt draws with Spain, Mexico stuns France 4 2 7](https://egyptian-gazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2-7-300x169.jpg)
Elsewhere, South Africa’s opening match against hosts Japan at the Tokyo Stadium will kick off as planned later on Thursday, following concerns it could be called off because of COVID-19 infections.
South Africa, depleted by coronavirus infections before they left for the Games, were dealt with further setbacks at the weekend after two players and a video analyst tested positive in Tokyo.